VSGAnn2014

I'm absolutely no expert about marijuana and cannabis extracts. But I do know that 2016 marijuana and its many derivatives are not the same as the 1969 one- bag-is-the-same-as-another-bag marijuana that many folks experienced. For instance, sativa extracts of marijuana are not depressives, but reported to be energizing. And indica marijuana extracts are the relaxing, mellow versions familiar to the general public, whether they've ever smoked (or vaped) marijuana. The scores (hundreds?) of recreational cannabis extracts now marketed legally in the US range considerably in their effects. Not all products cause consumers to "get the munchies." As always, Google is your friend. And, as always, your mileage may vary.

I cannot imagine a bigger waste of life than focusing on how people you don't give two hoots about used to treat you. Move on. Live the life you want, don't relive the one you hated.

Your mom is very likely NOT like the mothers of other posters here who are (with absolutely zero actual information about your mother, you and your relationship) telling you what to do. Just do what you think is best in this situation. You have all the information you need to figure this out -- we don't. Very best to you.

Without more information from your surgeon, that 50-50 prediction is worthless.

@@AvaFern ... that's an awesome metaphor and an awesome post! Thank you.

Yes, I know I'm sick. I love it.

10,000 steps/day. Some days I do less. Some days I do more. I'm 70 years old.

Lipstick ... my closet's probably not as big as yours. I don't think there's a single right way to build one's wardrobe. Here's how I've gone about building a new wardrobe -- since, obviously, absolutely nothing I wore 100 pounds ago fits me anymore. My clothing style is now and has been since the 1980s what's known as "classic." On Pinterest I'm always pinning articles called "The Five-Piece French Woman's Outfit." When I worked, I wore pantsuits. These days I've moved in the direction of senior-citizen rocker chic. I wear a lot of black, white, grey and denim. The brightest items in my wardrobe are a truly wonderful collection of Hermes scarves and shawls. I seldom wear knee-length dresses (my knees and calves are not my best body part). So I wear lots of slacks and jeans, including skinny jeans, which I have in black, dark wash, light wash and white. I've got multiple white cotton shirts / blouses, black blazers, leather moto-jackets. Obviously, I like uniforms -- must be that lifelong pantsuit habit. Like you, I'm a bargain shopper of high-end pieces. I shop at an amaze-balls high-end consignment shop that offers amazing choices. I find some great belts at TJMaxx, good yogawear at JCPenney, and love the deeply discounted sales at Dillards. When we travel to larger cities, I check out higher-end outlet malls -- Worth, St. John, etc. I have listed all my clothes in an Excel spreadsheet, tagged by color, piece, where and when I bought them, how well they currently fit, etc. I also keep a list of pieces I would like to add to the rotation, which helps me shop for specific pieces and is more disciplined (and less expensive) than just "going shopping." Now, if I could just devote this much organization and discipline to my spring yard work! P.S. I'm a lot more interested in shoes than I used to be -- today I wore 5-inch platform peep-toe boots, because my knees don't hurt like they used to when I was obese. It's so freaky to walk down the street and be five foot ten inches tall! Good freaky, that is.

One of the reason's I felt really comfortable with my surgeon was that he was old enough to have a lot of really great experience/track record and young enough to be current. Sounds like my surgeon. BTW, hubby and I are both in our 70s. We have a rule here -- no doctors older than 49. They're old enough to know what they're doing and young enough to know the newest stuff. They're also going to have to be in practice as long as we will be seeing them. Over the next 20 years, we won't have the patience or brainpower to groove in any new ones.

Cape Crooner -- I think I know why we're not tracking each other. You think the following list of things are "sins." I have no idea how you could imagine that being sexually or physically abused or most of those other secrets I hypothesized are "sins," although voting for Ross Perot might have been. Good luck.

Jeez, Sophie! (mic drop ... BAM!)

I sat next to Sam on an airplane flight once.

One thing you haven't yet told is ... how much sugar ARE you eating? How's about writing down and posting here everything you ate yesterday and how much. Everything! I get the feeling you aren't willing to be that transparent about it yet -- at least not here. (Just sayin'.)

