Has the Neighborhood made a difference in your life and in your success with weight loss surgery?

Please post your testimonial here for our guests and future neighbors to read.


Thank you kindly.

LAWLS Team

YES!!! :) The Neighborhood has provided the support that I was missing elsewhere. I was at the point of almost regretting having had the surgery due to so many issues that I had to deal with and getting little help or support from my clinic. :mellow: The Neighborhood provided me with lots of loving and caring support as well as different ideas as to how to get back on track, break my pateaus, eat healthier and gave me a place to share with others what I was going thru in order to help anyone who might have had similar issues. it has been a lifesaver, the no calorie kind! :P

Visiting the Neighborhood is now a regular part of my day. If I don't stop in, it's like I forgot to tie my shoes, or brush my teeth...life isn't right without my daily dose.

I gain support, I offer support, but most of all the Neighborhood keeps me honest to myself and my commitment to living a healthy life after WLS.

Thank you, Kaye, for creating such a safe place for all of us to be!

Where do I begin? This site is amazing and most of all because of the neighborhood peeps. I have met so many friends around the world that love and care for me. These lovlies help guide me with support and encouragement. Whether it be a loving heart or a swift kick...I know they care about me and my success.

I had not gotten much support in quite sometime and THANKYOU Kaye from the bottom of my heart for believing in this neighborhood and putting it out there for us!

You all rock and I have gained something from each and everyone of you!

THANKS from CALIFORNIA!!

I know for a fact that I would NEVER have been as successful with my weight loss as I have been (100+ lbs gone!!!) if I hadn't had this site to come to every day. Often times the WLS journey is a one day at a time thing. Having the site to come to every day helps me get through the challenges I face.

I have learned so much, feel totally secure, and have made this neighborhood my second home.

Everyone here has the same goal, good health and they are so willing to help their neighbors reach that goal.

The acceptance and the fellowship are what I value most. Not to mention the FUN!!!!

The WLS Neighborhood is the place I share this very important part of my life. Here, in the safe haven of this neighborhood, I can ask questions, offer support and love, talk about what works and why, or be silly about embarrassing things like gas and the toilet overflowing.

In my daily visits to the neighborhood, I am renewed, refocused and revitalized to do the tough work of caring for myself better than I ever have in my life. I love the friends I've made here as surely as people I've actually met in my real life, and count them as my sisters and brothers.

My day begins and ends with a visit to this special place and I wouldn't miss it. I gain so much wisdom and inspiration from everyone here. It would be great if the world were more like this neighborhood, but until it is, I'll work the steps of my new life to perfection here.

This neighborhood for me has been a place of honesty, support, love and most of all hope. We are all different yet the same in this journey. I have learned so much and know there is much more to learn. I so appreciate everyone here.
Kaye has brought us all together in this wonderful place and I so love her for it. I cannot go one day without getting on here to see what is up with all my new friends. There is much to look forward to here in this neighborhood.
Galelynn

This neighborhood is wonderful, period.
I came upon the site while researching WLS and the info and support that I have found here has led me to the decision to have WLS. So many of my misconceptions about WLS have been replaced with facts. I have found people who understand my struggle to lose this weight and keep it off.
The neighbors here don't criticize me for being MO, they support me and congratulate me for wanting to change that, and for being willing to take such a big, and scary step to achieve that.
It's great to have others who have "been there, done that" and are willing to share their experiences in order to educate others. If the neighborhood has been this helpful pre-op, I can immagine how much of a lifesaver it will be for me post-op!
I LOVE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD !!!

So much information out there for us to find.
If it wasn't for all the great articles and words that I read here I would not have gotten back on track.
Everyone has struggles and when we face them and ask for help then and only then can we over come them.
Thanks to all of you.
Pat :D

Hey everyone,

Just got home from my trip to Bishop.I saw this topic when I was up there but had to wait until I got home to reply.

What attracted me to this neighborhood was Kaye's willingness to be open enough to accept me and the path that my life after weight loss had brought me.She not only accepted the fact that my path was far away from some of the four rules but posted my story in the Library for others to read and maybe help them with issues I had faced.

Though most of us have never met each other we have a strong since of support for each other as a close family and help uplift and encourage each other.We are able to come together here in a common,comfortable and safe place without the fear of rejection.What a pleasure it is to be in this neighborhood.

Right on!!!! :D

I had my WLS 20 years ago come this August. I lived in another place at that time, had another job, lived a different life. I was not altogether successful as far as losing my weight until several years after the fact. When the weight came off, I was living in another place, had another job, lived a different life. I didn't discuss the WLS then because it had occurred during that other life. Then I moved to where I am now.

Because I have been petite in this life, my WLS has never been discussed. I had not, in fact, ever discussed it even with the daughter who was born the year after the WLS.

