This morning, I met VSGSetyoufree in Manhattan. I was in town on biz, and he's got a place here.
He and I were both sleeved in August of 2014. As those of you who've had WLS surgery know, you feel a special kinship with those who had surgery around the same time you did. You're going through similar phases, having similar epiphanies, dealing with the same concerns -- at the same time. It's like being in the same high school class or going through boot camp together.
It was wonderful to meet VSGSetyoufree! When we greeted each other, I said, "You're the only person I've met who I KNOW had VSG surgery." He said, "Me, too!" (We're both on the down low about having had WLS.)
We had almost an hour together and walked the entire time -- racking up those Fitbit steps and talking like we'd known each other for years. Although VSGSetyoufree is more than capable of talking for himself (and I'm sure he will), we talked most about how much better our lives, our health, our fitness levels, and our outlooks and attitudes have changed in the last year because we had WLS. We agree that this surgery has wrought miraculous changes in our lives.
And before you ask, we didn't take any selfies because we forgot about it. Plus, it was raining (Hurricane Joaquin is headed up the East Coast right now), and by the end of our walk we looked like drowned rats.
I have made a strong connection here with many folks who are undergoing the life-changing experience WLS can be. I've learned from so many here. I've come to respect that what works for me isn't the same thing that will work for everyone. But I can share what I've done with others, and I can learn from what others share with me here.
To all who consider this site a great resource, please contribute if you're comfortable doing so. Your posts, your questions and your solutions may encourage someone in ways you couldn't imagine. You might even make new friends and, one day, get to meet some of them.
P.S. Damn, now I'm really wishing we'd taken a selfie!
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