I typically avoid the posts on this website where people are ranting at each other. I feel like handing out a virtual cupcake to everyone and saying, "can't we all just get along?"

Seriously people, the awesome thing about an online forum is you get to pick and choose what you read and engage in. This is the main reason why I prefer this over attending the support groups at my local barriatric center. I can't control who attends those meetings and then I'm stuck with them for an entire hour.

I sign on to Barriatric Pal daily. Why? Because I know staying connected is one of the best things I can do to insure I am successful in this journey. Time and time again I read posts from people who have strayed from the site, gone off track, gained weight and come back for support. I come on this website and read these posts daily. IT'S MY CHOICE. I will be a year out from surgery on April 16, 2014. Yes, sometimes it is annoying to read the same posts over and over again about stalls, hair loss, loose skin, food intake and Vitamins. Guess what? One short year ago I was the newbie starting on this journey anxious whether I would succeed or not. I was full of questions and eager to reach out to others as nobody in my "real" world had weight loss surgery.

I work with a lot of people in 12 step recovery programs in my profession. Bill Wilson, one of the founders of AA, early on grew frustrated when he reached out to fellow alcoholics to help them, but often those men he tried to help went on to drink. He felt like giving up and one night his wife Lois, reminded him that HE was no longer going out and getting drunk. The act of giving back to others helped maintain his own sobriety. I remind myself of this. I choose to give back and help newbies on this site to help myself. I read your posts and it reminds me of information I learned long ago and "forgot". It helps me stay on track. If a post annoys me, I can choose to ignore it.

I help you to help me.

I'm going to eat a real cupcake now.

Edited April 16, 201511 yr by Bluesea71

I was so clueless when I was starting out and thankfully I never felt judged. There are so many people who really helped me by answering questions that I'm sure they had answered over and over again. I had never been in an on-line forum before and I'm not a very geeky computer user, so I didn't even know how to search the archives or anything like that. I miss some of the old-timers who have moved on and am always grateful to see a post or comment from one of who I consider the old-timers. @@Jim1967 you helped me so much as I was making my way through the process and figuring it all out. You had the link to the Dr. Simpson info in your signature and you'll see I've done the same. Nine times out of ten when I read one of your posts I'd go and peruse his links to get basic protocol into my thinking (it's not about restriction, it's not about restriction). So helpful to me. Also the humor and camaraderie. I really need that as I am private about my weight loss and consider you all here to be my community for that. Thank you all. Whatever the method of surgery, we are all in this together. And a year or two out has not made me an expert on anything, that's for sure, but I can have compassion and enthusiasm for any one who is facing their weight issues and wanting to make a healthy change. Here's to our lives that we've gotten back!

And this is why I keep coming back Thank you.

Great post. I have only asked a few questions myself and will search out questions that were already answered, but when the answers are years old, its nice to be able to ask again. Its nice to hear from people that are still involved in the process.

Just to jump in.....I read the previous posts, and could not agree more...

However I did see the term "Expert" used a few times....

No One on this forum should call themselves, or be looked upon as an expert....everyone here is a just another person who has undergone something as drastic as surgical intervention to loose weight.

All anyone can do is share their own personal experiences with this, good and bad....there is no right or wrong, just different

people who have different first hand knowledge based upon what they have gone through, not what they heard someone else say or what is the popular opinion.....

People just starting out and have just discovered this forum will quickly see how different some topics can be, and it can get confusing....

Just be wary of those who speak with authority and give definitive answers. It's also amusing to see that many of these "Experts" are just starting out themselves, and feel they know all the answers.

So in that regard, nothing is repetitive....tell your story as much as you want.