From Carmella Williams

Hi Everyone,
How many times have we heard this said pre-op?
And how many of us really understood what that meant pre-op?
When you're caught up in the excitement of getting this "wonderful *cure* to all of our weight problems" the reality of that statement doesn't really sink in.
Well, consider this post;
1) a gift to all pre-ops.
2) a reality check to SOME post-ops.
3) and a "DUH" moment to those who are long term, successful, post-ops.

THIS IS NOT THE "CURE" YOU THINK IT IS!
YOU HAVE TO WORK EVERY DAY AT MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES.
YOU MUST DRINK WATER, EXERCISE, TAKE YOUR SUPPLEMENTS,AND WATCH YOUR CARB AND PROTEIN INTAKE.
YOU MUST DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT GOT YOU HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YOU MUST EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE PROCEEDURE YOU'RE HAVING. IGNORANCE IS NO EXCUSE WHEN IT COMES TO "ELECTIVE" SURGERY.
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! IF YOU ARE READING THIS, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, USE IT!!!
IF YOU HAVE A GYM MEMBERSHIP, BUT NEVER GO TO THE GYM, YOU ARE NOT USING THAT "TOOL".
IF YOU HAVE "WLS" AND EAT JUNK FOOD ALL THE TIME, DON'T FOLLOW THE "POUCH RULES" AND REVERT BACK TO YOUR "OLD" HABITS, THEN YOU'RE NOT USING THIS "TOOL"
YOU ARE GIVEN A "TOOL" THAT ALLOWS YOU TO FEEL FULL ON VERY LITTLE FOOD. THAT'S IT!
IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO USE YOUR "TOOL" WISELY
PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING, "THEY OPERATE ON YOUR STOMACH, NOT YOUR HEAD"
IF YOUR GOING TO "RISK" YOUR LIFE HAVING THIS SURGERY. PLEASE BE WELL INFORMED.
I'M HAPPIER THAN I'VE EVER BEEN FOR THE OPORTUNITY I'VE BEEN GIVEN WITH THIS "TOOL", BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I DON'T STRUGGLE EVERYDAY WITH "HEAD HUNGER" & CHOICES,CHOICES, CHOICES.
DON'T BE A "FOOL" USE YOUR "TOOL"!

I have nothing else to offer but my sincere thanks to all the post-ops who've helped me. I just hope I can be of some help to others. We are all on the same path, some of us just take different "forks" in the road.
Love to you all,
Carmella