Are they lost?

Thanks, Jodie!  We love you, girl!  Although I will admit there have been some glittery shoes...

Maryellen this is an awesome post.  I hope those struggling would feel comfortable asking for help, it's tough I'm sure. 

The poem is great, I'm going to add it to my profile.

 Why "THANK YOU" Cajungirl!

(((HUGS)))

 This girl's not lost! Do I stray from the WLS path once in a while?? Of course I do, but I'm not lost! Pre-surgery and early on in this journey, I attended many support groups faithfully; I was on OH regularly. I had so many questions and was so curious about the experience of others. I'm more concerned with MYSELF at this point.  The support groups I've attended in the recent past really have not been helpful, there was very little I could relate to for myself, and I just don't have that "helping/let's save the world" personality that newbies are looking for; I find OH to be boring and drama-ridden. I just don't feel the need or desire to "save" anyone else, as selfish as that may sound. I am living MY life. I don't spend my day thinking about or defining myself by my WLS or my weightloss. I, like many people, try to live my best life, try to honor myself by living a healthy lifestyle. When I feel the need for some "support", my non-virtual wls friends are the first people I reach out to.  I imagine there are many post ops who feel like I do....

Yup!!!

 Support comes in many ways!  
Here's to wishing you continued support whether virtual or whatever works for you!  

(((HUGS)))

Great feedback and different views.  THIS is what I love about this site.

Kim

We live in a niche society. We all gravitate to places and people that make us feel most comfortable. While not everyone will respond positively to your post, and that's fine, there are others who will be reminded that there is support to be had.

Making yourself available for those who want this kind of support is kind thing to do and your support will be welcomed by them.

Good for you for reaching out.

 THANKS!

(((HUGS)))

I live by your message every single day of my life...I have never reach goal, but am so much better off today than I was 3 years ago...however, these possibly "lost" people that you speak of...there are so many reasons for people to "dissappear" especially in our world of emotionally charged actions....So many of us have surgery to take away the ability to eat too much and lose weight, some of us do the much needed work to figure out why we got that way and stay n a track to keep in touch with that mindset, so many never get the messages or figure out what is wrong with their thinking and regain then have very serious feelings of guilt and isolation, still others never get the messages, memos or flares and don't care to ever get them and regain, some still get the messages relating to food but fall prey to other addictions and have very similar feelings of failure...the feeling of failure is the #1 thing that most of us have in common and for some it is way too overwhelming to ever admit to feeling or get help in changing it...

I live in a family with 5 gastric patients in it, all losing between 100 and 230 lbs...no lightweigts here, all very serious cases..I cannot tell you how different all 5 experiences have been and continue to be...the mental game is not the same for all and IMHO the surgery is only 10% of the work needing to be done, 90% is the mental game played on yourself for the rest of your life...some are willing to work on that and some are just not, some take major time breaks from the overwhelming task and some stick with it everyday of every year....trying to "find" people and help them when they don't want to be found or don't even believe they are lost is a noble but much waste endeavor...mentoring and helping people who are struggling and are receptive to help and assistance now that is something I can get behind...Good luck with your company and your message it is good, but use it on the people *****ally are worth the resource instead of trying to beat the rest into submission, if having their guts rearranged did send a message large enough for them, maybe they are not ready to be "found" and like it that way..

BTW, I live with one of those "lost" people..He insists that he doesn't have problems and that he isn't off track and he would tell you he doesn't need your help and he doesn't want to be found, so I speak from experience...He is not ready to face what ever it is in his mind that makes him eat...and no amount of my *****ing and nagging helps, if anything it probably makes it worse..