Right now, at one-month post-op (and starting during the last few months of pre-op), my daily life has been all about my surgery and protein and fluids and exercise and this forum. More and more, I’ve been actively seeking diversions from this focus. Not food-related diversions, though.

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My career requires a tremendous amount of creative focus, so I need to be able to break away from “this WLS life” that has been taking center stage. Does this make sense?

I intend to follow and keep up with the various lifestyle changes that I’ve committed to, but it’s becoming too much of too much. Visiting this site multiple times per day is bordering on an addiction.

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For those who frequent this forum, how do you maintain the focus and stamina to comment day after day after day? Given my short window of participation here, I’m not convinced that I’d be missed much.

Edited July 11, 20188 yr by Missouri-Lee's Summit

1 minute ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

Right now, at one-month post-op (and starting during the last few months of pre-op), my daily life has been all about my surgery and Protein and fluids and exercise and this forum. More and more, I’ve been actively seeking diversions from this focus. Not food-related diversions, though.

My career requires a tremendous amount of creative focus, so I need to be able to break away from “this WLS life” that has been taking center stage. Does this make sense?

I intend to follow and keep up with the various lifestyle changes that I’ve committed to, but it’s becoming too much of too much. Visiting this site multiple times per day is bordering on an addiction.

For those who frequent this forum, how do you maintain the focus and stamina to comment day after day after day? Given my short window of participation here, I’m not convinced that I’d be missed much.

It's the natural progression for most folks. Use the site to answer questions, etc etc etc... but then once you get into the swing of things post op... there really isn't much use for this site outside of a few random questions that might pop up. That's one of the reason you don't see many Vets around these parts. Most of us have long since given up on the site. I know I'm having a hard time staying engaged this week. I stick around to try to help out folks as much as possible... but it's just getting tiring reading and answering the exact same questions over and over.

As far as being missed... most of us could leave and this site wouldn't notice too much, if at all.

I agree with Matt. It's the nature of this type of forum for people to transition through. I've been spending way too much time here. I'm an accountant and I'm supposed to be doing quarterly reports. 'Nuff said? I have the same situation with professional organizations. I enjoy them for a while, then I drift away.

To control my addiction, my rule is that I don't log on to the computer in the evening. But in the morning, I can't wait to see how people are doing. We're all just ships that pass in the night! But, that said, I've enjoyed your posts and wish you the best, even if I don't see you as often!

Honestly, this site was a savior when I first started out and was pre op. Between reading on here, doing research online, and buying different protein supplements, ect, its what kept me sane while I waited the 3+ months until my date. However, now I do this because I think it helps people. It does get old, the same topics over and over again, but I think its comforting to know that there are people out there going through the same thing as me. Eventually, I'll fall back and probably not visit as often. But I'm not there yet. I want to be there for people, the way others were there for me. Plus, points earned here for the store paid for my vitamins for the whole dang year....

Edited July 11, 20188 yr by AshAsh1

Say what about the points earned and the store? I haven't been paying attention. I didn't think those points had much value. Do they expire over time? I thought I had some points, now I don't see any.

I've enjoyed helping people, too, but it seems that there's usually a surplus of people offering the same advice. I still find it odd that people tend to post questions that have been answered repeatedly in the archives. When you're new and don't know how the site works, that's understandable, but sometimes the same questions show up next to each other on the topic list. Google has a mountain of information, often from researchers or medical professionals. The one thing that people can't get elsewhere, though, is what initially brought me here: a kind word when someone is anxious. A word of congratulations when someone hits a milestone or overcomes an obstacle. And, of course, we all need those words of best wishes as our surgery date arrives.

Yes, that human connection was the thing missing for me. I still have no friends in real life, but I've found that people here are eager to listen and be as much a friend as is possible considering the medium.

I guess the important thing is finding the right balance. It's my choice whether to comment or not, visit or not. Choice is a powerful thing.

13 hours ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

Say what about the points earned and the store? I haven't been paying attention. I didn't think those points had much value. Do they expire over time? I thought I had some points, now I don't see any.

Check this page out to see what you've got for points
https://store.bariatricpal.com/pages/rewards

2000 points is worth $50

Edited July 12, 20188 yr by Matt Z

15 hours ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

Say what about the points earned and the store? I haven't been paying attention. I didn't think those points had much value. Do they expire over time? I thought I had some points, now I don't see any.

I follow the forums on a PC. My points show on a pink banner at the very top of every page (even above the BP banner). I'm sure they're trying to get me back into the store. I got about 3 cases of protein shots for free about a week ago, just shipping.

15 hours ago, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

I still find it odd that people tend to post questions that have been answered repeatedly in the archives.

This would work better if "search" searched the entire site. But it only searches the forum you are in at the moment unless you go to the home page first. So, someone can search for "recipes" in the nutrition forum and not find an awesome thread under "post-op discussions". Not really user friendly, imho.

Edited July 12, 20188 yr by Orchids&Dragons

On 07/11/2018 at 16:57, Missouri-Lee's Summit said:

Say what about the points earned and the store? I haven't been paying attention. I didn't think those points had much value. Do they expire over time? I thought I had some points, now I don't see any.

I've enjoyed helping people, too, but it seems that there's usually a surplus of people offering the same advice. I still find it odd that people tend to post questions that have been answered repeatedly in the archives. When you're new and don't know how the site works, that's understandable, but sometimes the same questions show up next to each other on the topic list. Google has a mountain of information, often from researchers or medical professionals. The one thing that people can't get elsewhere, though, is what initially brought me here: a kind word when someone is anxious. A word of congratulations when someone hits a milestone or overcomes an obstacle. And, of course, we all need those words of best wishes as our surgery date arrives.

Yes, that human connection was the thing missing for me. I still have no friends in real life, but I've found that people here are eager to listen and be as much a friend as is possible considering the medium.

I guess the important thing is finding the right balance. It's my choice whether to comment or not, visit or not. Choice is a powerful thing.

I was told points do not expire.