slow down reflections..long
i am just catching up with the posts and see a reoccuring theme. i remember this
from the beginning of my journey. slow down folks. it is hard not to obsess
about dealing with food, how quick we lose and what our skin looks like. it is
so in the present.
i do not have the definitive answers but i have learned some stuff in the 2
years since my surgery.
1.you will be able to eat almost anything at the end of the first
year….including stuff that you had hoped would never tempt you again. the good
news is that a little goes a long way.
2. there will be extra skin. i have rigorously exercised and had a mere 4 lbs
taken off in my tummy tuck, but it was still ugly skin. i have more on my thighs
and arms and my chest has gone alarmingly south in direction.again although it
is not a huge amount of skin it looks ugly and i will have to find a way to have
some plastic surgery not covered by my insurance. the up side is that the whole
package looks great in clothes.
3. what your friends and family do before your surgery and after your surgery
and weight loss are two different things. many times their concern takes the
form of negativity. listen to them and then do what you know is best for you! it
is your body not theirs and they do not have to schlep it around and medicate
it.
4. someone who has only 100 lbs to lose will lose it quicker than someone who
has more to lose. who cares, you will get there at your own pace. do not compare
yourself to others, you are not them you are yourself. viva the diferrence.
5. if the scale makes you nuts, stay off or throw it out. if it reassures you
weigh at will. again we are all different.
6. if something happens that you can’t figure out or if you hurt, call the
doctor, you have paid them to take care of you. let them. if you do not like the
answer get a second opinion…ask your insurance they often will pay.
7. remember when you get to looking good and feeling good that there are aspects
of your life that this surgery will not cure. it does not change your basic
personality or your life circumstances. that takes the same amount of work as
everything else in life.
8. the surgery is not a magic bullet but a tool that you can use along with a
lifestyle change that includes eating healthy nourishing foods, less carbs and
sugars and regular exercise. if you stop putting your health and wellbeing first
you will regain some weight. it’s all about focus.
9. join a support group. your friends and family will have had enough of you in
about 6 months. after that you are just torturing them, lol. honestly your
support group will be happy to listen to you talk about the scale stopping for a
few weeks where as your overweight friends will choke.
10. on the subject of friends. you will probably lose one or two. generally
these are people who liked you fat because you were in worse shape than they
were and it was a comfort for them. you no longer serve that function. nor do
you have time to babysit or stay around for their packages to come in the mail.
you are busy. the rest of your friends and family will be proud of you and will
love running around trying to keep up with your new life style.
11.enjoy each new accomplishment no matter how funny or even gross and embrace
your new health and new life. we do not live forever. no one does.
whew……..ida