Yes, I had WLS and YES, I *AM* doing this on my own.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I've seen quite a few people around these parts talking about people they know who have lost weight "on their own" while they personally had WLS and I must say, this mindset makes me a bit pissy.

Before having VSG, I tried every freaking diet out there. I exercised like a maniac. I tried drugs I knew were potentially harmful to my long term health. I resigned myself to being fat every single time I failed before slapping myself around and trying something new or trying something old again and again. I saw nutritionists, I saw gastro specialists. I considered a hypnotist, but I waved that off as hogwash. (No offense to anyone who tried it, just not my cup of tea.) I lost weight, I gained weight, I lost weight, I gained weight, I lost, I gained, I yo-yo'd myself right into a flucked up metabolism and mass frustration for myself and my family.

I finally decided that I had no other options and settled on the Vertical Sleeve after researching my WLS options for almost a year. I went through 4 months with one surgeon before realizing there was no way in H E double hockey sticks could I let him cut me open before starting the process over with another surgeon that I felt comfortable with.

I did all the pre-op work with a nutritionist (whack job!!) figuring that if I could concentrate on losing for those 6 months, maybe I wouldn't need surgery after all.

I saw the counselor (WHACK JOB!!!) and never got to the root of my troubles other than the fact that I am a greedy piglet. (She swears I am repressing sexual abuse in a past life -- no REALLY, a PAST life, not just in my past. Uhmmm...)

I did my pre-op diet for a month instead of the required two weeks because I wanted to.

I exercised my fanny off (literally) over the last 7 months.

I weigh, measure and log my food.

I read labels.

I make good choices putting my Protein needs first.

I make sure to get in my 10k steps every single day even if that means running in place for an hour at 10pm when I know I have to be up, bright eyed and bushy tailed in 7 hours.

I look for recipes that are healthier for my family that I can eat as well but I often cook two meals so they can eat what they like and I can eat what I need to eat.

I put the fork down before I want to so that I don't spend the next 30 minutes bent over the toilet even when it took me an hour to prepare a meal and I've only had two or three bites because ,my tiny tummy isn't tolerating more than an ounce instead of it's usual 3 or 4.

I read menus days in advance if I know I am going out so that I can order seamlessly with everyone else.

I attend parties and conferences and work functions and eat mindfully so I can enjoy the event without calling attention to myself.

I suffer through stalls in my head so that my family doesn't have to hear my incessant whining because I know they've suffered enough of my nonsense over the years.

I appreciate everything my changing body has allowed me to do over the years despite the abuse I put it through and I appreciate how much it's thanking me as I am relieving it of all the excess weight.

I went to kickboxing even when I don't feel like it and now I teach it so I don't have a choice but to go.

I joined a high dollar gym and hired a high dollar trainer, not because I am a high dollar girl but because I am now forced to go.

I look at my saggy skin and my floppy boobs and my melty thighs and my squishy bum and my hangy arms and while I regret that I didn't do this 5, 10, 15 years ago, I smile that I did do it seven months ago.

I am losing this weight ON MY OWN. If you honestly think I'm not, please tell me who is doing it for me. They owe me a whole bunch of money, time and heartache for all the things I've put myself through over the last year+ and I owe them a HUGE amount of thanks for getting me where I am today.

Edited December 22, 2013 by LipstickLady

[Noor1969 150]

LL, you express yourself so well. I always enjoy reading your posts. While I don't know if I'll ever become physically conditioned enough to actually TEACH kickboxing it's nice to know that there are other sleevers out that who have reached that level of success.

Thank you for inspiring me. You have done more than the lion's share of working "on your own" and deserve the very best that life has to offer you.

[Idlewood4 93]

You go girl! You've put in tremendous effort, and it's nice to see you reaping the rewards. Change is possible! And WOW that counselor sounds like she needs a wee bit of counseling herself! Whew! I was very fortunate, found a counselor through my program that skipped most of that crap and worked on mindfulness with me. Mindfulness is a wonderful thing! LL love reading your posts. Thanks so much for sharing.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

Remind me never to piss you off...lol

[cejiogu 182]

You go girl. I am just like you. I have the sleeve in May but it's my work that has lost the 123 lbs. also had a weird guy for a nut. Worked with him because I had too. Insurance changed at last min. Had to do 6 months again with regular nut. In the end got what I wanted!

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Remind me never to piss you off...lol

Never piss me off, RJ.

[JeanZ_RN 378]

I agree with Noor1969 - you express yourself so well! I always enjoy reading your posts.

Thank you for inspiring me.

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

Remind me never to piss you off...lol

Never piss me off, RJ.

I will try to remember...lol

[tami j 277]

as others have stated, very well said LL!

[RXG 46]

Well said.

[MIJourney 490]

Can't believe you're down 99!!!!!!!!!!! Wooooo hoooo!!! Maybe that's 100 now since you posted this

[McButterpants 2,846]

Great post!

We hear so many times the WLS is the easy way out. Yeah, this is the easy way out...living on Protein shakes for months (pre-op and post-op). The mental game can be a killer! Stepping on the scale during a stall can be unbearable. Being hungry, really hungry and taking 25 minutes to eat 1/4 cup of food can be frustrating beyond belief. Oh, and how about not being able to poo for 5 days - yeah, this is a blast!

I'm 5 weeks out and still waiting for the "easy" part!

Thanks for posting!

[Indigo1991 1,612]

LL, only thing you missed out was who the body double was that went in and had major surgery on your behalf - oh, sorry, was that actually you ???? Yup, think it might have been...

People can say whatever they like about being sleeved but it ain't the easy option - and we do it on our own, every sip, every mouthful, ever mile walked....

Ps my body sounds just like yours but add a few more wrinkles

[McButterpants 2,846]

P.S. I tried hypnosis - felt like a fool, but I did it. A lot of money later, I lost about 30 pounds, but gained in all back!

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I never tried hypnosis but I did listen to those "weight loss" subliminal tapes...LOL. They made me hungry.