Food For Thought

If you hadn't had surgery, what would you have been eating today? What would you be doing? How would you be physically feeling? Me... Probably would have stopped at McDonald's on my way to work and gotten some kind of breakfast sandwich/Diet Coke. Then probably mid morning had some kind of snack and consumed another diet coke. Lunch would be a combo meal from a FF resturaunt and more diet coke. In the afternoon, another diet coke and as soon as I got home from work some kind of leftovers. Then more diet coke. I would have dinner and later a snack, maybe popcorn or more leftovers. I would have still been working as I am now, but I would about feel ready for a nap (I have been here 1.5 hours). By the time I finished lunch, I may even have fallen asleep at my desk. The last few months before surgery, I had this happen often. When I got home from work I would take a nap and then have a tiring evening of watching TV. I would have been depressed, and sick. I would have had to been checking my blood pressure and checking my blood sugar. I would have been extremely tired and tired of being sick. What a difference almost 9 months can make! Leeanne

Good Morning, Leeanne This is a great post! It really makes me think and makes me realize how much this surgery has improved my life!! Let's see.... Breakfast .. I usually didn't eat breakfast unless we were out. Then I'd get a breakfast sandwitch, hash browns and a soda. Lunch.. a big plate of leftovers or a sandwitch on white bread w/ more chips or enough Taco bell to feed 2 people. Oh and more soda Dinner was never healthy... something fried or too much pasta/rice. w/ more soda I love chips and crackers so between meals, that's what I snacked on.. constantly. After dinner, I HAD to have something sweet. A big bowl of ice cream or cookies I was depressed because of my weight and cried all the time. I did nothing but sit around the house, watch tv, sleep and eat. My partner always wanted to do things, but I stopped going places because my body hurt. 450 lbs. is a lot of weight to carry around and I felt like EVERYONE was looking at me. WLS has truly been a blessing! Kay

Leeanne: It is almost as if you took a page right out of my pre-op life! Burger King was right on my way to work (it isn't any longer because I drop my son off at child care) so EVERY morning I stopped there and ordered a croissanwich value meal (King-sized because of the LARGE Diet soda!). I mean...when I say every day...I mean EVERY day! It was so bad that, on the days that I was running late, the drive-thru dude would say, "Hey...running late today, huh?" When the BK employees KNOW your schedule, that is just BAD! I would snack on something "low-cal" before lunch...one (or two!) of those 100-Calorie packs. Or sunflower seeds (I was addicted!). Lunch would take me to Wendy's most days...another super-sized value meal with the gallon of diet soda! Or I would go to KFC and get a value meal AND a Little Parfait for dessert. KFC made me sick EVERY time I ate there but did that stop me? Nooo.... More snacking in the afternoon. Some days I would swing by Burger King on the way home to get a vanilla shake. Then dinner would be a LOT of whatever we were having. I was always tired...always worn out. My first step out of bed in the morning was EXCRUTIATING. I honestly had deceived myself into thinking I had a genuine foot problem. I never stopped to consider that the extra 130+ lbs I was carrying around was the culprit! I never wanted to go out. If I was forced to go to the mall, I wanted to park right by the door or not go in at all. Clothes shopping was torture and daily living was devastating. I hated going on vacation, even, and just wanted to stay in my house! This is why I THANK GOD for this surgery. I really, truly thought I was "ok" pre-op. It is only NOW that I can see that I SO wasn't! I do not even NOTICE my feet anymore (and I wear high heels all the time)! I run around with my son all day. When I go to the mall now, I park in the first spot I find...who cares if it is a mile away. And clothes shopping...WHOO BOY! It is my favorite thing to do! I want to go out and see people and have people see me. I want to go on vacation and I do not care if I wear a bathing suit and nothing else the whole time I am there. For the first time in my life, I am L-I-V-I-N-G! So I am TOTALLY with you, Leeanne...we were all given a new lease on life! Have a WONDERFUL day! Hugs, Jersey

Oh Gosh... my typical school day was horrible!!!! Breakfast: Stop at Mickey D's before the highway, order two sausage mcmuffins with egg meal, and a large diet coke Or be at JAck and get 2 Sourdough breakfast sandwiches without ham, add sausage.... always diet soda though lol Snack: Sometimes went to the bagel shop and I got two egg bagels with strawberry cream cheese Lunch: Usually went to Pizza Hut's buffet... ate like a million pizzas lol Snack: 2 Double Cheeseburgers and Lg Diet Coke at Mickey Ds or 2 Big Cheeseburgers at Jack Dinner: whatever mom made... but alot of it! Dessert: cookies, or ice cream or both! Some days I'd have only fast food... or 3 double cheeseburgers! Or throw in a large fry. Ugh. I was always soooo tired and I would be in the bathroom like all night he he. I never wanted to get outta bed, I'd lay in there until the very last minute. Today........ What a change! I'm up and out of bed and can stay up later than before. I got me some friends and am happy to go out in public! YEAH!!!!

Lee, pretty much you all have repeated what I did and ate too. You're right about 9 months making a difference. I'm taking the day off tomorrow and Christmas shopping, and am excited because I still don't get much chance to shop and try on clothes. I hope I can tomorrow. In a regular store, regular size clothes. That will be nice. Also, I'll have the energy to do it. Karla