BuffyBear's Journal, 15 April 2015

Thanks for ALL of your posts & ALL of your encouragement!!! I will try to be brief...lol. Buffy, I used to think EXACTLY like you, even when I was at ALL TIME high (512) and had decided if I could NOT do it "on my own" it would NOT be done. Finally, I entered a NON-Surgical weight loss program, lost from 486 down to 370...got stuck for 6 months and then in a year regained to 450. My primary care physician said, "You don't have diabetes, heart disease, etc. YET, but I PROMISE you it is coming if you DO NOT change." Then he asked me: "If you had cancer, and I told you I had ONE more treatment you could try to save your life, Would you take it?"...Even then, I could not answer yes, but over next 6 months decided to try it...Plus my lady weight loss Dr. said: "This is NOT a magic bullet...YOU still have to follow ALL of our directions AND make a LIFE change...So YOU will be doing it...its just we are going to give you a TOOL, a long time "partner" to help you on days you are tempted to IGNORE plan." I wish I could have done this WITHOUT surgery for many reasons...BUT am so glad I finally had "gastric sleeve" surgery back in Dec. 22,2014. Educated guess...it will probably add at least 10-15 years to my length of days...PLUS a huge improvement in the quality of those days...Thanks for your post and thanks for listening :) Cheering for ALL of you today !!!!!!! 

STT - I really appreciate you sharing your story. You never know who might read it. Maybe even change someones life?  

Great journal Buffy. Thank you for sharing your story STT58. My son in law is at a critical weight I wish I could get him to see this entry. He has a beautiful little red headed daughter he needs to be alive to walk her down the aisle someday. 

Rocky - Sorry about your son in law. Even with a good reason to live motivation can be so elusive.  

I will confess to considering the surgery. My insurance at the time would have paid for it as long as I was 100 lbs. overweight. I watched 2 great nieces do it and saw what they were doing.... One was working the plan, the other thought it was the magic bullet. Decided against it for a variety of reasons. My loss that followed wasn't really a diet. I just started walking and things started coming together in my head. Plus I couldn't fit my ass into a walker after a total knee replacement. Now that was embarrassing. As to getting skinny again, it will never happen. I would be eternally grateful to get back to 165. 130 is a distant memory. I'm happy there are a variety of ways for those that are obese to get on track and hope they realize, it is a life long adjustment and can be done.  

Classic - Love your balanced approach to life! I know I'll never be skinny again either, but am sure you will soon be at 165 (or below).  

You're the best BB. Thanks for the encouragement. 

I used to feel prejudice against any cosmetic surgery but there are rare cases. I read a story about a women who had some type of disease that actually caused her to gain weight no matter what. She had 3 different surgeries before she could get her body under control. I think in these special cases it must happen and it could save a persons life and well being. On the other hand, I feel people should really try hard before going through a procedure. Think of it this way...you cannot get your weight down and under control.. You do the surgery, but you didn't learn how to control your bad eating habits, you didn't find out what healthy recipes you like and don't like, and you don't get to learn how your body reacts to foods. In this case you can lose the weight through surgery but struggle once more to keep the weight off due to the fact you didn't give yourself a chance to learn from your body. I know this isn't everyone, like I said special cases.. But there are also great risks. Also you can get scarring. I would support anyone who needs that type of procedure but make sure you really try to understand yourself, your body and what makes you happy. Really give a healthy eating lifestyle a good chance with working out.  

Panigale - You are so right! One of my friends had the surgery and lost weight. But I noticed that whenever we went she had not changed her eating habits. So now she is gaining the weight back. Go figure?  

Classic - DITTO 

My brother in law had gastric bypass surgery done about 4 years ago. He has not changed his eating habits at all and is slowly gaining the weight back. It's really sad, but the only one that can change things is him! He and my sister have started doing a JIllian Michels workout video in the evenings and are trying to eat better. I should introduce them both to this site! 

Bridgette - That sounds like a great plan - we can never get too much encouragement.  

Buffy, You are right there are no magic pills or anything for weight loss, surgery is just another tool available to folks, same as lipo suction. People sometime just do things out of vanity.  

Rockiesfan - Hey - there are days when lipo suction would be very tempting. Too bad I'm a poor girl :)  

Honestly,I would have had the surgery if I could have afforded it.I have tried for years and years and only got bigger.My first diet was at the age of eleven.I was put on boiled food by the school doctor. I was put on a food plan by my doctor last year and I followed it diligently with no success.Its only when I cut my food intake to 900 calories average, in Nov 2014 that I started losing the weight.  

Wow only 900 calories? If I even attempted that I think I would pass out! Why not try omitted breads/grains/legumes and going low carb? Also omitting all processed food. That has been the only way I have been losing weight without feeling tired and deprived and hungry all the time. 

Btw I never asked...Buffy is that your pup in your profile photo? Soooooooo cute 

I know 2 people who both had surgery. It was necessary for them; and from this they both eat much better and have taken up running to get fit. It may not be for me but it was the right choice for them . . . and they took responsibility for their health afterwards which I believe is critical to success. 

UmmBilal - I hate that you have to go through that. I can only commend you for your efforts and wish you the very best. I sometimes take for granted that I have health insurance.  

Panigale - Yes, that is Cricket, our little Pound Puppy. And if he keeps on eating the cat's food he is going to have a weight problem too!