Apathy - failure - reaching GOAL. Why do you share your numbers?

Recently when I saw a fresh weight loss and posted it, I was confronted with a commenter who asked me why I posted my body-weight.  It is a fair question and I do not challenge her asking it, because it's been asked of me many times when I have posted my actual weight-as-a-number.

I will say that number-sharing is the norm (...or was?) in the weight loss surgery/bariatric community as a whole for as long as I have been a part of it -- and that is at least 10-12 years that I have actively read and participated in emails, groups and chats.  I posted the question as a poll this morning on Facebook as well.  Go answer!  Come back.

Back in the hey-day of message boards (*5-10 years ago) we would add a line of text to our signatures (..siggies!) to signify our -

• HW (Highest Weight)
• SW (Start Weight or Surgery Weight)
• CW (Current Weight)
• GW (Goal Weight)

They would look a lot like this!

Beth 

HW - 320  SW - 298  CW - 151 - GW - 150

Don't judge the comic-sans.  

I would go back to *my old posts circa 2003/2004 and show you, except I was banned from my message board back then, and my posts via BethLButterfly disappeared.  She posted in Comic Sans at times. Her demise is why MM exists.

Number or weight sharing is.  Was.  Always will be?  I would say that in general -- most individuals that have bariatric surgery are often proud of every single pound lost, and want to wear their "pounds lost" as a badge of honor.  Some post ops are extraordinarily proud and not only wear the pounds lost, current weight, but will add things like "LBS GONE FOREVER!"  

Losing weight is no easy feat, and after bariatric surgery -- it feels like victory. Why wouldn't someone want to own it -- even just for a while?  I suppose when you've been 500, 400, 300, 250 lbs -- wearing a newly slimmed down self is quite a change and being able to put that number out there to the universe -- even just for a while is worth it.

Now, for me.  This commenter wondered if my posting about my actual number was an obsession - let me clear it up here.  No.  I've always weighed myself.  

Bariatric surgery and the life afterwards is ALL ABOUT NUMBERS.  Losing pounds, inches, and sometimes counting calories, measuring food, and exercise.  If you're a pre-op that doesn't want to 'hear that' - I am sorry - but it really, truly, is.

I absolutely understand that some people take these numbers to an extreme - and extremes are unhealthy at any level -- and that is how we get into situations like: needing bariatric surgery.  Extreme caloric intake is unhealthy, an extreme sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy.  We require balance.  

It takes a very long time for some people to learn this:  example ---->  ME.

While I have always "weighed-in,"  I am also The Queen Of Avoidance, and as soon as I see the scale move up - I remove the scale.  (That's magic, if I can't see my regain, no one else can.  That is, until I SEE THE PHOTO EVIDENCE MYSELF AND SCREAM.  *See below.)  

So what has changed?  I removed myself from the effects of negative influences -- changed my views on some things and ... GASP ...

I added ACCOUNTABILITY to my daily life.  I now weigh myself near-daily, or at LEAST weekly.  I check-in my food nearly every single day on a journal.  

Is that obsessive?  No.  Why?  Because before -- not paying attention led to weight regain.  Surrounding myself by people with negative and apathetic views on life - brought me down.

Apathy causes failure.  

Yes, I am fully aware I am a Bariatric Bad Girl - but maybe now you understand - BAD DOES NOT EQUATE "BAD," or breaking rules, or doing things WRONG.  It's BAD-ASS. 

*June 2012 - April 2013

But, recently I started paying attention - and seeing results:

My brain likes to see results, black and white, literal, on paper, in lines, to show me that if I DO X - Y WILL HAPPEN.

Because it works.  (Shut up Weigh****chers.)  And my little brain likes proof.   

If I can see tangible results I will keep going - I will keep doing a thing if I can see a result.  I do not like to work for "free - " you see.  Does that make sense?  Here's an example, a very simple one.  I started going to the gym and doing basic exercise (...long walks on the treadmill and seated elliptical) about a month ago (...I'll check back in my Facebook check ins) and I noticed a tangible result the night before last.  My leg muscles are coming back.  This is enough to create a positive reaction to keep me motivated.  

It's not about obsessing about a number.  I don't have a goal.

What an awesome thread Beth.  I am so totally inspired by it and can relate to so many of the points you make here ... 

"If I can see tangible results I will keep going - I will keep doing a thing if I can see a result."

If I can see it and I can feel it I will DEFINITELY KEEP ON DOING IT!!!  If you ever knew how many 'pictures' have sent me hitting the trail on a run especially on those mornings where the bedsheets feel so good and I have to infuse myself with a mental shot of geritol (yeah I am old) to get me started....and when I do it feels soooooooooooo good ... nothing is as invigorating as an early morning run IMO.

You look FABULOUS ... absolutely  ... CONGRATS!!! 

This is an excellent post!!  I absolutely hate food logging, but I know it helps me, especially with this last 25#.  Thanks for the great inspirational post on a Monday morning!! 

I can relate to so many things you have written in this post.  Excellent!

You look fantabulous!!  Congrats! 

Thank you - things get tricky - as you see!  

Great post!!  Love it!!  I post my weight to hold myself accountable (especially because I am in the losing phase).  I also tell people how much I weigh when they ask.  I weigh every day because I also tend to avoid things and put my head in the sand.  I find myself avoiding even looking at my bank account after shopping too much.  If I don't weigh every day I know I won't be as accountable as I should be.  Knowledge is power.  

Sonja

Love this post.  Thank you for sharing your journey!!!

Thank you, awesome post.   You are an inspiration :). 

I also need to "see the proof"  ... not just know I am eating right and doing my exercise etc, but that it is working for me.  I am a slow looser I think, expecially when I see all the other posts about how much people have lost in the same time frame. I am down just about 55 lbs since surgery (down 101 from highest weight)  approaching my 4 mth anns. Then I say .. hell when did I last loose 55 lbs in 4 mths. lol... 

I chart all my meals, H2O, exercise and weigh ins. Have to keep yourself accountable and responsible for your actions.

Seeing tangible results charted on paper in black and white (and of course the numbers on the scales lol not just visual results in the mirror, or my clothes), keeps me motivated and heading in the right direction.  

To see my "BATWINGS" loosing some hang and taking on some definition is so powerful and makes exercising all the more important to me. ...  I can fly I know I can lol... 

As of this am I am finally at 101 lbs down from my highest weight... ty God, and WLS. :).

TC Hugs to all

Donna  ..........Please be patient . God is not finished with me yet :).

PS Am so looking forward to CBPSO  Oct 5, 2013 to meet everyone. ( I live in Cambridge)

How else is a person going to know where they are and where they are going? It's like trying to get somewhere without a map or GPS, that's not obsessing that's using smart tools. You can't know where you are going if you don't know where you've been. Sounds to me like someone doesn't want to have to be accountable for their actions. The only way I've ever had any success is by journaling my food and keeping track usually daily (so I can catch it before too out of control) of my weight. Losing weight takes a lot of work and awareness and you  can't be aware if you aren't keeping track! Every ounce lost is reason to shout to the world!!!!