ObesityHelp

I went to my monthly support group meeting yesterday and the guy that heads the group asked me if was into writing..which I am not..but I told him I am on this website quite a bit and he suggested I write down so on the things I was sharing with the group yesterday.  While I feel that this journey has been pretty easy so far...(I think the real work begins when you are trying to maintain your weight loss)...I at times feel like an outsider.  I like to have get togethers and hang out with my friends and things and usually when there is a get together there is food.

Well, because I am not eating breads, rice, pasta, potatoes, junk food and sweets, my plate usually has fruit, veggies and protein items on it.  I went to a cook out the other night and I got my usual meat (grilled chicken breast strips, baked beans, and cole slaw....and as I was eating I realized how much I missed eating like everyone else.  I was extremely statisfied with the food selection I had on my plate but I am one of those out of site out of mind people...the food was in site and I wanted it!! I wanted to eat a hot dog with the bun and the fixings, a hamburger, chips and the side dishes just like everyone else.  I totally felt left out and almost like a freak.  Not only was I mourning my lost relationship with food...I was only envious of the other ppl at the party who were eating everything in site and going back for seconds and then had dessert....I started to think how unfair life seems..that some ppl can eat eat and eat and yet still maintain a healthy weight...or at least not get as big as I was and have to have surgical intervention to loss the weight.  Don't get me wrong..I am so Thankful that God blessed me with the opportunity to have this surgery and all the many blessings He has showered me with surrounding the surgery, but I still have those moments when I miss eating lots of food.  I was never a big sweet eater...but at this cook out..I so wanted to have big slice of cake just like everyone else.  But the flip side comes when I try on clothing and I see how many sizes I have gone down in less than 7 months!! Then I could care less about eating like everyone else.  I spent more than 30 years eating the way I wanted and have my plate piled with food and now it is time to eat to live and stop living to eat.  

Another thing that I talked about was the fact that I am very open with the fact that I had gastric by pass surgery.  I tell any one who comments on my weight loss or if they ask what I did to lose weight.  I also tell them that I exercise and watch what I eat....but my tool is a tremendous asset.  But the down side of telling everyone is that ppl will watch you eat!  I was at work one day and one of my coworkers split a lunch with me...it was a turkey and cheese sandwich with thinly fried potatoes like chips and a pickle.  It was a really pretty day out side and I choose to sit out in front of the office building and we had ppl on the evening shift coming in to work at that time.  Now mind  you, I was only eating the turkey and cheese and pickle on the plate and once I was done with that..I threw the chips and bread away.  Can you imagine  how many ppl stop to comment on the content  of my plate??  The were all like..ooh you shouldnt have that or I are you going to eat all that.  I did tell them that I was not going to eat the chips or bread and that I appreciate them looking out for me..but by the time the 5 or 6 person made a comment...I was really annoyed!  

But anyway...I realize that I have thoughts  and feelings like these two all the time but I don't every post them here...I don't know why but I will do better so that when I look back over my journey I will be able to see what I struggled with and how I over came it! Also I will be able to share with someone who is considering surgery and looking for information.

Until Next Time

I am not sure if I posted about the BAF 5 month challenge but today is the first weigh in day....I started out at 232.8 pounds and today I am 219.8 pounds...so I have lost 13 pounds in that month.  I still have 42 more pounds to go in 4 four months so I need to lose at least 10.5 pounds a each month to reach that goal.  I am going to have to kick things up a notch to make sure I make it.  I never did post a picture from July 13 but I will try and post one later today.  


posted on BAF on July 16
Hey Cookie!! I did not orginally sign up but I would love to participate!! Starting weight is 232.8 and I would like to have lost 55 pounds by 12/31/07.  I will also post a picture tonight showing my starting weight for the challenge.  Thanks