Facebook Followup

A number of people have asked me to followup about my Facebook post and to share the reactions I got. They were overwhelmingly positive! I'm SO happy that I shared this and that it's now all out in the open and not driving me crazy inside. My Facebook post is a day and a half old at this point. I also created a "life event" on Facebook with my VSG and got some comments on that as well.  I haven't gotten any private messages yet - I wonder if I will in the future.  My partner's parents also have yet to call him to say, "WTF, Gwen got surgery and you didn't tell us?!"  So we're waiting for that to happen still.  ;)

It's gotten 73 likes so far and here are the comments to date:

Person #1 (my SIL) - Wow! Way to go! 82 total pounds is monumental! So happy for you!

Person #2 - really happy for you that you are finding where you want to be and getting there, some people never even manage to figure out what they want

Person #3 (friend who is a psychologist) - Great work. I know that surgical intervention positive success requires lifestyle changes by the participant -- sounds like you've totally stepped up to the plate! Keep asking and getting support in all avenues in your life and congratulations to you for the reclaiming of your existence.

Person #4 - Fantastic!!!! Keep it up! I love seeing your happy posts!!

Person #5 (a cousin in law) - Oh my goodness!!! That has got to make you feel amazing! You're doing great!

Person #6 - Woot! Congratulations.

Person #7 - Gwen, this is just wonderful news. I bet you feel a whole lot better both physically and spiritually. Way to go!

Person #8 - That's great! You've worked hard and deserve every bit if success!

Person #9 - Well done, keep up the good work

Person #10 - Wow! Wonderful work, body and mind!

Person #11 - Way to go. Happiness is a good thing!

Person #12 - Awesome job! Very happy for you

Person #13 - Keep it up!

Me - Thank you, all! It has definitely been hard work, but totally fulfilling. I could not be happier!

Person #14 - Wow! Way to go! That's so awesome

Person #15 - Congrats. My ex went through a very similar procedure and I remember the changes she had to go through because of it. It gets easier down the road. Keep at it.

Person #16 - Very proud of you, Gwen. And thanks for sharing.

Person #17 - Very happy for you! Isn't it nice to feel that you can control something by something you do? I lost quite a bit of weight over the last year too, through intermittent fasting twice a week and exercising a few times a week. I've come to admit that I have a NEED to control something in my life and keeping myself healthy (be kind to myself) is something I have small successes in. Glad to hear you are doing so well!

Person #18 - Congrats Gwen! Good for you!

Person #19 (a cousin) - That's awesome, Gwen!! I'm sure your body is thanking you for taking care of it. Hugs!!

Me - I'm seriously blown away by all of the positive replies. I was super nervous about sharing this so thank you all.

This process has been anything but easy, so I'm often reminded of JFK saying that we do things "because they are hard." Only he said "haaaahd."

I'm a bit over 40% to my ultimate goal and I know it certainly won't get easier, but I know I'll get there, especially with support from all of you.

Thanks!!

Person #15, again - I think any true friend would do whatever they could to help out. Anyone that wouldn't isn't worth the time. I can understand being afraid because of the culture we live in but I would think most of your friends are not sucked into that culture. Keep doing what you are doing and I will support you.

Person #20 - What a wonderful year for you! ! Rock it Gwen!!

Person #21 - A wonderful announcement post. Well done! You've done such a great job with all the pieces of this thing.

Person #22 - Go, Gwen! I'm cheering you on from here...

Person #23 (another cousin) - sounds like you are doing things the right way ....keep up the good work

And the email from my mom when I sent her an email to let her know that my surgery and weight loss are now public information. This email got my eyes all wet:

Magnificent. I am sure it is a big load off your mind to now have this out in the “open.” Thanks for sharing your success with us along the way and before it all began. We are both very, very proud of you. BUT, even without this major undertaking we are still EXTREMELY proud of you. We have a very fantastic daughter :)

Here are the comments from the life event post, it's gotten 3 likes:

Person #1 (he had RNY a few years ago) - Everything going well?

Me - SUPER well Best thing I've ever done for myself!

Person #1, again - Yay! I didn't know you did the sleeve instead of other. Getting your protein?

Me - All the protein. I probably average around 80 grams a day, but still need a shake per day to get it all. Thankfully I like my shake and don't like eating solid food in the morning, so this works out well.

Person #1, again - That sounds awesome! I struggled to get the protein too. I ate a lot of jerky, especially turkey. I didn't make a lot of my meals so I are a lot of deli meat and cheese.

Me - I keep thinking I should eat jerky, and I even bought a packet of salmon jerky, but I never get around to eating it! But I'll definitely be bringing jerky to GenCon, oh yes.

Person #2 - I love salmon jerky!!!!

Me - It's really tasty, Person #2!

Me - Due to the protein requirements, I've been loving Paleo blogs and recipes. They're very sleeve-friendly.

Gwen im so happy for you that this choice you have made to come out with wls has worked so well for you! Congrats! !!! :-)

♡ Kelly

Thank you!  I seriously feel so relieved.  I hated feeling like I had this BIG HUGE THING that I couldn't talk about.  

You will definitely get PM's. The more you post happy pics of you living your life without the added stress of obesity, the more people will start thinking about it. I have had at least 20 childhood friends get weight loss surgery after talking to me. I never tell them to have surgery. I tell them my thoughts and tell them to do lots of research. I realize surgery is not for everyone.

I'm glad your "coming-out" has been a positive experience!!

I hope that I'm able to inspire other people with my own experience.  That would be awesome :D

Thanks for sharing, Gwen. At some point I want to do the same. I'm not quite ready yet. I want to wait until I've lost some more weight and can post some really nice before/after photos. I'm glad to know you had such positive reactions. 

You're welcome!  It took me 80 pounds lost (which is only 40% of my goal!) before I was ready.  

Sadly it's hard for me to do really good before/after pics, since I shaved my head about 6 weeks post-op and look TOTALLY different.  Most people are too shocked by the hair that they don't see the weight loss.  Heh.  

Oooh, girl!  Super awesome!  And GenCon! Are you cosplaying??

Jen

I will be cosplaying a geeky gamer girl ;)  My usual.