A reader recently wrote to ask why I don't include my weight statistics in my signature line. A great observation and excellent question.
Typically in on-line weight loss communities a signature is written with starting weight/current weight/target weight ? so for me that would be (287/146/140). For a long time after WLS I did carry the weight stats on my signature line ? it was part of who I was and a measure of progress.
But the day came when I didn't want to be measured by those numbers any longer. I wanted to be about more than being fat and losing weight.
To this day, one of the most difficult things for me to hear is, "I heard you used to be really REALLY huge!" Ouch! I also used to be a newspaper editor and I am accomplished pianist, yet somehow that never gets mentioned. It seems, however, there are plenty of people around to remind me that I used to be really REALLY huge.
So one day unannounced I dropped the weight stats from my signature line. It was time to move forward from defining myself as a person who used to be really REALLY huge. Certainly I have not forgotten that person and I am humbled today by my small size and my good health. I am proud of my weight loss. But I don't need the numbers on my signature line to define or remind me anymore.
I don't object to others using the signature stats and applaud each pound that is lost in this after WLS living. But I submit that one day others, when the time is right, will say goodbye to the weight stats in the signature line ? moving forward and onward in new and better lives.
Today my signature line reads, "Welcome to Your New Life: You have Arrived." And that's how I feel each and every new day when I wake in my healthy, trim and fit body. "I have arrived". This motto is the name of the official Living After WLS newsletter: "You Have Arrived" because that's what we are celebrating. My wish for all WLS patients is to wake with the fabulous feeling "I Have Arrived."
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
LivingAfterWLS is a no-nonsense resource for people Living After Weight Loss Surgery. Our community is growing in numbers even as we are shrinking in pounds. Together we support one another in this lifestyle, that it turns out, is NOT the easy way out.
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often. To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..When it comes to weight loss, most of us would... Read More
Success stories on the gastric bypass are everywhere, but how... Read More
"The kind of thoughts that you plant in your mind,... Read More
April 14, 2005 federal judge Tena Campbell of the federal... Read More
Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or... Read More
Life is great, isn't it? Stop and just look around... Read More
Weighing more than is normal, necessary, or allowed, especially having... Read More
Staying Toned After Weight Loss ---------------------------------------- Following significant weight loss,... Read More
If you are losing, trying to lose, or think you... Read More
So you're overweight, "fat"--to be honest--and you want to start... Read More
You may be considering a low carb diet program, but... Read More
There are tons of fad diets and weight loss schemes... Read More
A client wrote, "Help me! I thought I was finally... Read More
Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict? Let's conquer these cravings... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
One of the biggest scams ever successfully pulled on the... Read More
All of our behavior results from the thoughts that preceded... Read More
Welcome to bodybuilding weightloss exercise tips!This is the engine room... Read More
The Constant Quest for Restriction; Not enough vs. too muchRestriction.... Read More
Many people think obesity means that a person is overweight,... Read More
Eating the right foods and exercising regularly have been the... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
Getting to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
Good health is an invaluable bliss and you cannot simply... Read More
It was bad enough hearing almost daily that obesity in... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..If you're a low carb diet enthusiast, you've probably tried... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
If you were going to travel to the other side... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
The latest trend in the area of weight loss is... Read More
Trash Your TV! is pleased to announce the easiest weight... Read More
Do you know what the words really mean on food... Read More
There is never any absolute certainty about what the nutritional... Read More
We must all now be familiar with the Atkins Diet.... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
What is a mini tummy tuck? Officially called a partial... Read More
Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and... Read More
You're always hungry right? The last thing you have time... Read More
As a part of a children's diet and health study,... Read More
While exercising isn't complicated, it's very easy to make mistakes.... Read More
Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and... Read More
If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More
Are you frustrated with your weight problem and don't know... Read More
While it would be ideal to make all of our... Read More
Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of... Read More
Yes Virginia, the fail-safe weight loss formula exists.It's so simple,... Read More
"Unless that apple tastes like the best apple you've ever... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
More and more people are turning to hypnosis or hypnotherapy... Read More
In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More
Weight Loss |