Lessons from a 6-month Sleever

[DarliKay]

I feel like I could be the poster child for GSV. There are no words to express the happiness I have found in my weight loss journey, but it goes without saying that there is some real heartache involved, too, when you experience such life changing events. Here's a little of what I've learned in the last 6 months:

First - portion control is EVERYTHING! I use small dishes and kid-size spoons to eat nearly everything. If I go out to eat I preportion the food BEFORE I start eating. It is so easy to eat too much. Save yourself the discomfort of being too full and preportion your food.

Second - do NOT - I REPEAT - do NOT weigh yourself more than once a week. You are setting yourself up to fail if you do.

Third - whatever the habits or mental reasons were that caused you to be obese in the first place are STILL going to be there AFTER surgery. See a shrink, write in a journal, talk to a friend, read inspiring blogs, or whatever it takes to figure out what got you to the point you were at and make permanent changes so you don't find yourself back there! I love what a previous poster said about yesterday was yesterday, so don't beat yourself up. Pick yourself up on this NEW day and be about the business of getting and staying healthy.

Fourth - lose weight for YOURSELF... enuf said! ~wink~

Fifth - this is not a sprint, it is a marathon. If you are doing what your physician has counseled you to do, the weight WILL come off. Stalls happen, but just keep doing what you know you are supposed to do. I've been through several stalls, but changed up my exercise, intake of water, re-evaluated my food, etc., but never lost focus of what the big picture was.

I was beyond scared to have GSV, but did a lot of research on my own, talked to my doctor at length at the weight loss center, and read lots of posts on here. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself. This is a SERIOUS, life-changing, procedure, and should only be undertaken if you are SERIOUS about losing weight and are ready to commit to changing you lifestyle.

Best to all!
Darli

[workinprogress1962]

amen!

[Gwyn]

I feel like I could be the poster child for GSV. There are no words to express the happiness I have found in my weight loss journey, but it goes without saying that there is some real heartache involved, too, when you experience such life changing events. Here's a little of what I've learned in the last 6 months:

First - portion control is EVERYTHING! I use small dishes and kid-size spoons to eat nearly everything. If I go out to eat I preportion the food BEFORE I start eating. It is so easy to eat too much. Save yourself the discomfort of being too full and preportion your food.

Second - do NOT - I REPEAT - do NOT weigh yourself more than once a week. You are setting yourself up to fail if you do.

Third - whatever the habits or mental reasons were that caused you to be obese in the first place are STILL going to be there AFTER surgery. See a shrink, write in a journal, talk to a friend, read inspiring blogs, or whatever it takes to figure out what got you to the point you were at and make permanent changes so you don't find yourself back there! I love what a previous poster said about yesterday was yesterday, so don't beat yourself up. Pick yourself up on this NEW day and be about the business of getting and staying healthy.

Fourth - lose weight for YOURSELF... enuf said! ~wink~

Fifth - this is not a sprint, it is a marathon. If you are doing what your physician has counseled you to do, the weight WILL come off. Stalls happen, but just keep doing what you know you are supposed to do. I've been through several stalls, but changed up my exercise, intake of water, re-evaluated my food, etc., but never lost focus of what the big picture was.

I was beyond scared to have GSV, but did a lot of research on my own, talked to my doctor at length at the weight loss center, and read lots of posts on here. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself. This is a SERIOUS, life-changing, procedure, and should only be undertaken if you are SERIOUS about losing weight and are ready to commit to changing you lifestyle.

Best to all!
Darli

HAHAHA I just did a very similar post! ..and I agree completely!

[BraelynsGrammy]

Great post! Very well said!

I have to admit I have the scale addiction. I weigh every morning. My husband is threatening to throw it out. I don't want him to but something inside is telling me to. I was going to take it to my Mom's house who I visit once a week. Maybe I will do that!

[ShrinkingViolet]

Great post! Very well said!

I have to admit I have the scale addiction. I weigh every morning. My husband is threatening to throw it out. I don't want him to but something inside is telling me to. I was going to take it to my Mom's house who I visit once a week. Maybe I will do that!

That's what I did, BraelynsGranny - I weigh in every Tuesday (yes, that would be today!) when I visit my parents.

Great advice and post, DarliKay! You are doing great!

[Gwyn]

I'm a scale addict myself. The first 6 weeks I did really great and only weighed myself once a week. ..then I bought a scale! Bad bad me! I force myself to skip it from time to time, and I'm hoping to break that habit, but it's so easy since it's right there in my room.

[ShrinkingViolet]

Gwyn, throw away that scale!!

[lb423]

Thank you DarliKay! Whenever I talk to my friends and family about having the surgery I always say "I'm less concerned about the # on the scale than how my clothes fit" but of course there is a part of me that definitely wants to see myself reach that magical goal weight number. This is a good reminder that it's not about a number on the scale but about being healthy, which is what my goal is