(Re-printed from my Surgeon's website)

1. Your co-worker heard a strange noise and doesn’t bat an eye…knowing it was your stomach.

Patients often ask me why their new pouch makes odd gurgling noises. It could be too big of bites or eating too quickly. It could also just be your stomach moving around and making noises for all to hear

2. You have a space heater under your desk in the middle of July.

It may be in part to losing some “insulation” but many postop wls patients are colder than they’ve ever been using more blankets at night and space heaters to keep warm.

3. Your alarm just went off for the third time today to remember your next Vitamin.

While bariatric Vitamins have become much more simpler in recent years, it still takes reminders to get in your vitamins. Your family might even hear the alarm and hand you your calcium!

4. Protein is always first on your mind at your meals – it might as well be plastered inside your forehead.

Protein…protein..where’s the protein? Protein is what fills you up and keeps you full! You get the most out of your surgery when you focus on lean and solid protein sources.

5. Your waitress keeps asking if the food is okay. And if you’re sure you don’t want a drink.

When you can only eat an ounce or so, the wait staff may think something is wrong with the food. And what do you mean you don’t want anything to drink??

6. Your pants are barely holding on but you’re still holding off to go shopping.

Just make sure you don’t carry a heavy object and walk up a flight of stairs. At least not around anyone

7. Speaking of shopping, you still go to the plus sized section first out of habit.

It’s hard to wrap your mind around your new body. Leave plenty of time and stay patient with yourself as you find out what size your body is. Take a good friend to be your “runner” and someone to talk it out with.

8. You get overjoyed at the release of a new Protein Bar flavor…or a sale on your favorite Protein Bars.

Quest® has a new flavor?!?!??! Ahhhhh!!!!!!

9. You rejoice at the small things like crossing your legs or getting a pair of boots that zip up your calves.

Some things you’ll never take for granted again. It may seem like nothing to others, but to you it’s something big.

10. You use lingo like “wls”…”bariatric friendly”…”pouch”…”vsg”…

You gotta know the lingo to be in the club!

11. You smile as you think of how far you’ve come and get excited to think of where you’ll be soon.

Patients wonder why they didn’t have their surgery sooner.

LOL!! this is so true! I still have a hard time not going to the plus sized section of a store - old habits die hard - i picked up a shirt the other day and it was a size 4x and i thought it was a pretty top - i started to put it in my buggy and my husband took it out of my hand and just looked at me like REALLY?! it took me a minute for it to sink in LOL! But it is a great feeling when it does...

the water/restaurant one cracked me up. I never really drank and ate at the same time which has often baffled people, and all the more so post-op. I learned a long time ago to just place my hand over the glass when the server comes around so that they don't keep asking me over and over if I need something else.

how about your wardrobe suddenly looks colorful as opposed to all dark colors.

Very true – thanks for the list! How about, “When someone asks you how long you’re going to keep dieting, your answer is, ‘the rest of my life.’”

OMG !

WHY, OH WHY didn't I have this surgery sooner? Stupid fear and self hate. The notion that I should be able to lose the weight on my own really had me hostage. Hello, I could not. I sure tried, hundreds of times. But I do tell you something, it wasn't all self control because now I am not hungry all the time and I do have self control. If this is the way everyone else feels about food no wonder I could have never made it on my own.

HILARIOUSLY True! Thanks for sharing...

Every one is on point! I have waiters bring me Water just so I don't have to try to explain that I don't want anything to drink. My kids or boyfriend just trade their empties out with me when they need a refill.

One more to add: When you get tired of looking for a light, interesting magazine for a quick read because all the headlines are the latest "drop 10 pound" diets and you're not interested.

Yes, just order a water when you get there. No more questions!

Add this one to the list:

YOU NOW HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT OVER EVERY MONTH FROM YOUR BILLS THAT WAS ALOTTED FOR GROCERIES!!!

I think I hit nearly all of these signs. Hillarious! Thanks for sharing.