MaineDoc

I haven't had surgery yet--still waiting for my date. Only my significant other knows and I plan to keep it that way. Unfortunately, the lay public still does not understand the disease of obesity. Even medical professionals don't understand. When I asked my PCP for a referral to the medical and surgical weight loss program, she was skeptical and said "what do you think this is going to do for you that you can't do for yourself?" I just don't think most people can appreciate the decision we're faced with: a) stay on a path of poor health with attendant medical complications or b) have someone cut into you and fundamentally alter your anatomy and physiology. It's not exactly like "b" is an "easy" choice but for those that don't understand, I guess it appears that way. It's funny, culturally, we don't perceive other elective surgeries as the easy way out. I can't imagine anybody passing judgment on someone who has knee replacement surgery and frankly in many ways, the more I learn about bariatric surgery, the more easily justifiable it is compared with many other surgeries.

First off, your personal experience is incredibly inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing the specifics of your exercise routine. What you describe is essentially where I'm at now, pre-surgery. I don't necessarily do the same exact types of activities, but I'd say overall my activity level is similar and I just want to maintain it. Knowing that you feel that you're able to keep up with this and have found a way to make it work in terms of getting adequate nutrition is really reassuring. Also, I like that you use the WFPB diet--I haven't actually heard that term before, but I don't eat meat (save for very occasional fish) and so my protein sources now consist primarily of beans, nuts, and soy products. Also, I feel similarly to you about the yo yo-ing. I'm just getting tired of it. I've probably gained and lost at least 500 lbs in my lifetime and I'm just tired of going back and forth. I guess my mentality has been that the surgery is my ace in the hole and will help finally push me over the top to help me maintain/lock-in the changes that I've made. I haven't disclosed my decision to pursue surgery with anyone other than my significant other. She has had some trepidation about it and just says, in so many words, "you obviously can lose the weight, you just have to maintain the changes that you make long-term so that you don't regain the weight." Over the years, I've said to her "that's the whole point! that's why this is so hard for me." And turning to this forum and answers like yours I think has been illuminating for both of us. She is now on board for me going forward with this, which is great. Anyway, sorry for the long somewhat rambling stream of consciousness reply--I'm just grateful for your insights!

Hi all As you can see, I am a brand new user on this forum. However I have been lurking for awhile. I want to use my first post to share how grateful I am for your candidness and how truly impressed I am with your courage sharing intimate details of your personal journeys. I have learned so much from you all, not just about the basics of WLS etc, but about inspiration, motivation, determination, and compassion towards ourselves and others. If ever I’ve needed a pick me up or some words of encouragement, I have found it here. Thank you all and I look forward to becoming an active member of this community!