Don't PISS on the Gift

    "When you know better, you do better." -Maya Angelou

You know that we all are blessed with certain gifts.  Our family, spouse, children, job, friends, talents, time, health and achievements are examples of the gifts we have in our everyday lives.  We often take these gifts for granted.  It is the nature of our free will that we do not exercise our gifts- that we do not live up to our fullest potention.  In the animal world lazy is dead.  The cheetah does not run half as fast to catch his food because he is tired that day.  He uses his gift to the fullest extent to fulfill his purpose in life which is to complete his role in the food chain.  Some would say that we only do what is necessary in order to fulfill our roles.  The truly great humans of all time have never done just enough to get by.

So, why am I on this today.  Well, it comes back to WLS.  The duodenal switch surgery is a gift.  It is a gift a select few of us have been given through our efforts, our finances, or our insurance.  The DS is a new way to live your life.  It is a 2nd, 3rd, or 800th chance to live our lives better with better health.  Many of us fought long and hard or sacrificed a tremendous amount just to get the surgery.  A few lost their lives trying to obtain the surgery.  Why then, do so many post-ops piss on the gift?  Why do they choose to do the minimum requirements or worse not follow the post-op life? 

Why?  Because they choose to do it with that blasted free will.  So many post-ops start out with good intentions.  "I am going to do this perfect because it is my last chance", they say.  Some say doing "this little bit won't hurt me."  Many think the urge to exercise will just come upon them late after they have lost all their weight.   Because I have been given this tremendous gift which I sometimes do not respect fully as well, I feel that I have an obligation to call out the others who are not making the effort that they should.

Here's the deal.  Yes, you can have the DS and eat what you want and not follow the rules and you will [GASP] still lose weight.  Will you get to 100% EWL?- no.   Will you get to the made up goal that you set for yourself after you see that you are a slacker?-maybe.  Will you keep the weight off?-no.  You may even have a vast improvement in your health while other parts of your physical being are falling apart.  Why on earth did you fight for approval, pay vast sums, undergo rigorous testing, risk your life, have major surgery and change your very anatomy to PISS it away eating junk?

Many times in this blog I have discussed the way that helped me make it to goal?  For the losing phase of my weightloss, I  was extremely compliant.  I exercised and hit my minimums- 80oz of water and 80g of protein.  I did not eat sugar or white flour anything.  No flavored drinks after my initial immediate post-op period other than protein shakes.  I ate meat.  All kinds of meat and I drank my shakes.  I still drink shakes at least 6 days per week.  I feel crappy when I don't.  Protein is needed for the rest of my life.  I researched other successful losers to see what they had in common to get these goals.  I did not wait for someone to tell me what to do.  The nutritionist from my doctor still thinks I advocate too much protein.  I can only tell you what worked for me, and that I have seen many, many other successful DSers follow a high protein regime.  I usually aim for 100-125g of protein a day.  I still get almost half of that in my morning shake on the way to work. 

To do less is to dishonor yourself and the others who have come before you.  For those who lost their lives vying for the 2nd chance you have been given, you owe them your compliance.  You owe it to yourself to plan and work to make this a success.  Many will tell you that you took the easy way out having surgery.  Baby, it is not easy.  It is work everyday for the rest of your life. Get busy living or get busy dying.  You only have so many gifts in this life.  Appreciate, acknowledge and honor this one.

Comments

[Allan]

Look out world, you dont want to get in her way. I love the cheetah reference. Kinda like me at a buffet....

Keep it up !

[Deluzy]

Right on, sister!

We also need to pay the gift forward -- ie., give the DS our best, stay compliant, keep in touch with our surgeons, and keep providing data FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR IT ... so that they can point to the body of research and results that exists and say to the insurance companies and their lawyers, "Here's solid evidence for why *this* is the best choice for me!"

Here's to the DS and working it -- until medical science develops other options.

[Tia]

Amen, Kim!

I am going to print the following and post it on my wall:

"Here's the deal. Yes, you can have the DS and eat what you want and not follow the rules and you will [GASP] still lose weight. Will you get to 100% EWL?- no. Will you get to the made up goal that you set for yourself after you see that you are a slacker?-maybe. Will you keep the weight off?-no. You may even have a vast improvement in your health while other parts of your physical being are falling apart. Why on earth did you fight for approval, pay vast sums, undergo rigorous testing, risk your life, have major surgery and change your very anatomy to PISS it away eating junk?"

[Judi]

Exactly! Thanks for the pep talk and the finger wagging! An excellent way of looking at this. Although I am an LBer....it holds the same. I was given A GIFT! I worked hard for this gift and I was damn lucky to get this gift! I cannot lose sight of any of that...even on those rough days!
Judi