Over the years I have sometimes talked about my weight loss. I stated that I counted my calories and I exercised, that it was hard work and that I remain ever vigilant. All that is true. I did not discuss the WLS. Whereever I heard it talked about, it was always in a judgemental way. I occasionally defended the people who had it, but I never mentioned that I was one of those people.

I have said, and it is literally true, that I all but forgot I had even had WLS... Until I came here! I at last have been able to look at my WLS, the elephant in my living room, and acknowledge its role in my life.

This past weekend, I even talked to my daughter about my own surgery (turns out she did know). I took the opportunity to educate her on many things she didn't understand about how it works. She actually had thought my WLS had been a bad experience for me, so I was glad to be able to clear things up for her.

This site has helped me reclaim and even embrace a part of myself that I had long denied. It is a safe and non-judgemental place where the truth is spoken in genuine concern.

Judy

I am almost two years post op now... I honestly thought that by now I would have my new life all figured out, be an old pro.... how naive I was! Since finding this wonderful neighborhood I have learned so much. There is such a great variety of people here and it is so wonderful to be able to draw from others WLS experiences (pre and post). I am never alone, whatever I am going through, someone else here can sympathize and usually offer some good advise or ecouraging words - and I know that I can believe them, because we all share a common thread, we've been there and made it through.
In a world where we are the minority we have a place to go where we are among those who understand - and care

~Lucinda

Aloha. I found Living After WLS by chance prior to my surgery. The information on the site was so informative and easy to understand. So many of my questions were answered. And then to my amazement upon starting a blog I was receiving support through personal emails from those already involved in the site, especially from Kaye and Kim. They held my hand, presurgery, during surgery and till this day. Never have I ever received such unconditional support, caring and love as I have from the amazing people of LAWLS.

The creation of the LAWLS Neighborhood is a blessing. I had no support group where I lived. Without the Neighborhood I would be floundering out here in cyber space alone. The support I receive through the Neighborhood is priceless. Here I find people who have lived as I have as an obese person. Not some skinny person who has never been obese, trying to tell me how he/she thinks I feel or should feel. They have no idea what I felt as an obese person. They have no idea what my daily struggles were like. They don't have no idea what my struggles after WLS are like now, either. They think they do, they can show concern, but they don't live it, so they don't know the deep down inside the gut feelings I have every day as I struggle in this journey after WLS.

The Neighboorhood is a place where I mingle among those who know what it is to have been obese. They are not just talk, because they have walked the talk. They have hurt and cried and had the fears I have had being obese. No one makes fun of me. No one cares if I am rich or poor. They accept me for who I am. Not once has anyone been disrespectful or have caused me to feel less of myself. The questions I ask are not seen as "stupid". Most important of all is that they listen, and that is what we sometimes need, just someone to listen. The support I am given is priceless.

I could go on and on about LAWLS. I recommend it to everyone I know and especially, the Neighborhood, as I know I will never feel alone "in my life after weight loss surgery" again.

Have you ever heard the saying that "it takes a village to raise a child"? After WLS it is like being born again, you are given another chance at life.
Your tummy is like a baby. This baby have to be cared for and nurtured.
The Neighborhood gathers around and cares for the baby and nurtures the baby.
Alone baby have hard time. In Neighborhood, baby helped through storms, baby given hope, baby led to rainbows.

Hawaiian word for family is "ohana". That is what the Neighborhood is to me "ohana".

this post brought tears to my eyes....


God bless you dear Melissa!

Just where do I begin on this topic. When I read the original post one thing popped into my mind as to why I love this place. But after reading all the others responses I felt myself o be in a minority.

For you see the Neighborhood has changed me, a person as a whole. Not just the WLS part of me.

For years I hid from th world behind my obesity. It was an excuse to not get out there amongst people. I even hid myself in my fat clothes post op. I looked into the mirror and still saw the obese me. All that changed with this wonderful group of people. I finally feel freer than I ever have in my entire life. I no longer feel the need to hide behind anything. This isn't just something that I have noticed but others see the changes in me over the last 3 months.

I have always been committed to this journey from day one. This site has just strengthened that commitment. But all of that is the physical part of WLS. I'm thankful to each and every one of you for the changes I noticed in the mental/emotional side of not only my WLS, but of life in general. We are more than just our surgeries. We are whole people.

Thanks to Kaye and everyone here for actually giving me a life to live.

THe posts by Meliss and Diane sure do me one feel humble! Thank you for posting these strong emotions! :blush:

I am profoundly deeply touched by the replies here. Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts & feelings about WLS. It has always been my goal to nurture whole people, not just our WLS selves. To see that verbalized brings such joy to to my heart.

