It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How soon after surgery will I get back to normal?" This is understandable. We've spent a lifetime dieting for the short-term ? the 30-day diet, the six-week program, the lose-ten-pounds-over-the-weekend diet. Remember thinking, "If I can stick with this plan for just 10 days, then I can go back to normal."
The diet industry has conditioned us to think long-term lifestyle changes are unnecessary to accomplish weight loss. We are impatient and demanding, we want a quick fix. Expectations are unrealistic and result in failure, disappointment and self-loathing.
But weight loss surgery is for life.To that end, we must re-define normal:
Normal is living without co-morbidities: asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, heartburn, and knee and back pain.
Normal is feeling your body in motion, walking up stairs briskly, and bending to tie your shoes.
Normal is playing children's games on the floor and getting up without struggling.
Normal is hearing compliments about how great you look.
Normal is ACCEPTING compliments about how great you look.
Normal is fastening an airplane lap belt and pulling it tight.
Normal is enjoying clothes shopping.
Normal is the thrill of amusement park rides.
Normal is waking up early to jump on the scale ? and thrilling at the number.
Normal is living without the incessant distraction of food and the relentless hunger.
Normal is feeling proud ? not ashamed ? of your body.
Normal is savoring food one bite at a time, not ravaging it.
Normal is having the power ? the tiny tummy - to control eating behavior.
Normal is eating three meals a day and not snacking in between ? and doing just fine.
Normal is feeling immediate discomfort when too much food, or the wrong food is consumed.
Normal is taking vitamins every day.
Normal is drinking water ? lots of water.
Normal is enjoying exercising!
Normal is boundless energy.
Normal is a positive outlook, not fearing the doom of an early, miserable death for obesity related health complications.
Normal is eating lean protein at every meal.
Normal is declining doughnuts or pizza ? and not feeling deprived!
Normal is making healthy eating and behavior modification a lifestyle for the whole family.
Normal is quality food, not gluttonous quantity.
Normal is taking responsibility for your own health and wellness.
Normal is respecting the science of your body, respecting the tiny tummy, and respecting yourself.
Normal is constant attention to weight maintenance.
Normal is feeling deep compassion for the obese.
Normal is being scared of the rapid transformation your body makes.
Normal is bouts of anger over years of self-loathing, discrimination, isolation and suffering.
Normal is the occasional departure from the rules that results in dumping or vomiting.
Normal is a rapid return to appropriate eating behavior.
Normal is seeing, for a time, a stranger in the mirror.
Normal is freeing yourself from obesity's prison.
Normal is understanding that the pre-surgical behaviors and habits were unhealthy, destructive and abusive.
Copyright ? 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com. Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
Elk Grove (east OF 53) car service from Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIn theory, if you're starving, exercising less helps conserve energy.... Read More
Losing weight on hips and thighs has always been a... Read More
As many of us know, it's the first few days... Read More
Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and... Read More
Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More
Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More
Gastric bypass surgeries are temporary physical fixes to a long... Read More
Have You Given Up on Weight Loss? by Greg Landry,... Read More
After weight loss surgery it is important to include as... Read More
If you've been on a low carb diet for any... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
At its most basic, dieting is about burning more calories... Read More
Are you dieting your way to bone loss?Are you aware... Read More
How was it for you? Did you get through the... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
With summer completed and school back in session, it'll be... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
Reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. needs to be a... Read More
College weight gain is at an all time high, and... Read More
The right diet pill should be carefully considered when deciding... Read More
Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More
An increasing trend over the last few years has been... Read More
The percentage of Americans who are overweight and obese is... Read More
Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
Green Oaks limo rental ..With obesity and disease increasing dramatically, many fitness experts are... Read More
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity... Read More
The South Beach Diet was not created by your typical... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
So many people are talking about how slow their metabolism... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
When women talk about their biggest obstacles to successful weight... Read More
Fat burners have become very popular in today's society, especially... Read More
Obesity is a disease that is not caused by a... Read More
Getting Started on The Clean DietIf you want to lose... Read More
Cellulite is a condition for which cures are commonly sought.... Read More
1. Increase your fiber intake. The body needs a lot... Read More
When people hear the term Unified Theory, some times called... Read More
For people that are obese, losing weight quickly can seem... Read More
In this age being ignorant is like committing a crime.... Read More
I can't do that Until I Lose This Weight! If... Read More
When losing weight, most of us don't have the time... Read More
Well we're at it again, trying to honor our promise... Read More
IntroductionObesity is the most common health problem facing children today.... Read More
WARNING: Don't weight train until after you've lost weight! No,... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
A really easy, fast way to weight loss is walking... Read More
If you are a fan of horse racing, you are... Read More
It's common to respond to stress by distracting yourself with... Read More
When we discover that we are heavier than we want... Read More
Weight Loss |