Read this before you whine about repetitive posts from newcomers

[BryBro63 410]

Thanks Bluesea71 for starting this post!!

I personally like to visit the site frequently to get different perspectives on different aspects from different people at different stages...I think it helps us all when we see and hear so many different ways of trying to achieve the same goal. As for me, because I was one who had so many different questions and concerns from the very beginning of my journey, I enjoy sharing my experience and answering any questions that I possibly can...I guess I feel like it's my way of paying it forward!!!

[Jim1967 3,569]

I was so clueless when I was starting out and thankfully I never felt judged. There are so many people who really helped me by answering questions that I'm sure they had answered over and over again. I had never been in an on-line forum before and I'm not a very geeky computer user, so I didn't even know how to search the archives or anything like that. I miss some of the old-timers who have moved on and am always grateful to see a post or comment from one of who I consider the old-timers. @@Jim1967 you helped me so much as I was making my way through the process and figuring it all out. You had the link to the Dr. Simpson info in your signature and you'll see I've done the same. Nine times out of ten when I read one of your posts I'd go and peruse his links to get basic protocol into my thinking (it's not about restriction, it's not about restriction). So helpful to me. Also the humor and camaraderie. I really need that as I am private about my weight loss and consider you all here to be my community for that. Thank you all. Whatever the method of surgery, we are all in this together. And a year or two out has not made me an expert on anything, that's for sure, but I can have compassion and enthusiasm for any one who is facing their weight issues and wanting to make a healthy change. Here's to our lives that we've gotten back!

And this is why I keep coming back Thank you.

[Stephanie Stroup McIntosh 157]

Great post. I have only asked a few questions myself and will search out questions that were already answered, but when the answers are years old, its nice to be able to ask again. Its nice to hear from people that are still involved in the process.

[B-52 7,113]

Just to jump in.....I read the previous posts, and could not agree more...

However I did see the term "Expert" used a few times....

No One on this forum should call themselves, or be looked upon as an expert....everyone here is a just another person who has undergone something as drastic as surgical intervention to loose weight.

All anyone can do is share their own personal experiences with this, good and bad....there is no right or wrong, just different

people who have different first hand knowledge based upon what they have gone through, not what they heard someone else say or what is the popular opinion.....

People just starting out and have just discovered this forum will quickly see how different some topics can be, and it can get confusing....

Just be wary of those who speak with authority and give definitive answers. It's also amusing to see that many of these "Experts" are just starting out themselves, and feel they know all the answers.

So in that regard, nothing is repetitive....tell your story as much as you want.