Why I'm still HERE almost 15 years later...

Oct 19, 2016

People could assume the title is either why I'm still alive and/or why I'm still in the wls communities, after everything that's been said and done..

I will elaborate, OK?

Okay, haven't blogged on OH.com for awhile. I actually have been not on social media much, overall, in the last year...

I do get private queries though about gastric bypass  reversals and I still remain in the wls communities online, to provide long term support. 

Everyone needs non judgmental but realistic support. I don't subject the wls communities I participate in, my complications and my gastric bypass reversal. I do talk about it though, because at the time I had mine, NO ONE ELSE had one and I don't believe people should go through scary near death experiences without support. 

At the same time I get all the good things that come from having bariatric surgery. All the confusing things that can happen after bariatric surgery both within ourselves and relationships with others. Whether they are positive or negative or combination there of. 

For the most part, people who are the most ardent wls advocates support what I do and vice versa. I of course have my haters. I get a fair share of hate, given how little of a social media presence that I have. 

For numerous reasons. Such as I do support as a size and fat acceptance advocate that people don't experience fat bigotry and definitely defend peoples right to not want to have bariatric surgery and/or hear about weight loss topics all the time. Especially which should be their safe spaces on the internet. 

People think though that's mutually exclusive, it's not. I can say that promoting body diversity and not shaming any body type is a good thing, not a bad thing. 

The best way I point it out, to my wls peeps who are confused about my stance, because they are so happy they've lost weight they can't see that other people can be of weight and be happy. Or in a lot of situations especially here in the bariatric surgical world, that they start out SMO, such as someone who's maybe 500 lbs, they lose 200, but aren't considered bariatric surgical succcesses because they are still considered Obese. 

Or the health issues both medically and mentally and sometimes treatments that cause Obesity and no one wants to talk about it, especially Mental Health and certain meds, that played apart of my major regain, PRIOR to my reversal and even though I couldn't keep food down, I managed to gain almost a 100 lbs back. 

As a gramma grad, I will tell most people this, unless you're asked specifically, kind of keep your eyes on your own weight loss journey and not judge others. Especially harsh judgements. When you find yourself doing that, realize so many people are left without an avenue of suppport, especially in our own communities. 

At the same time, realize if people are self sabotaging to the point they are a direct threat to their own physical and/or mental health, a concerned peer, will probably say something. 

Where people might be apt to find me a tiny bit inspirational, even though the scope of my life is so small, is that I have tried to keep weight off, that I do try to make it easier for people to tell their truths, after bariatric surgery both inspiring and horrific. And to be supported.

So that's why I'm still HERE almost 15 years post rny... Peace... 

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