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Saturday's Positive Post



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Rolling with our Thanksgiving theme going back to Wednesday and through today, let's continue with positive thoughts. We've personally thanked people on this site who have been instrumental, we have talked about what we are thankful we learned by being overweight or obese, and we touched on a time when we've done something good to help others. This one will require a little more thought, but I hope everyone will chime in, as it could be what you say on this post that makes a difference to someone else! Today, I want to talk about the one A-HA moment you had when you learned something about WLS either from a Dr. or as a result of studying this site or other WLS studies, and how that made you thankful that we had this option.

My A-HA moment was when I realized after watching a video that my bariatric surgeon did, that perpetual dieting (losing, gaining, failure after failure) was actually causing more long term harm to my body than I had given it credit for. The realization that I may never get off that "dead horse" and I may never be able to pick up my grandchildren because of the weight and the degenerative arthritis, propelled me into making this decision and I am SO THANKFUL that we have WLS as an option to help end the cycle.

What was your A-HA moment?

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I did not know ahead of time that it wouldn't just be about the weight loss and physical health. I was so focused on that that it was a real A-HA to find out that being released from obsessing about food feels so incredibly liberating. Empowerment!

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My a-ha moment was realizing I'm not the only one. From the info session at my drs office and this site - I see how many people are like me and feel like me and are fighting the good fight against their lifelong weight. For so long I felt so alone in this world of heaviness - and then I met you guys!

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Thank you guys, those are awesome!

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I had become very lethargic because of my arthritis and pain in my knees; which added to my weight gain.

When I saw the orthopedic doctor, he said I HAD to lose weight in order to get my knees done and get some pain relief...
I had thought about WLS before, but now I was even more propelled to look into it... I wish I had done this sooner.

I have gone back to the orthopedic, who was VERY pleased with my weight loss and we are planning my surgery for the beginning of '15!!!

Once that is done, I am hoping to be even more active and looking forward to pain relief in my left leg (first one to be done)...

I couldn't have gotten here without WLS...

the past year I have been maintaining with a 5 pound variable... tho I'd like to lose more, right now I'm just not active enough...BUT I have MAINTAINED for a year, which has NEVER happened with all my "diets" before this tool was "installed" LOL :)

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BigGirlPanties,

Congratulations on your maintenance!!!!

I think that's going to be the next hurdle for me--after surviving the holidays without stuffing myself into a coma.

I think that is what I am REALLY grateful for. I can eat just a little taste of the food and BE SATISFIED with it.

Thank God and VSG!

I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Kathleen

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Ah ha moment is that morbid obesity is a disease process... way more to this than "will power"

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My big A-HA moment was watching my husband, who I considered to be a slave to food of the 10th degree versus me, lost more weight than ever with his sleeve. It was about month 3 of his journey that we had the hard talk where he basically said, "I've done something about my weight, health and longevity. You don't have to go with surgery but you do need to do something. I need you around." I scheduled an appointment that week for consult. I'm glad he was brave enough "to go first" and "to have the talk." It has changed our lives and we're only just getting started.

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@@devint That is intense! And awesome! Thanks for sharing :)

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Ghrelin was my aha moment.

Finding out that there was something called ghrelin.

In my big old stomach.

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so you went from oxycodone, the active painkilling ingredient to Percocet which is oxycodone plus acetaminophen ( Tylenol) and that worked better? Hmm that's strange.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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