4 years ALREADY??

May 28, 2009

At nearly 4 years post-op, the weight takes constant watching, otherwise it starts to creep back up.  My best advice to everyone is weigh yourself everyday.  That way you know what's going on.  If it goes up a little, you can catch it, and make the changes needed to get the weight back off before you've gained 20 or more pounds.  I'm not saying it's easy.  Those who think this is a magic bullet have no clue.  It really is a permanent life change.  You are on "maintenance" for the rest of your life.  But think of the alternative.  Can you imagine being 300+ pounds and still trying to figure out how to get it off in the first place.  At least with this, you have the opportunity to get the weight off and now all you have to do is MAINTAIN it!  I'm here to tell you that after maintaining this weight for about two and a half years, it's a whole heck of a lot easier than trying to lose it in the first place.  I'm thankful everyday for the gift of the surgery and grateful that I have not had any of the problems that so many people do suffer from.  However, I am VERY compliant.  I follow the rules.  I do not drink when I eat.  I have two or three protein supplements EVERY day, I take ALL of my vitamins EVERY day and I'm not talking about Flintstone's and Viactive!  I drink alcohol very rarely, and I exercise.  It doesn't take a lot!  I not only go to support groups, I lead a support group!  The original leader quit after about six months of non-compliance and then announced the surgery didn't work. I kept it going however, and here we are, almost four years later, still going strong.  Support is important.  It keeps you honest, it keeps things in the front of your mind.  You can't put things to the side, thinking you'll get back to them when you get a chance.  Is your health of so little importance to you?  Not me.  I worked hard to get here.  It's much easier to stay here than it will ever be to try to get BACK here.  Be strong, be happy, don't think of this as a prison sentence, just think of it as the cost of being healthy.  It's a pretty small price.

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