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Ten Things I Have Learned......

AmyG

Member
Ten things that I have learned since losing 130 pounds:


1. For those of us who have spent most of our lives overweight, no matter how much we lose, we still feel like we need to lose more.


2. When I look in the mirror, I still see the fat person. When I look at pictures, I can see the thinner person. This is not rational but it's true.


3. Along with the attention I get from desirable sources, I now also get attention from undesirable sources. Not ever having developed the proper "radar" to tell the difference, I have to be extra careful about how I respond to ANY attention.


4. Even though I am healthy, I will never have the body of a model, super or otherwise, and to hold myself up to that kind of standard is futile and damaging.


5. The people who were my friends "before" are still my friends "after." I can trust those people always. The friends I've made only "after" do not have my full trust because part of me wonders how they would have treated me "before." This is not fair to those people, but it is true nonetheless.


6. People DO change. I have changed - not only outwardly but spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. My thought processes are still changing. My compassion for people is greater. My tolerance for shallowness and judgmental behavior has decreased.


7. Regardless of how much weight I lose, there will be those who will still not like me, those who will not find me attractive, those who will not want to be my friend. Their attitudes have nothing to do with my weight and their opinions have no bearing on my self-worth. In the big scheme of things, some people are just not meant to be friends.


8. I see all of my flaws even if I try not to let them bother me too much. I realize how little those flaws matter when people I least expect to, are able to look past those flaws and see the "me" behind them.


9. No matter how much weight I lose, there are still some things I should never wear. Frankly, there some things NO ONE should ever wear, but that's a subject for a whole different note.


10. Regardless of how much I've learned thus far, I know that learning about myself is an ever-changing and continuing process. As Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over til it's over."
 
I am at the stage in my life where my opinion and beliefs are: I matter, What I believe matters, What I feel matters, My experienced are real and yes they do matter, Everything about me matters to me... The rest of the world can kiss my saggy baggy bottom.

The opinions of others that matter to me are those of my husband, my kids, my closest friends and some family members. Even then that may change.
 
Wow, thank you ladies. Those of us who have yet to have our surgery find this all very educational. Please keep dropping these pearls of wisdom and being such strong influences.
 
Ten things that I have learned since losing 130 pounds:


1. For those of us who have spent most of our lives overweight, no matter how much we lose, we still feel like we need to lose more.


2. When I look in the mirror, I still see the fat person. When I look at pictures, I can see the thinner person. This is not rational but it's true.


3. Along with the attention I get from desirable sources, I now also get attention from undesirable sources. Not ever having developed the proper "radar" to tell the difference, I have to be extra careful about how I respond to ANY attention.


4. Even though I am healthy, I will never have the body of a model, super or otherwise, and to hold myself up to that kind of standard is futile and damaging.


5. The people who were my friends "before" are still my friends "after." I can trust those people always. The friends I've made only "after" do not have my full trust because part of me wonders how they would have treated me "before." This is not fair to those people, but it is true nonetheless.


6. People DO change. I have changed - not only outwardly but spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. My thought processes are still changing. My compassion for people is greater. My tolerance for shallowness and judgmental behavior has decreased.


7. Regardless of how much weight I lose, there will be those who will still not like me, those who will not find me attractive, those who will not want to be my friend. Their attitudes have nothing to do with my weight and their opinions have no bearing on my self-worth. In the big scheme of things, some people are just not meant to be friends.


8. I see all of my flaws even if I try not to let them bother me too much. I realize how little those flaws matter when people I least expect to, are able to look past those flaws and see the "me" behind them.


9. No matter how much weight I lose, there are still some things I should never wear. Frankly, there some things NO ONE should ever wear, but that's a subject for a whole different note.


10. Regardless of how much I've learned thus far, I know that learning about myself is an ever-changing and continuing process. As Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over til it's over."
This is great. I can relate to number 5 especially. This is why I am really grateful that I met my boyfriend a few weeks before I had surgery and not when I reached my goal weight. Because I know that he loves me for who I am and not because of what the scales say.
 
I just celebrated my 8th year surgiversary. My daughter came home from the hospital on my day from having a gastric sleeve. I am celebrating my long term success. I have experienced many hiccups along the way, but it is way better than dying. That's where I was, dying a slow diabetic death. Now, I am diabetes free, in great health but that comes from sticking to my lifelong plan. I do share my hiccups with my clients, but will not bore you all here. My four non-negotiables are: journal everything that goes into my mouth, weigh weekly, drink my 64+ ounces of water daily and do my supplements for the rest of my life. By supplements I mean, protein, and my vitamins.
My surgiversay day was hectic just getting my daughter home. I finally had time to reflect, and all I can say is, I am so happy to be alive. Wishing you all who read this a lovely day. Generosa



 
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I am at the stage in my life where my opinion and beliefs are: I matter, What I believe matters, What I feel matters, My experienced are real and yes they do matter, Everything about me matters to me... The rest of the world can kiss my saggy baggy bottom.

The opinions of others that matter to me are those of my husband, my kids, my closest friends and some family members. Even then that may change.


If you have been a bariatric patient 5 years or more and would like to share your journey for a future book, please contact me.
I wrote a book on my experience - called Gastric Girl, 7 plus years beyond Bariatric Surgery. I want to a follow up book of other people's journey.

Nicki
 
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