[Jill]

There was this program on Discovery Health last night -- Big as Life: Obesity in America. It was really enlightening and in some ways scary. There was a woman who had WLS and gained all her weight and more back -- but her attitude was so BAD. She had this attitude like she was about to change any of her lifestyle (pre surgery) habits -- no excercising, bad eating -- she was doomed from the start -- but it was really shocking to see how big she was even with weight loss surgery. There were other stories on the show that really made me think about WLS. We all have to remember that WLS is JUST A TOOL to help us turn our lives around. But it is still up to us to change our attitude about eating and excercise. Sure, even without WLS it was possible to simply eat right and excercise and lose the weight, but it was SO HARD TO DO. WLS provides the tool that makes the journey move and when you have that first success you want more and by the time you've lost 50 or 60 or even 100 lbs; I think most of us -- at least I know its true for me -- NEVER WANT TO GO BACK to where we were before. Nothing feels as good as being thin does.

[clancythecamper]

I think it's the fear of most everyone I know, that they'll go back. I am so thankful that I dump ~ it's weird but it's true. I feel for so many people, it's a terrible trap.

[DocSanae]

A very good perspective Jill.
Congratulations on your success.

[MsVickie]

I will have to look for a rerun this this show. Jill your doing great and I love your attitude.

[qt82699]

so true!! i never want to go back to where i was...but it is also one of my biggest fears!!

[lazell]

I know people that have and I'm not gonna be one of them. I may never be pencil thin but I'm never going to be morbidly obese ever again!! Jill youve done sooo well. Thanks for the encouragement...

[greensgirl19]

It is so scary. Thank you for this Jill, I also will try to catch a re-run. I need to be scared straight! I am fresh post-op and at this point I feel good, but I ALWAYS worry about gaining again and I will make sure it never happens. Thanks.

[DocSanae]

BreeChick's blog entry relates to the subject.
http://www.renewedreflections.com/forums/blog.php?b=156

Originally Posted by BreeChick

I had some thoughts today too. My thoughts, not criticisms of anything or anyone. But I've often thought about this. We change the OUTside of our body and we change the food part of our life. But it seems that so many are not willing to work to change the inside along with that. By this I mean..I think I tire of hearing "exercise and me don't get along". Well..okay..for me that's the fat person still talking. I made a commitment to change and transform that fat person into someone new.

That change was not just about the food. I work with only a couple of women and the 2 older ones are always dieting/fasting. But they don't exercise. Fitness, getting healthy is about not just the food choices. It's about making that commitment to change day to day how we respond to things and what we choose to do with our time.

I know a gal who lives near me and had the surgery over a year ago now. She doesn't exercise, she rarely leaves the house..shut in behavior.. I've seen her leaving in the truck with her boyfriend and before they've moved out of the driveway she's throwing up.

without even getting into the personal stuff there I can observe and know that she hasn't changed anything except to have the surgery.

It makes me sad.

The surgery gives us a LIFE to live. So many of us, myself included, would have not lived many years beyond the point when we had surgery. We were given a 2nd chance to change our lives and for me it's a responsibility to do so.