I am second.

[lynniebear]

Second to JesusChrist, my Lord and Savior, well that’s the goal, but since I’ve had my surgery I’m doing a whole lot more for me these days , than I used to. I got my surgery back in August. I had a great surgeon. She did a fabulous job and so I’ve healed and had no complications from my surgery .My hair has thinned quite a bit, but it seems to slowing down. I do have some sagging skin, but I am working hard to get it off. The worst of it all is that my body is shrinking, but my stomach isn’t! . I’m still fat in that area. I have an apron and then I have some fat above that. I’m doing crunches at about 55 pounds . A bi-weekly weight strengthening class. I just went up to 15 ponds from working either only 8. And I’m eating fairly well. Not a lot of snacks although my hubby makes it tempting and has sweets around all the time. I think that’s the hardest part is finding healthy snacks. Here is a picture of my granddaughter and I. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[dianeseattle]

Second to JesusChrist, my Lord and Savior, well that’s the goal, but since I’ve had my surgery I’m doing a whole lot more for me these days , than I used to. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi Lynniebear,

We all want to hear your weight loss story, but you probably don't know about posting guidelines, which are on our group's home page. It may seem trivial, but including religion as part of the reason you succeeded is not allowed. There are people who worship Satan and people who worship Disco, and Taylor Swift and that is their choice to believe that's why they succeeded. However, those beliefs have nothing to do with bariatric surgery. I hope you don't mind my pointing this out. I respect your faith, but that's your private business. It's a slippery slope but this group should be absent of religious testimony.

Please read the posting guidelines.

Congratulations on your successes. Talk to your doctor and insurance company about an apronectomy.

I'm so proud of all you've achieved. Welcome to the group. I hope my comment will help you navigate!

 

[dianeseattle]

Welcome, Lynnibear,

I am happy that you are here. The photo of you and your granddaughter is beautiful.

First, I recommend talking to the surgeon about getting an apronectomy if you want the excess skin removed. You are working hard and doing great. Keep up the great work!

Second, try to prioritize protein and fiber for each snack and meal. Eat every few hours, but only healthy foods. If they don't make you sick, don't deny yourself the treats and sweets once I awhile, but remind yourself often that they aren't nutritional and they have empty calories in them.

Finally, this part is for both you and my new friend, Diane. I only joined this group last mid-April. I'm still very much a newbie whereas Diane is a veteran member and contributor in this wonderful and supportive online group. I've already learned much from you, Diane. Thank you. I was confused, however, when I read this conversation, so I went looking for those rules and guidelines. I attached two screenshots of what I could find.

This is my opinion and only my opinion, but one of the reasons I love this support group so much is that I can be my authentic, true, real self with you all knowing that you'll see me, hear me, and support and encourage me. Moreover, what I thought was true about this group is that it's completely inclusive and accepting of all of us and all that we feel compelled to share in here. With that said, sharing our faith, our beliefs, our worries, our fears, our challenges, our successes, our goals, our stories should all be acceptable and embraced in here. If someone cannot say that their god, their faith in their god, and their personal beliefs have helped them on their journey, then that person cannot share their true and authentic self in here...they must hide part of themself to feel accepted, heard, seen, and embraced. They are not going to feel fully safe sharing in a group that cannot and will not listen to part of their story that is very meaningful to them. That feels wrong and contrary to what I have come to believe this group is about.

I am most sincerely not writing this to offend, upset, or cause trouble. I'm writing because I feel compelled to do so for all of our sakes. If the rules and guidelines truly exclude mentioning our religious beliefs and how those beliefs impact our journeys, then I believe the rules and guidelines should be changed.

The world is on fire. It's depressing, discouraging, and scary almost everywhere in today's world.We MUST find people and places that are safe, full of light and love, encouraging and helpful...each one of us, as well as all of us, collectively. Many of us do not have that even in our own families, so we seek places like this online support group to be free from the shame, judgement, ridicule, abuse, and other negative forces in this messed up world.

So, I hope so much that the people who run this online support group are reading this and I hope that this group that has so kindly embraced me this past month will continue to welcome, accept, and respect everyone who finds their way here. They looked for this group for very important reasons. They need this group. This should be a place of love, light, acceptance, and hope.
I hope do much that I did not offend you or hurt anyone's feelings. Truly, I am speaking my truth in a moment that I feel compelled to do so. I hope my words ring true to every one of the people who are in here.

If you are a person who runs this support group, please share the rules and guidelines with me or help me locate them. Thank you.

Not offended in the least, Renee. I actually went back to the home page to find the posting guidelines and they were gone. So I wrote to the people who own the group and have yet to hear back from them. But let me give a "slippery slope" example. Everyone is welcome here. So what if one of those violent fringe religious groups signed up and began subtly "recruiting." I know, remember, this is a slippery slope example. Make it easier. Make it partisan. Is a political party leader allowed to practice free speech here about thin and fat, success and failure, good and bad, qualities in candidates, because it's an open forum?

The group founders wrote this: "You agree to not use the Service to submit or link to any Content which is defamatory, abusive, hateful, threatening, spam or spam-like, likely to offend, contains adult or objectionable content, contains personal information of others, risks copyright infringement, encourages unlawful activity, or otherwise violates any laws. You are entirely responsible for the content of, and any harm resulting from, that Content or your conduct."​

It's not so much an "allowed" thing as it is an etiquette thing. We are all guests here. A Muslim member might be offended by Christian content, and vice versa. Personally, I find them both offensive. But just by saying that, I might offend someone and suddenly a big argument breaks out.

More importantly, we've gotten off the subject. The group manifesto clearly states it's a support group for people considering or recovering from bariatric surgery. Period. Nothing more. We share photos of our kitties and kiddies, we swap recipes, we share jokes and riddles and many things. They don't have anything to do with WLS. But we ALL know if the conversation swerves somehow into a "should" religion, we will be divided.

Again, you have not offended me and you've spoken bravely and from your good heart. And you didn't throw in any sort of support from God. You gave your opinion and that's what the group is about.

Lastly, on the free speech front, if anyone is offended by what I said, I hope they, like you, will stand up and tell me so. Our opinions have equal weight and we have and equal right to express them.