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Family Reunion with Large Family



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So I just got back from a small family reunion for my Grandmothers 90th birthday. When I said large family in the title I wasn't referring to the number of people there but the size of the people there. I found out that a couple of them had had either bypass, sleeve, or the band in the past. The problem was they were all telling me how it failed and they just gained all their weight back. This was pretty eye opening for me to say the least. I know surgery is a just a tool in the weight loss tool belt and can be defeated. All the ones I talked to had one thing in common...they never went to a support group or held themselves accountable to stick to eating right post surgery. They mentioned how easy it was to fall back into the old eating habits and some were even pressured by their spouse to cheat on their diets. Now I am scared that this will end up being my fate...I will just have to make sure I attend the support group meetings religiously.

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You can do this. My husband has been my biggest cheerleader on this journey. I'm about 8 months out and 84 pounds down from my high weight one year ago. I'm within 5 pounds of what I weighed when we got married 20 years ago.

That being said, if you have your own head screwed on right and have made the commitment in your mind, you're half way there. The biggest issue is the fight in your head.

Find exercise you enjoy doing and like to do - it makes all the difference. And for me - tracking my food keeps me honest. I never want to go back to that before person.

Good Luck!

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Past does not have to equal prologue. Good luck to you!

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So I just got back from a small family reunion for my Grandmothers 90th birthday. When I said large family in the title I wasn't referring to the number of people there but the size of the people there. I found out that a couple of them had had either bypass, sleeve, or the band in the past. The problem was they were all telling me how it failed and they just gained all their weight back. This was pretty eye opening for me to say the least. I know surgery is a just a tool in the weight loss tool belt and can be defeated. All the ones I talked to had one thing in common...they never went to a support group or held themselves accountable to stick to eating right post surgery. They mentioned how easy it was to fall back into the old eating habits and some were even pressured by their spouse to cheat on their diets. Now I am scared that this will end up being my fate...I will just have to make sure I attend the support group meetings religiously.



Be the outlier!

Be the success in the family.

I have 2 brothers, 2 sisters and a mom who the surgery had failed.

I intend to be the outlier, and be the one who will not fail the VSG!

Sent from my SM-G930V using BariatricPal mobile app

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3 hours ago, txsrooster said:

Now I am scared that this will end up being my fate...I will just have to make sure I attend the support group meetings religiously.

I can understand that, especially since many in your family have had WLS and not kept the weight off...However, learn from their mistakes...as you said, go to group meetings - they do help with the success. Also, just because your family has been down that road, doesn't mean you will - you can be the exception and example to your family. It is about making good choices and you can do it!

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    • LeighaTR

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    • 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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