I am proud of every neighbor here. You awe and inspire me on each new day. May we continue to grow and nurture one with another.


Kaye

I discovered Kaye in November 2006 about two weeks after my RNY surgery when I had stopped losing weight. I was still going through carb withdrawal and dreaming about burritos, Reeses Peanut Butter cups-- and eating pureed protein, wondering if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life. Food has always been my drug of choice and the surgery was my form of rehab. I read everything Kaye wrote. She has wonderful info and past articles. The knowledge was like getting religion and empowered me to see past the huge bump in my road. Well as it turned out, I woke up one day and all of my food cravings were gone. I have since list 117 pounds. Now this site helps keep me on track. This is a wonderful support group and I credit Kaye and so many others here with inspiring me to success. They have all made me feel safe and their stories tell me I'm not alone in this world. Thanks Kaye.

I missed this the first time around so I want to add my thoughts. They are very simple.

The LAWLS Neighborhood is my lifeline.



Diamond Girl

Bump!

Anyone want to add to this for our future members?

I just wanted to add my thoughts...... I have only been a member of this site for a couple of days but already I feel accepted and right at home (apart from the language barrier at times lol!!). I am a member of 2 other sites in the UK and one particularly has been extremely helpful in my journey so far BUT the members are no where near as friendly and chatty as you guys are.

This is a very positive site with LOADS and LOADS of helpful information - I do wish that I had found this site sooner as it has lots of information for pre-oppers that is just not available on this side of the pond. What it has helped me with is to confirm that I made the right choice for me in having Berty the Band fitted and also to gee me up and making me feel that this time I WILL be sucessful with my weight loss. Why this time? Becasue most of the neighbours here have already shown that it is possible to lose the weight and keep it off.

I will still log onto the sites in the UK but maybe not quite as often as this one. You are all enthusiastic and motivating and inspiring and I am sooooooo glad that I found you all!

I could go on at length (and often do) but I won't this time :)

thanks to all of you for the site and being there

Well this thread has been buried and I know that many threads like this have been created since but I thought I'd bump this one and add to it at the same time.

I can't remember at the moment when I joined this fantastic neighbourhood but I think it was about August/September 07. I am now wondering if there is a group to help me with my addiction to this site. I am in and out of here at every given opportunity every day. Must have my morning fix before I go to work, while I'm sipping my protein shake. Morning tea, lunchtime and afternoon tea breaks at work and I'm in here (I work alone so no chats in the smoko room). You guys are my daytime break company. As soon as I get home from work my laptop goes on and I'm pretty much in and out throughout most evenings. What would I do without the neighbourhood, I hate to think.

Ok, so that addresses the time gaps you fill in my life but the best thing of all is the love that is in here. From that love comes support, encouragement, inspiration, motivation, a butt kicking when needed, etc. For me the most loving messages I receive is when I post about my accomplishments. The feedback I receive usually reduces me to tears (good tears) as no one, I repeat "no one", in my life understands what I'm going through like you all do. I would be totally lost without the guideance, knowledge, understanding, etc I gain from my friends in here. The supportive messages inspire me to achieve more and more and thats a good thing as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't matter how old we are we still like to be given pats on the back for something we've achieved.

I could go on and on but I think you all understand. This site is the best thing for my WLS life and I can't thank Kaye and all her support team enough for creating and maintaining it. Thank you Kaye. You're one in a million thats for sure.

To all the beautiful friends I've become close to over the last few months. Thank you. I love you.

Barbara

This site has given me the support i need to be succesful at living well after wls. It truely is a Godsend for me. I love all of the peeps in the hood. All the helpful sug and tips. All the hugs and pep talks. Thank all of you for the time you give of yourselves to uplift somebody else. I love this place. Thanks to finding the hood I have gotten bk on track, gained control of my eating habits and lost some weight to boot!! I never had any support post op, but I have all I could ever need here.

Well I have only been here for a day, But what a DIFFERANCE A DAY makes. I feel better already like I am in control and I have people who understand where I am and how I feel. This morning I was crying and out of control. Tonight I have drank 93 oz of water ,walked (fast) over a mile and cook two very yummy soups. I have completed my first day of the 5 day. I feel like I can do this. Thanks to all of you for telling I am not a failure and giving your support. Thanks again ..

ON MY WAY DOWN,
watch me shrink

Rachael

Barbara, thanks for bumping this. I don't think I have seen it before.

I just love LAWLS! I feel like I can come here to ask my questions & no one will tell me I'm stupid. I can get encouragement when I'm down. I can vent when I'm frustrated. Kaye & the techies have made this a safe place for me to be. I feel valued as a member of the neighborhood. I haven't felt valued by anyone in a long time!
Love you all!!!!!