BuffyBear's Journal, 15 Apr 15

To each their own. It's not for me, but who am I to tell someone else it's not for them? I've seen it work & I've seen it fail; just like any other diet program. All the more evidence I judge this journey to be, this is more of a mental game than it is about food consumption. Your plan, surgical or non, is your plan. If you are prepared mentally to make it work, it will. If you are not prepared mentally, it won't. Despite all the marketing ploys & advertisements thrown in the direction of people seeking to lose weight, there are no magic bullets. There are a lot of opportunist out there seeking to separate overweight people from their money, but there are no easy ways out. My opinion & I apply it to myself only. I support anyone that needs it, no matte the plan they have laid out for themselves. It takes tenacity & effort on all fronts to succeed at this game; & you have to be mentally strong enough to navigate the process. Statistics say 95% of the people who lose weight, gain it back. I have lost weight in the past & put it back on, plus added to it. I was not mentally prepared to change my habits. But this time I have a different mindset. This is not for a period of time until I can return to my "normal" eating habits. I know my "normal" eating habits had me pushing nearly 500 pounds. I choose to no longer live that life. I have changed the arc of my life. This is they way I will live, until I no longer live.  

Jade - you hit the nail right on the head. They took responsibility for their health. Sounds like for them surgery was the right option.  

i was sooo jealous of this other woman that had the surgery, she was only a little bigger then where i started, and she lost weight so fast we could actually stand around and watch her getting thin. In no time she surpassed me in weight, while i still struggled and exercised and dieted and practised discipline... THEN, she stopped going to the gym, her words where that it no longer contributed to her weightloss. And now i am very sad for her to see she is slowly gaining weight again. She is now heavier then me by at least 20 kilo. My opinion about the subject is that if you are looking for external factors to get thin, you might win the battle, but you will in the end lose the war! Look within yourself for the answers! If you get help, you must get help that enforces your internal factors! 

Jonathan - Very good point! I know I can never eat "normally" again, just like an alcoholic can never drink again. The sooner we accept that the easier it will be.  

I gained weight eating carbohydrates like rice, chapatis etc which are our staple food in East Africa.The only bread I take is my one small toast per day.It would be good if I could have more protein but poultry and meats are expensive, and I have to consider the rest of the family.So protein portions are small, so I fill up with soup every evening.However, I am in good place now and have accepted that I am one of those people who need fewer calories to lose. 

He is soooooo adorable!!!!!!! And looks so fluffy. Makes me miss my pups. I wont be seeing them for two days. Dogs are just amazing and they will walk anywhere and/or run with you! 

Thank you Buffy.I guess there are many roads leading to one destination.Good health, weight and happiness.May we all reach our destination with God's Will. 

This has been a great post. Thanks for starting it, BB... Each of us have our own paths to walk. Many of us share the weight loss journey and no matter what program or plan we choose to follow it is most important the we support and have empathy for each other. It is not an easy journey and it is just like AA, a life time commitment.  

A friend of mine had the surgery because she was too lazy to change. She wanted the "easy" way out. The so called "easy" way has given her every side effect there is, plus she now has scar tissue in her abdomen and needs surgery to remove it. She readily admits it was the worst decision she ever made, but I am sure that is not the case for many. It is something to be aware of though.  

Pupine - I agree - internal factors are the key in our success. Wish they had an operation to insert motivation and discipline.  

This was a very good post. I think we have to look at how far we have come in our weight loss journey. I used to get discouraged but then I look at where I am now. I have diabetes and my sugar was constantly in the high 300s. I started losing my vision where everything was blurry. I actually started to give up. But a light kicked on and I was like do I really want to lose my vision and whatever else could happen that would not be good. I changed my mindset to take one day at a time. Celebrate each day that I make it through doing something that will keep my sugar levels low. Now numbers are in the low 100s and my vision is almost back to normal. We need to celebrate the small accomplishments to really appreciate the big ones. Stay motivated and believe that you can do it one day at a time. 

Gwen - Two points made well - it is a life time journey and it is not easy.  

Bethlauren - Hope your friend can heal and move on.  

Smiles - You should be proud of your accomplishments. Love your attitude - Lets celebrate each day!  

Thank you Buffy. She is trying. 

Draglist - Good timing on that one! 

The boys father's family are all seriously overweight. Two of his sisters did surgery(I don't know which specifically) a couple years ago. They got their weights down to within normal ranges. One got married to an over weight guy, she has gained almost all her weight back. The other one has gained at least half of it back so far. It seems like they both treated it like a diet and as soon as they hit goal weight they went back to old habits. I think it's incredibly sad after everything they went through. As the others said its a lot of work and you still have to change your patterns. Could you lose the weight just changing the patterns in the first place? I think in most cases probably. 

Nichol - Good point. BTW - you sons have a head start in combating this family trail. Wish I had had different info at the time I was raising my daughter.  

I certainly hope so. Their dad has lost 150lbs since he started hanging around with me and moved away from home. He ran his first 5k last summer and was so proud. He lost his first 100lbs on Atkins and then just has watched calories since then. Slower loss but still losing. He goes to the gym a few times a week too. He needs to lose about 50 more I think, he's a big man, 6'3'. So anyhoo I feel that he is a good role model for the boys most of the time. Except when they eat potato chips from the bag and monster ice cream sundaes,lol. I have so much respect for him that he overcame how he grew up to be healthier. It aint easy.  

Great topic, Buffy! I saw a lot of input that really made me think.