this is the scary part

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

@@laguerr13 good post, but as a side note, some of us talk alot about clothing size, how we look etc because we have been at goal long enough that the obesity disease state is less.... pressing. I had WLS to extend my life and to keep me "able bodied" longer. I was becoming disabled and had life shortening co-morbidities. I didn't really have expectations to be trim - I just prayed to get and stay under 200# (at 5'5" still obese) However, my surgery was in 2011 I have been at goal (normal BMI/size) for about 2.5 years... so for me my daily focus IS more about clothes, looks, being able to stay active etc.

It is isn't easy. Old habits.. and heck who am I kidding a normal American lifestyle/ways of eating always beckon... so you have to remain diligent but it is worth it.

One of my brothers gave me a birthday part with a very obese unattractive woman on the card stuffing a huge piece of cake in her mouth and the card said "calories don't count on your birthday". I am not sure why he picked such an offensive card for me, but i choose to use it as my little mantra for this week "calories actually DO count no matter what day" I am not trying to say obsessively, but I had a big birthday party and I did eat some chips and some gelato BUT I mostly ate healthy and I ate lightly in the days before it to make up for it. I theorize normal people do that.

[Katcloudshepherd 630]

I cannot echo enough about taking one day at a time. Sometimes, all you can do is take one meal at a time, one hour at a time. Do not worry about tomorrow. LIVE in the moment. I went to Over-eaters Anonymous for several years before surgery.

Maintenance is to me, the more difficult part of this. I have to remind myself of just what a slippery slope it is to fall back into old BAD habits. Thinking I can have this or that when in fact--I can only rarely but not every day. That is the part I've always struggled with. Not eating certain trigger foods every day. Foods that trigger that all consuming, I cannot eat enough.

I see a counselor, I have been working on my head for so long. Man I wish I had a reset button for my brain! It's not easy as I have to work every day at it--One Day At A Time, (ODAAT).

Blessings,

Kathleen

Edited June 16, 2015 by Katcloudshepherd

[Julie norton 2,850]

I, too, find the thought of a major regain quite scary. You do read on the boards about some who had blissful years with WLS ... Then a crisis or health change or band removal caused a huge change in weight... While they were watching their intake and exercising!

I don't know about any of you, but I am NOT willing to go back to 249 lbs ever !I I eat well and exercise faithfully

And just hope I am one if the lucky ones that can keep up my lifestyle .

It has been over 8 1/2 years and I am still a bit fearful of what happens to us long term banders. I don't see any 15 year post surgery posts... But I want to read them!

Any info on anyone past 10 years ?

Alex and jack are the only posters I see with that much experience.

I don't fester on this... But it is in my head.