Ok everyone, let's have a frank discussion about regain...

Nik it wasn't your response that evoked that response from Terese...I'm pretty confident it was the following because it hit me the same way..and I quote

"But honestly it's posting's like that that makes me shy away from this and the main boards (that and the fact that I get sick of reading the same questions every week).  I wish the Graduates and over 18 month boards would get more active. "

As a newbie it stings to read posts like that...we are annoying, yes we are because this is new and intimidating. Honestly if that board gets more active, this one will get less active with the very people we rely on the most.  Yes, we DO rely on you all for guidance.  I think most of us collectively agree that somedays these boards are the only reason we can get through the day without throwing our hands up in the air. 

Again, it wasn't your posting this topic...I'm glad you did...it was the way some of the experienced that have reacted that had us scratching our heads...

Well, you know though…like I said…we ***** And we probably shouldn’t. It’s the freaking internet for goodness sakes. But we still do it. And newbies ***** about us *****ing. Then we have a *****fest and it all subsides.

 

Frankly, I’d be weirded out if it didn’t happen at least ever so often…

 

Thank you for understanding. I can be very passionate about this board. Mostly because this place has, many a day, stopped me from stepping into oncoming traffic (and no, I am not kidding).

 

When I got to my plateau I hadn’t reached goal. And it never occurred to me that that could happen because nobody talked about that. And when I started being able to eat more I was afraid because few people talked about it (Jupiter6 being the exception and I credit half the good sense I have now to her, Pam and Jen). It also didn’t occur to me that everyone does not dump, that you should eat more if you exercise and that in the end self acceptance is the end of the journey, NOT a number on the scale.

 

So I think it’s important for us to talk about this stuff. And yeah, it gets sort of nerve wracking with new folks coming in and going out. But I notice that the newbies that are here now have a heap more sense than I did as a newbie. I’d like to think this board has something to do with that.

Thank you for understanding. I can be very passionate about this board. Mostly because this place has, many a day, stopped me from stepping into oncoming traffic (and no, I am not kidding). Me too (stopped me from stepping in traffic that is)-especially the first month which for me was the hardest...I'm typically a very happy person, so this new little pessimest in me was unusual...but I'm better now, and yes very large in part due to this board.

It also didn’t occur to me that everyone does not dump, that you should eat more if you exercise and that in the end self acceptance is the end of the journey, NOT a number on the scale. Statements like this are more helpful than you know!! That is why I live on this board right now...I think my boss has caught me "fast clicking" this site off my screen several times--

I believe I've told you a few times how much I appreciate that you are ALWAYS there to answer a question...and as far out as you are that made you a very trustworthy source of information for me right from the very beginning.

That would be me your quoting. 

In my defense I have seen the same issue twice on the same page, some times 3 subjects down,  numerous times, that gets old.  Please, read each others posts, if it's about poop and your having a problem with poop read it, don't start a new subject.  If you don't get the answer you want then ask, but really how many times can I see, I've stalled at 3 months out, I can't poop or what can I eat,  in one day! 

That's what I'm talking about, I don't mind people asking questions, that's how we learn, but look to see if that question has been asked in the past few hours!

Off my soap box now,

Edie

Yes, I understand totally why you would feel that way!!!!   I personally think that because we are all different, when we post a question we've read an answer to 50 times, somehow we expect the answer to be different, as if we'll magically be an exception to the rule.  That is why I said we ARE annoying.  However, if the experienced board gets more active we'll lose the guidance/support we need.  Eventually, we'll all learn where to go to continue to bug you!!! LOL!  Surely you can see why someone could be taken back a bit by your statement just like I totally understand how you can get completely annoyed by me and other newbies that post the same boring questions over and over again.  I've read the hair loss questions thousands of times...I have not started losing mine YET, but I'm sure when I do I might post the same annoying, awful question praying that someone might pop up that hasn't before that has something to add.  Illogical?...definitely, annoying?...definitely, but totally necessary for coping with the changes we are going through.  Having been there yourself once, you know what we are going through.  What prompted my post was my serious, serious fear about re-gain...it has happened to everyone I personally know that had the surgery.  100% failure rate among my family/friend is very hard to swallow.  I'm terrified it'll happen to me too.  I ate a chip at a party last night-- 1 single chip and beat myself up about all night...holy crap...why did I eat a flipping chip--it was mindless to..until I was crunching down on it.  Mindless eating...totally what got me here in the first place. 
Thanks for answering our annoying questions...hopefully we'll pay it forward soon! :)

I almost can't imagine how one doesn't regain :(

I was fat by six...and God willing, I have some 50+ years left to screw this up.  I dump on nothing.  I still love food, I don't forget to eat, I don't get repulsed by the mere though of food.  LOL.

I am a good do-be, but MAN I feel like this gift is fragile.

So good