Post op Stapler Encouragement! Must read! - ThinnerTimes

bridgetgirl · 05-31-2008, 07:43 AM

Must read cuz rappaport and jumbojulie said so

I would like to make a suggestion and pass long some wisdom from and old-bee to those of you who are post op.
Would you, could you consider taking off your current weight from your signatures? I didn’t know if any of you would consider it after hearing what I think about it all.

I find that many of you that are post op often secretly spy on someone that is close to your surgery date and watch their numbers consistently. This is so unfair to YOU because there are many variables involved when it comes to losing weight.

When we first started here, most of us would only list our surgery weight and our goal weight that was it. Why? We didn’t want other people to judge themselves based off individual results. So what if MISS THANG is losing a pound day and you are losing 3 pounds a week? Your skin is coming back better, and there will be day when MISS THANG has a stall. Take your success day by day. If you would only weigh yourselves once a month you will see that you lose 20-35 pounds a month!! Not 1,2,4, pounds a week. See the contrast one is great, the other feels defeating. We would post milestones like, finally at my drivers lisc weight, Twoterville, onederland, goal, high school weight, etc. By doing it this way we had goals we were reaching, not day to day measurement of success or not.

I know how exciting losing is, I get it, and I’ve been there. If you chose to post your current weight because your proud, I don’t blame you at all. Its very exciting time. I just wanted to put some thought on the idea is all. Think about this though, pre WLS did you ever freely divulge your weight to anyone?

On a personal note, I did not post my current weight. I made that decision because I lost UNUSUALLY fast and never had a stall. Does that make me great or better than my peers? Hell no, it made me a freak and lucky as hell. I didn’t want my unusual loss to effect the spirit of those I cared about and encouraged. That’s probably why people were shocked to all mighty after 9 months I announced I was having reconstructive surgery already. But at 9 months I had stopped at a 120 pound loss and maintained that for 3 months. See what I mean? A freak, lol!

I am going to give ya some suggestions on getting through this really hard period of honeymoon:
Spying on your neighbors numbers
I know how hard this can be, but remember there are many variables involved. Height for starters (the taller you are the more muscle mass you have, therefore you burn faster) Weight (the heavier you are the faster you burn initially), sex (men burn faster, cuz they have more muscle and mass) age (younger metabolisms burn faster) activity (are ya moving)
weaning yourself off the scale
Call your BFF or mom or someone and GIVE YOUR SCALE TO THEM! Weigh once a month, or if that’s too much for you to handle twice a month is okay. I only weighed at the Dr's office. Let me ask you this, pre WLS how anxious were you to hop on that scale? Rare to never I bet. So what has changed? You are letting a tool measure your self worth. Gotta stop. Also, some people that are super successful, arent always honest either. Embelishment happens, perspective is their own. Do yourself a favor and get away from the scale, then re do your stats, list your GOAL weight. Keep your eyes on the prize, your goal weight. Right now you’re eyeing week by week results, that is unfair to yourself. Its not a race, k? Doesnt matter how long it takes to cross the finish line, crossing it is what counts. You will cross, victoriously!

I just wanna say you ar all doing great, you are all unique, but wonderfully enough we share a common bond that makes us family. Whatever you decide to do regarding posting your weight or ending your love affair with the scale, I wish you nothing but the greatest success. I see your success as my success, and Iwant everyone of you to be thin and healthy forever. Get er done... see ya at the finish line

rappaport · 05-31-2008, 08:03 AM

I've thought about this in the past and how it affects others. I agree with you and in doing so, I removed my current weight.

So my outlook from now on is, how do I feel and look today.

And the answer will always be, great!

chiquita · 05-31-2008, 11:12 AM

I have chosen not to do so.
Why?
Because I use this as a way for me to track my journy.
We all loose at different rates, and yes perhaps some use it to compare themselfs, but perhaps that is ok, depends on the person doing the checking.
I weigh everyday and I honestly do not have problem when I hit a bump or two or a 3 week stall, is just part of it, but the fact that some share their progress along the way, helps me relax more realizing, I am still loosing and even if I don't get there as fast as some, and even if some are slower at loosing then me, we all made different, have different living circumstances, weight, height, lifestyle, etc.
I do not offcourse say everyone has to leave their current weight on, I think it's just a matter of personal preference, and I prefer to leave it on, showing that yes, I struggle along the way, but I am not giving up.

