Some time ago I tried hard to get a long term perspective started on here. Mini and Pierce were great they supported this so brilliantly. Unfortunately I then experienced some problems and was not able to take up their offer of a long term section etc.
Now almost 2 years later so many things have happened and changed for me that it has given me room to move, do things just for me and part of that is WLS based.
At very nearly 6 years out I know that I will be in the minority of folks posting. This time round I really don't care. No I am not the new messiah, I am not the expert on WLS. Yep I choose to see myself as a WLS survivor who remains at target. Not without major problems, not without struggles, not without crying out for help/support from others this far out and sadly not receiving it. BUT this time I do not care I will post about my struggles, I will post the long term perspective as experienced by me and damn those less far out who don't/won't recognise what may happen. WLS is an opportunity not a solution, wake up smell the coffee. To survive 'I hate the term succeed' you really do need to be aware of everything. Once your honeymoon period is over you need to work and work hard.
There are so many problems, obstacles and yes one of the key ones is you. Couldn't "diet" before? watch it you will always need to understand the rules that will keep your WLS weight off. "I'll never diet again" get ready to define diet. You will gain weight if you do not follow a healthy diet plan. Didn't do it pre-WLS? Why the heck will you do it after unless you change your 'diet'? Tricky isn't it when faced with the reality of WLS?
Factor in to keep healthy you need to follow the 'supplements rules". My goodness just how often do i see posts stating that "I don't take vitamin etc" why the hell not? Do you think Bariatric specialists thought this up for a laugh? As I have gone through the years visiting forums for bariatric patients all over the world there have been many who at worse died or suffered so many complications which would have been moderated by taking the supplements. So lets go there again. "Don't like taking tablets so I don't" OK this may very likely mean that you sign your own ill health warranty. Get real folks. read, listen but most of all take responsibility. The cash strapped NHS will deliver your surgery reluctantly, provide all aspects of knowledge ..... maybe, maybe not. Private sector .... a whole other story. Its your life, its you who needs to get with the beat Pete... no-one cares as much about you and your life as you should.
Can i do it alone? Difficult. Don't plan to stick around once the first year is up. Moving on new life? OK many won't. Just bear this in mind many don't, many regain and feel they can't yet another failed weight loss attempt and just disappear. some are fine new life why bother? Well wouldn't newbies welcome their input how did they succeed when others didn't? Long term had problems how do you cope come here for support information. Those who struggled and won even more value to every one.
There is not one person who had WLS who does not have a valuable point to put over. If there was just a place where all WLS peeps kept in touch we would begin to understand what the landscape really is. It will never happen but my goodness I wish it would then we would really move WLS forward and yes make it more readily available as we could say we have the wide real evidence base.
Probably most folks have had enough of me now so be it. I'm back and staying this time I'm pushing this forever until its heard
Now almost 2 years later so many things have happened and changed for me that it has given me room to move, do things just for me and part of that is WLS based.
At very nearly 6 years out I know that I will be in the minority of folks posting. This time round I really don't care. No I am not the new messiah, I am not the expert on WLS. Yep I choose to see myself as a WLS survivor who remains at target. Not without major problems, not without struggles, not without crying out for help/support from others this far out and sadly not receiving it. BUT this time I do not care I will post about my struggles, I will post the long term perspective as experienced by me and damn those less far out who don't/won't recognise what may happen. WLS is an opportunity not a solution, wake up smell the coffee. To survive 'I hate the term succeed' you really do need to be aware of everything. Once your honeymoon period is over you need to work and work hard.
There are so many problems, obstacles and yes one of the key ones is you. Couldn't "diet" before? watch it you will always need to understand the rules that will keep your WLS weight off. "I'll never diet again" get ready to define diet. You will gain weight if you do not follow a healthy diet plan. Didn't do it pre-WLS? Why the heck will you do it after unless you change your 'diet'? Tricky isn't it when faced with the reality of WLS?
Factor in to keep healthy you need to follow the 'supplements rules". My goodness just how often do i see posts stating that "I don't take vitamin etc" why the hell not? Do you think Bariatric specialists thought this up for a laugh? As I have gone through the years visiting forums for bariatric patients all over the world there have been many who at worse died or suffered so many complications which would have been moderated by taking the supplements. So lets go there again. "Don't like taking tablets so I don't" OK this may very likely mean that you sign your own ill health warranty. Get real folks. read, listen but most of all take responsibility. The cash strapped NHS will deliver your surgery reluctantly, provide all aspects of knowledge ..... maybe, maybe not. Private sector .... a whole other story. Its your life, its you who needs to get with the beat Pete... no-one cares as much about you and your life as you should.
Can i do it alone? Difficult. Don't plan to stick around once the first year is up. Moving on new life? OK many won't. Just bear this in mind many don't, many regain and feel they can't yet another failed weight loss attempt and just disappear. some are fine new life why bother? Well wouldn't newbies welcome their input how did they succeed when others didn't? Long term had problems how do you cope come here for support information. Those who struggled and won even more value to every one.
There is not one person who had WLS who does not have a valuable point to put over. If there was just a place where all WLS peeps kept in touch we would begin to understand what the landscape really is. It will never happen but my goodness I wish it would then we would really move WLS forward and yes make it more readily available as we could say we have the wide real evidence base.
Probably most folks have had enough of me now so be it. I'm back and staying this time I'm pushing this forever until its heard
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