Wake up and remember 8 months ago!!

With the rest, I welcome you to the board and encourage you not to lurk anymore.... With that I can see your perspective but know this board is about love, support and talking thru the issues that we are experiencing. That includes dabbling with past habits, examining them and moving forward. We are in this together, as friends and partners in what is likely one of the biggest decisions we've ever made. Please embrace the love and friendship we have here and join us to share experiences, frustrations and comraderie. We are all human, with that we will make mistakes, learn from them and move forward. Hugs, Tiffany

Maranda, What an awful way to introduce yourself to the board. You cannot have posted this out of concern for the JMB members. If you cared at all you would have been far more couth and caring. I love to welcome new members with open arms but find that hard to do with you and the way you flamed. May God Bless you in your journey and perhaps give you some guidance as to what is really going on with you that you had to post such a message. Jen

Hey Maranda (such a pretty name and unusual spelling). I see where you are coming from----I can see you weren't intentionally harsh..... As for me, I try to stay away from the whole good-food/bad-food.....good dieter/bad dieter.....good WLS-er/bad WLS er etc...it feels to me like I've done that to myself whole life....I can't believe it's that simple--cuz I am complex and my food behavior is complex, too. As for the weight being my fault, it probably is. I won't feel contemptuous of myself for my weight issues anymore---I'm a fat person who will ALWAYS struggle. I just have to treat myself with compassion and understanding....I am the very same weak person who could never resist food...perhaps I never will be able to resist and I may even regain weight....however, I am still just SO VERY FABULOUS that even if I return to 300 pounds I can't feel bad about it. You see, I have a daughter and I can never give in to self loathing about my weight. If she becomes overweight some day I hope she doesn't feel like a huge failure....there is so much more to her.... I know this is a very long response.... I think you wrote your post out of fear and worry----the thought of re-gaining the weight must terrify you. It does me, too. More important to me that if we gain or lose in the next 5 years--I wonder will we all be well and happy------no matter the weight. C'mon out of lurkerdom and join us in learning more about ourselves by learning about each other (sounds so cheesy, yet it's soooo true) Cathy

I am so sorry that you feel we are doing something wrong with the way we chose to live. Yes, live. We chose life not death and a part of life is eating and socializing. We all keep up with our doctors and nuts and if we are doing things wrong it is their responsibility to tell us, NOT YOU. My surgeon says that I am doing great. My pcp says the same thing. I don't need you to flame me because I chose on occasion to have one of your . I personally feel like Jen. It is a little hard to greet you with open arms. I would never dream of coming out of left field and crashing down on you the way you have us. Hazel

Hi Maranda and the Jan OH board, Glad you posted Maranda, and equally pleased to see all the responses. I love this board for so many reasons: support, help, and a shared virtual experience. I must be a slow learner but I'm still trying to lose the weight and learning how to eat in a way to maintain the rest of my life. I suspect I do worry about gaining it back, but as the pounds slowly disappear I am so shocked each time I weigh less. I am only 4#s from the weight on my DL (not for 30 years have I weighed this little)! To be perfectly frank, feeling my hip bones yesterday for the first time was thrilling. This is a very personal choice we all made and difficult to face our greatest demons. How we deal with those is as diverse as all of us. The freedom to express those fears/ideas/wow moments and advice is what makes me click on this site as often as possible. I am proud of all of us- and we belong to a very special group of brave people. thank you all cj

Hey Maranda: I am always a supporter of someone who speaks their mind (regardless if the opinion is a popular one or not) so welcome aboard! That being said, I guess I am a big, fat, hairy "No No!" :::she says as she slurps on her Diet Pepsi::: To each her own, Chickie! Have a great day...I hope you post more often! Jersey