Godsblessedme · 05-31-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

I lost UNUSUALLY fast and never had a stall

totally unfair, but God knew you would be a blessing to us that are really struggling so thank GOD for your journey!

Chaquita, thats ok to track it like that too

i'm glad you dont have a problem because it really messes with your mind.

Bridget i took my current weight off too. And tommorow will be my last "weigh in" until June 8th. than i'm striving for once a month. i am determined to get to the finish line and win this race! I may not be having plastics at 9 months but i pray that i am considerably under 200 at 9 months

If someone would have told me that this scale and these all too often stalls would affect my emotions so much, i probably would have laughed. But i have let them affect me thus not "enjoying" the journey of this WL so i will get right and ditch the addiction of the scale woe's and just enjoy life as i used to before WLS

God bless you Bridget and thank you for your realistic way to looking at this journey.

weza215 · 05-31-2008, 01:40 PM

Bridgetgirl,
I totally agree with you. When I came home I didn't have a scale and I was happy with that then my mother in law brought hers down and now I get upset if I don't see the numbers going down. Tonight I'm giving it back. I haven't posted any amount of weightloss because I will only go by what my doctors scale says. I have another 5 days until my first dr. appt preop so until then I don't care I just know that I'm following the program and that's what I'm suppose to do. The weight will come off eventually. Lisa

Grammy O · 05-31-2008, 05:32 PM

I think that it is a great idea Bridgetgirl!

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I will only post starting and goal weight when I do.

JumboJulie · 05-31-2008, 05:50 PM

Damn Bridget!

We are very lucky you're still here with us (and grateful).
I'm changing my signature just as soon as I finish writing this little note to you. I too am losing rapidly ... even my surgeon is surprised. She said I'm losing the weight "like a guy". I have come to learn that my numbers are not the 'norm' and I frequently trip over my words when someone asks me why they have only lost half of what I have in the same amount of time. Or they ask why they're experiencing stalls, and I don't seem to be. I just don't know what to say to that. I have gone from a size 26 to a size 18 in 11 weeks and I'm proud of that, but the last thing I want to do is see someone else feel bad about themselve's because it's going a bit slower for them.
I have my "before" picture taped to my mirror. I also have a post-it next to it with all my weights and dates. I don't need to post them here as well. Thank you Bridget ... this is why you're our faithful leader!

JumboJulie · 05-31-2008, 06:07 PM

You know what Bridget?!
Looking at my new signature, I'm prouder of this one than I was with my own numbers!

((bowing humbly before you))

bridgetgirl · 06-01-2008, 06:36 AM

Yeah! Congrats to those of you who did it, Im proud of you!

The scale is evel, measurement of daily self worth is awful.
Julie, sounds like you are following what heppened to me. The unfortunate thing is you have people with "normal" wls results looking at you, your words, your numbers, etc asking themselves what are they doing wrong. In all actuality you are one of the X men like me

When I went to my 6 mont post op (after 7 months) Kelly the PA, she said your done. I said I cant be, she said accept it, the rest is skin. I was sad cuz the journey was over so fast, disgusted that I was going to be left looking like I ws still fat and this was the best it got? I was mixed with emotions. So then I sheduled my PS consult, and now I feel successful.

Y'aa are doing a great job no matter if you post your digits or not, I know you are going to secretly stare anyways

Love yas!

MiladyB · 06-01-2008, 10:11 AM

My surgeon and his partners are firm believers in not even giving a patient a goal weight. They want their patients to concentrate on their quality of life as their goal. They basicly have said to me, 'I honestly don't care if you are 145 or 200. If your quality of life has improved, then in my eyes you are a success.' They encourage us to put away our scales, to judge our success on how we are feeling, how our clothes are fitting, the increase in our energy, the falling away of co-morbidities. To them, those are the things that should gauge our success.

For myself, personally I picked a goal weight. I still haven't reached it and in some ways it does bum me out a bit. During those times I sit myself down and give myself a talking to. I make myself look at how much better my life is now in comparison to 2 1/2 years ago. I wasn't living life then, I really wasn't, but I am now.

Even though I haven't made my own goal weight I feel I am a success.

Bridget, I feel you make a good point and I love what Julie has done, recording her "wows"...to me those are the goals we should have, not the numbers on the scale.