I don’t get to this forum much anymore, but I thought I would post some encouraging words for newbies.   Four years ago I had Lapband surgery. It transformed me in ways I never imagined. Maybe you see some of yourself in the old “Tom”. I was sedentary and in poor health. I was unhappy with my weight. I hoped that surgery would change me. I wasn’t sure what that meant. I guess I saw it really as being a thin person. I never thought beyond the pounds lost.    Four years later, I am in a new place I never thought I would be. I became a very active person. I cycle and I run. I love hiking and snowshoeing in the winter. Four years ago, I would never have dreamed this would be me. I hated sports and was always chosen last for all teams.   As you prepare for surgery or as you start your post-op life, think of what your life could be beyond losing the extra weight. What dreams do you have? There is a good chance you can obtain them with a new lease on life. It is really your choice on what path to take.   Think and dream beyond the weight loss.   Tom

Love this post! I'm 4 weeks post-op and stalled on weight loss tso I thrive on post like this! Thank you!

 At 4,weeks, many stall. You body is changing and adjusting to your new diet. Don't worry. Soon the scale will be moving. You are at a good time to sketch out some goals. Be sure to include fun and adventure in some of them. It makes your journey a rewarding experience. Tom

HI all!

I can already see that I am moving better and doing more. Yesterday I went "shopping" in my partner's closet. She was actually amused and is so happy for me that I'm showing an interest in clothes again. I also cooked dinner, something I rarely have done, even though I know how. In the past she did all the cooking because I didn't get home till seven. Now that I'm retired I have no more excuses.

I know that when you are new the changes are pretty confusing and overwhelming and you watch the scale like a hawk. Just keep doing what your doc and dietician say and things will work out and the weight loss will come. It's important to change the thought of "what can I eat and get away with" to "what do I need to eat to get enough protein and follow my plan". 

Take care and be nice to yourself!

Connie

 Tom and Connie,

Tom thank you for this post.  I aspire to and hope for the kind of change you have produced in your life through your surgery.

Connie,  I love your post below Toms encouraging everyone to post more.  When I was a frequent visitor to this board before, it was a busy place.  Now, there seem to be a few tumble weeds blowing past.

It's folks like you who help me keep believing change can happen and support can be found for someone like me who is trying to pry myself out of my lifelong habits that have been taking me down one bite at a time.

so...Thank you!!!  

You know when we talk about the "Journey" I always tell people that its the things you don't expect that really energize you or change WHO you are...

We expect to loose weight to look different and feel different in the common ways. Its the things you don't really expect that make the difference. Its the mental journey that changes who you are..

If you are big for a long time, you don't realize the little things in life that made you mentally feel bad about yourself that you suppress over time. You ignore them until ignorning them becomes a habit. You justify the way you feel as normal so you dont realize these things are related to how you eat.

For me it was normalizing things like the space between me and other objects, or ignoring little pains, or shopping. For instance, how I fit in a plane seat or walked through doors, or how I would tighten my belt up so my pants would squeeze my belly. I would get home and have terrible marks on my stomach from my clothes. Or how I would ignore fashionable clothes because I knew they wouldnt come in my size or clothes that I knew would make me look fat.

I can't tell you how important the mental journey is during the process and how each of us will blossom. I can tell you that it will be amazing and your epiphanies along this journey will change you forever.

I will tell you it will not be an easy journey, but it will be worth it. You will have to be strong and face demons along the way, but it will be worh it. You have to work hard but it i will be worth it. You will get to know yourself in way you never thought, but it will be worth it.

Hugs
Giuliano









 

Tom, I was just talking about this with a good friend tonight.  He was asking me what I want to do when I get the weight off (I have been disabled and in more pain than I care to talk about for so long I really don't remember what it 'feels' like to not have all of that holding me back....and down).  So it is very hard for me to imagine walking - and getting through my days without a thought - every movement right now takes planning - not just where to sit but how to get up and stand upright as quickly as I can so not too many people notice that I am in slowmo).

BUT one thing I did do today is get myself a brand spanking new journal - so I can start working through all of the things I need to as a I release this excess weight!  And in it I will definately start imagining (as best I can) where this journey will take me.

I do have one thing that keeps coming up for me....but I feel like I missed the boat.  I LOVE my TTapp workout and about 6 years ago (seems like a lifetime) I was on the path to become a TTapp trainer....you also have to become a personal trainer in order to do that.  Seems like a fantasy right now...but I am not going to rule it out completely.  Stranger things have happened!
Thanks!
Kathy

 Thanks so much for this.  I do need to look a bit further ahead.  This would probably be good therapy fodder as well.  My therapist will be so pleased!