People we wish would choose WLS... just thoughts on the subject.

 


 



 
The following is just some messages between Rochelle and i... I felt a need to save it as I think it could prove to be a good reminder when we are feeling for others who have not yet ventured into WLS land :)
 
On 05/11/13, 03:26pm rbd74 wrote: hey becca, I just wanted to send you a message. You are so inspiring and i find all your posts so wonderful. i guess i struggle with WW and other "diets" because they have been the false hope of so many of us. And for those who are obese I don't think WW or any diet would ever work. I really struggle too with people who would benefit from WLS but won't choose it even though money is no problem. I try not to judge - knowing that this life is not for every one. but i see them joining WW for the 50th time or trying once again the newest fad diet and i just don't understand. I tell myself to mind my own business but i feel so sorry for them. especially those who i know personally and they can see how good it worked for me. I don't know how to encourage them in their dieting choices. i celebrate when they lose and i tell them to just keep on track when they gain. But i have to hold in my true feelings that the likelihood of them succeed forever is very low. Anyway - i envy you going back to school, but boy oh boy how we all benefit from your knowledge. take care, Rochelle
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Thank you so much for the kind words Rochelle!! And I do get where you are coming from... I really do! It is so hard to watch strangers, let alone the people we love, to struggle with obesity issues... As I am sure you know, I am still preop... but now that I have chosen to do this, its like I want to pass out WLS business cards to the people I see struggle each and every day! You are also right that diets don't work... only a life style change will bring about permanent results, and not even all wls folks can pull it off... This is only my personal meanderings on the subject... But i see it as kinda like growing up... we want our kids to learn from our mistakes and not have to experience the heartbreaks for themselves, but for many of life's lessons, this is not possible... We each must fall down, skin our knees, break our hearts, sometimes even our spirits, and then find our inner strength to dust ourselves off and try again.... I think this is true for many people struggling with their weight. Making lifestyle changes is sooo scary! To give up our old comfortable shoes for new ones we have to break in, well, its a painful process! And worse than the pain, it is scary! I was one of those people who thought I'd NEVER have WLS... Not cause i thought it bad or easy way out... in fact, because I KNEW it required a lifestyle change, a forced one... and that was in part real scary for me... But also because i always figured if I was truly ready to make a real, rest of my life, change, then I wouldn't need surgery! I always lost weight easily enough, it was sticking to the change that I never could seem to do... (like many others) But I thought if that's what it takes to have surgery.... and i cannot do it now, why could I do it a year or two after surgery when it really mattered? Yeah, I'd lose, but it wouldn't stay off if I didn't fix my head! And I'd be one of those who gained it back... When I hit 49 (I am almost 53 now...) my health dumped. High Cholesterol, high BP, heck, high everything... you know how that story goes! Ha! And I was almost 50, a scary time for me... So, it was time to do what I should have done (tried to do) before... I quit smoking and started working out and eating right... Did it in what I consider the right way. Didn't change anything I could not do for the rest of my life. Started tracking my foods (and still do today!)... I was doing it! Long (long!!) story short (well, shorter than it could be!), I ended up diagnose with Hashimotos (thyroid) and after MANY tests and NUT visits, docs decided I was doing everything I could, but between my thyroid and years of yo-yo dieting, my metabolism was toast... (is that a pun?) I managed to lower my cholesterol, got my BP meds cut in half, etc... but next to no success in the wt loss area.... So, here I am for surgery! And I am ready! I know it won't be easy, but I already know I can (have, and am) change my lifestyle... I have been doing that for 4 years now, so i no longer worry about that getting in the way... the point to my ramblings (yeah, really! I do have one! LOL!) is that I had to find my own way here... I had to fall down, skin my knees, break my heart, etc etc... No one could figure this out for me... No one could have lead me here... I do wish I had figured it out sooner... but no one could do that for me... So, when I see all these people, strangers and loved ones, who could/would/should benefit from surgery, I remind myself they will ONLY benefit if they are ready... And when/if they are ready, all we can do is help them open the door :) Not that you didn't know this stuff already.... and I am so sorry to have blabbered your ear off!! (I am a psy major! Please excuse me! LOL!) Guess I was feeling the need to chat :) :) Thank you for listening and ALL of your kind words! It makes my day when something I might have said helped open a door for someone, helping them get someplace they desire to go :) :) You are awesome!! And your success is inspiring!! Gives this preop-er hope! :) Becca :)