BariatricEating.com Health & Nutrition
Rant - Tostito-eaters welcome too!
They say that there is a seat to fit every butt! This is why there are
a vast number of message boards and support groups both on the internet
and with your surgical group… so you can find one that’s the
right fit. Through my own experiences with different message boards and
support groups, I can see why so many of the top surgeons have a negative
opinion about online boards… actually telling their patients to
stay away. This is why I sought to create a different style of board and
continue what I started with my book and website.
I created my Before & After Message Board one month ago, because I was getting too busy to answer all my email from book readers and people who had questions and comments in regards to my product lines and website. I always worried about the post op who would email me with a serious problem who might get lost in my full mailbox. So I enrolled some of my most successful post op friends to help me form a board that is an extension of what I have created with my book and business. We talk about the book, the recipes, the lifestyle, and the products that get us there. It was designed as a 'book club' of sorts and I am proud that so many friendships have formed people already consider it a safe haven.
I have noticed that there are definitely two groups of people who have weight loss surgery... people for whom the glass is half full and those for whom the glass is half empty... optimists and pessimists.... positive people and negative ones. There is a canyon of difference between the positive and negative attitudes no matter where they choose to gather. It should be no surprise that this transcends bariatric surgery; there are both happy and miserable people of all shapes and sizes.
Although so far the ‘Before and After Help’ message board community is a small group of about 2500 (so far!) I am so happy with the positive and forward thinking attitudes. There aren’t nasty remarks, or pissy attitudes, and best of all very little whining. No one even cares about Star Jones over here; the thread that I started to see if I could intentionally cause a stir turned into a running joke. Everyone seems fairly well educated about their bariatric procedure as they have done their homework regarding what it takes to be successful and what they don’t know, they ask and we have a discussion. We have constructive conversations I love the way the members take the time to give needed support in a positive and uplifting way.
Now I am not saying everyone at Before & After is perfect, but the way we all reach out to help each other up when one falls is pretty amazing. I want to head off the usual complaints at the pass, and avoid the common whining and complaining. Maybe that is too ‘Disney’ to think I can do this, but maybe we can keep it to a minimum with preemptive positive power.
In live support group meetings I have heard more than one mini Snickers and Hagen Daz eating enabler trying to convince the room that they are losing weight in spite of bad behavior. However their bald spot from lack of nutrition tells the true story.
It drives me nuts when post ops complain about how 'little' they have lost at 3 months post op. Stop and think about the last time you lost so much weight in such a short time period. You 'only' lost 38 pounds in 4 weeks, arrrgggghhhh! When is the last time you lost 38 pounds at all? Hey, it's a great thing, not a bad thing. This is only the tip of the iceberg. It took most of us 20-30 years to get to this surgery; so give it at least 6 months!
On message boards it is typical for someone to be moaning about 'plateaus'. There are NO plateaus, just tiny little stutters in weight loss while your body catches up. This is normal. Think about future results and don’t pay attention to the small skips. If you weigh yourself every ten minutes you are setting yourself up for negative feedback as you are then aware of the one pound up and one pound down normal daily weight loss pattern. If you weigh yourself every month or even once a week, you will most likely be a little less than the last time you stepped on the scale and you have much better odds of having a positive experience!
I did specifically read a message board a thread last week where someone had the guts to get after someone for eating Tostitos Scoops with salsa at four weeks post op. The Tostitos Eater who had originally posted to ask if it was bad, was actually arguing in an attempt to justify that it wasn't as bad as eating birthday cake. There is an interesting dynamic on many message boards and in live support groups. People doing the wrong thing and trying to find others to say it is okay. Hmmm, as if others are doing it too, how bad could it be! Hey, you had gastric bypass surgery, it is NOT okay to be eating tortilla chips at one month post op. There is no way to make this into a good thing and it is as bad as eating birthday cake. At least acknowledge that it is bad behavior, learn from it, and move on.
The major thing I now notice on message boards and in live support groups is all the complaining about PROTEIN SHAKES. I can understand that one... as I taste test at least one 'new' canister of protein a week. Blech! One thing that I do know for sure is that on 'Before & After Help', we are freakin' giddy about the taste of our protein drinks. I do believe that we have a secret that others don’t know about. I truly have the key to the cabinet that holds the 'good tasting stuff'. However, until you find one that you like, you have to drink the bad ones that you have! You can’t just not drink them and leave it at that if you want to stay healthy. You cant just sip one drink, decide you dont like it and not drink them. You have to do whatever it takes and sometimes that means trying 20 different brands and flavors.
Let’s all find at least one person who is floundering out there and help them find the path. No one wants to fail. People get where they don’t know who or where to turn for help. All of us know a post op who is in trouble. Let’s rescue them, clean ‘em up, give them an attitude adjustment, and get Dolly to make them a really good tasting protein drink in her Magic Bullet!
I have always done what I do to help people... and the folks who know me through my book, website, and board know that for sure. If I were in this for the jazz, I would sell EVERYTHING, no matter what it tasted like, without paying attention to the ingredients or nutrition, just like the health food stores do, plus I would charge GNC prices. I wouldn’t write personal notes, answer questions, use Pink Peanuts, and give free samples based on whether or not we think you would prefer 'fruit or chocolate' based on your order. This all takes extra time and money but I make sure we do it even though we are NOT a small company anymore.
I do this for the look on the face of a worried post op, when it turns from hesitation to relief, with that first sip of the shake that I hand to them. That's priceless to me. I am sure you will love my message board and the fresh attitude there!
Ciao,
Susan Maria
Copyright
© BE, Inc. 2011 - Susan Maria Leach. All rights reserved.
