I am going on 17 months post-op, yet every single time a new diet commercial comes on the radio, a new weigth loss show starts on TV, I'm flipping around channels and come across an infomercial... my ears perk up and I get sucked in. Even just a new commercial for Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem and I have this couple of seconds where I focus intently. Will I ever get used to the fact that I don't need any of that nonsense anymore? I don't need to know the details of your new portion control container diet. I don't need to learn to swap this for that. I don't need to know what Oprah is doing this week to lose weight!

I've been at goal and maintaining for almost 5 months now, but I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I don't need to lose weight anymore and I certainly don't need the latest gimmick to do it.

They spend a lot of money to get our attention so don't feel too bad about it. Just think of all the money you won't be giving them!

I get sucked in too but mostly it's because I feel bad for the people who fall for the hype (like I used to).

I don't get sucked in, I get angry. Most of them make no sense at all and I hate that they are targeting people desperate to change their lives. Even more annoying is the fact that they will applaud anyone using one of thee programs, but many times that same person will say that WLS is "cheating".

What helps me to realize that I don't need to buy anymore diet books, is this thought:

My money can be my money or their money.

After doing weight watchers 6 different times and still needing help, I just don't want to hear it anymore. I totally understand

I spent so much money on nutri system, Jenny Craig, diet books like south beach and Atkins. Diet pills like trim spa and others.

I actually get angry because all that stuff ever did for me was ruin my metabolism even further. Yes I lost weight, hundreds and hundreds of pounds over a period of about 25 years.

The minute I took a break or stopped taking the pills or buying the food, the weight came back on and then some.

My husband recently tried that Garcinia Camobodia or whatever it's called. Another joke!

I find myself pausing on those commercials and talking back to the tv. I just feel so bad for people that are still wasting their money on crap that does not provide long term solutions.

They're selling false hope to desperate people and it's a real tragedy. I too always zero in on those adverts and shows. For me it's in part because no matter how far from fat I might journey, I will always be a card carrying alumni in my head.

I got rid of cable.. Helps a lot actually..

I'm right there with ya! Even magazine covers with the latest and greatest diet plan. I'm glad I don't need to try anything anymore and waste my money.

It makes sense that you would perk up. When I purchased my latest car, every time I heard an ad for it, my ears perked up. I see the same model everywhere...geez never saw these before, did someone drop off a boat load in OKC? NO. I just activated my reticular activating system (article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticular_activating_system). Its the programmable part of the brain that makes you aware of things you are thinking about.

Solution ladies?...quit reading woman's magazines...(BTW, the vision they outline as perfection...most men don't want).

http://rosiemolinary.com/2012/10/24/an-excerpt-from-airbrushed-nation-the-lure-and-loathing-of-womens-magazines/

Guys, quit reading Men's Health. You will want arms bigger than almost every woman wants. If challenged I'll find the links again, but heck look it up yourself.

You don't have to buy into other people's view of health or beauty. As a matter of fact, I think most have never even though of how much manipulation they are dealing with.

How inspiring and motivational I find you all. Thanks for your posts and sharing your struggles. One of the reasons I finally did the surgery was I just finally got tired of trying every fad diet. My bookcase is loaded with Eat Clean, Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels etc. I should have a big bonfire. I am not as far along to my goal but I just don't want to deal with weight loss programs anymore. No more fat brain syndrome.

Ditto! Keep forgetting. But like someone said earlier, I'm still a card carrying member. My medical records still read obese, even now. Still don't understand that one.

I can't wait to see Oprah who will definitely get the sleeve go on tv with miraculous results for WW.Her results will be phenomenal...and she will boast that it all because of WW.....

I can't wait to see Oprah who will definitely get the sleeve go on tv with miraculous results for WW.Her results will be phenomenal...and she will boast that it all because of WW.....

Ha... My surgeon, during my first intro session, quipped "don't be fooled--half those people in a weightwatchers meeting have had the surgery."

The one that had me shaking my head yesterday is the new one coming out on A&E: "Fit to Fat to Fit." It's like Biggest Loser except the fit, svelte trainers voluntarily get fat first so they can go on the journey with the fat person together.

I got a brochure in the mail for a university hospital-run rural county weight loss program (I live in a very rural, poor county which is the perfect environment to become morbidly obese. We are one of the fattest counties in the State) . It's free, offers weekly meetings and nutritional counseling. I was so excited. We've needed something like this for a long time! Then they had a chart inside for the minimum and maximum weights by height in order to be eligible to participate. The minimum weight for my height was 191 and I'm 162. I was actually sad because I wanted to go to the weekly meetings. My two coworkers are signing up. I keep forgetting I have very little left to lose. I'm still in "weight loss mode" too so I'm in the mindset of focus on eating and exercising to reach goal.