Briefly, although tobacco wasn't mentioned -- the reason tobacco is contraindicated before and after WLS is that nicotine reduces the body's ability to heal wounds. And after surgery, after you've healed, tobacco / nicotine can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers -- NOT a good thing when you have only 15% of your original stomach left. You can google that stuff if it applies to your situation.

Best to you! It's going to be fine.

Be warned (not for sure, but better than 50-50) that your morbidly obese dear friend wants you to remain like her -- obese and unhealthy. That's a lonely place to live by yourself. Just sayin'. Very, very best to you!

Good God, no! I don't regret it. I've lost 100 pounds and now weigh 135. Have been maintaining for over a year. Arthritis, exhaustion, agoraphobia -- all gone. Feel great, look great, am great. P.S. I've completely changed my lifestyle -- healthy now. I'll warn you, if you aren't willing to go in a different direction after you lose the weight (not go back to your old lifestyle), you probably shouldn't bother with WLS. Just sayin'.

Oh dear! I was afraid "The Ranch" was going to be that good. But it's late April already and all those acres to mow and flower beds and planters to fill up and all that mulch and weed pre-emergent stuff to spread and the garage and the shop to clean out and the patios to spray wash! And we're both so sore at night we just sit next to each other and complain about how sore we are! Springtime -- it's gorgeous. And so much work!

I would gently suggest that any WLS patient (or anyone else) who's agonizing over telling or not telling those who ask about how they lost weight meditate on these questions: Have you ever been sexually abused? Joined a cult? Switched religions? Lost your religion? Switched political parties? Voted for Ross Perot? Experimented in same-sex activities? Had an affair? Had a DUI? Smoked dope? Used other drugs? Filed for bankruptcy? Been fired? Had an STD? Been physically beaten by a spouse or sexual partner? Spent the night in jail? Is a cancer survivor? Had your gall bladder removed? Had an STD? Had a miscarriage or abortion? Had more than four sex partners (for women) and more than seven sex partners (for men)? Question: Do you know what all those things have in common that are different from having had WLS? Answer: People who know you -- friends, family, colleagues, neighbors -- don't come rushing up to you afterward and ask, "What did you do?! WTF happened?!" But when you lose 100 pounds or more, some are going to ask how you lost weight. And how you choose to respond depends on who's asking and your mood, long-term needs, ideologies and other preferences. For the record, I don't suffer from the need to tell others about my WLS. In fact, none of my most precious ideologies require me to be 100% transparent with anyone, including my therapist or even my husband. BTW, one of my most prized values now is that I deserve a lot better self-care than I gave myself pre-WLS. Three years ago when I started this journey I appreciated that WLS was so little understood by my extended family, best friends, colleagues, clients, etc. and that I had so much work to do on myself that I had neither the strength nor the interest to become a WLS poster child to thousands of people. (Yes, I do know that many people.) My choice to remain on the down low about my own WLS has worked very well for me. I hope that others' choices to be transparent or private or somewhere in between is working well for them, too.

Why do you think you gained weight? And, if you are so inclined to share, what do you think you would do differently if you could go back and do so -- and that you will do differently in the future?

I'm with @@Cape Crooner ... I love, love, love food.

You're already changing your lifestyle. That is key to long-term success.

I think you need some better WLS role models. I know many people who have had WLS who have NOT regained their weight. I had WLS because I was a sick, agoraphobic, exhausted, miserable fat woman, and I got to the point where I simply refused to live that way anymore. I've lost 100 pounds and have been maintaining at or below goal for a year now. However, I hope you know that WLS surgery doesn't *fix* everything, right? You have to change your lifestyle after WLS, including (1) how, what, when, and how much you eat; (2) exercise and daily activities of life; (3) dealing differently with stress in your life -- both mild or severe; (4) your willingness and ability to care for yourself before all others. Many people work with a therapist to build and follow the new lifestyle they require. Good luck.

@@Kindle ... You're so lucky to live in such a place with so much gorgeous outdoors. The Tetons out your backdoor must be heaven!

Uh ... I personally don't know anyone who's had WLS who "eats anything they want" and doesn't gain weight. WLS patients who are successful long-term either control WHAT they eat or HOW MUCH they eat or BOTH what and how much they eat. And now that I think of it, I don't know anyone who hasn't had WLS who eats anything they want and doesn't gain weight. I take it back -- I do know one woman like that. Only one. But she has other issues.