Controversial as it may seem, I was once vehemently against the celebration of Independence Day.

 

Why, Nik??? You are asking. It is a day to celebrate American freedom!!!

 

Not to be divisive, but on July 4, 1776 I would not have been free and that’s a fact that too me a long time to get my head around.

 

These days, I have a more holistic view of the holiday. It represents overall independence to me. A day to celebrate the things we can do now that we could not do before. And I quietly ignore the fact the reference to the actual day.

 

Anyhoo…this year I am thinking about post-op independence. There are so many things I am free to do now that I could not do before. Let’s celebrate that! Not only is it a good reminder of our progress, on a personal level, it is one more positive way to think about the holiday to get over that initial not-so-positive one.

 

So what are you “free to do" now that you weren’t free to do before surgery? In what ways are you more independent, better able to work toward “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"? I’ll answer separately.

Free to run around with my kids and dog. Free to buy clothes at any local store at this point. Not fat store clothes only.

teri

When I think of the answer to this question, I get all existential.

Freedom = I can. I can is very dependent on BELIEF that you can. So my belief is about the most valuable gift I've been given in this process.

I CAN run miles at a time. I know this because I have. I first believed it because of all the other things I was achieving.

I CAN raise my girls to be health conscious even though they are already overweight. I CAN teach them to love and value whatever body they have.

I CAN flirt and date. I really can! (and have)

Here's the big, big, BIG ones...

I CAN do hard things.

I CAN get up if I fall.

I CAN find my way back if I get lost.

I CAN keep fighting obesity with every tool I've been given for the rest of my life.

I didn't used to believe this. But now I know I CAN.

Move without pain, getting out of breathe, and sweating profusely...

I am free to think of food only as nourishment for my body.
This has been amazingly liberating for me!

How far out from surgery are you?

I ask because I see people say this and I wonder if you know that it is OK to enjoy food. It's more than nourishment. You like it. And that's ok.

That's another freedom I can count among my many blessings. It has taken a LONG time, but food is not my boyfriend/best friend/grief counselor. It's food. I like it. I eat it. That is all.

Sorry to riff off your post. I respect your journey!

I'm one month out.

Yeah, I have no problems enjoying my food! But that's not what I was talking about really. What is different for me is that I can put aside the emotional aspect of food, and decide if I want to eat something or not based on whether it's good for me, not just because I want it.

Before, I never thought of myself as an emotional eater, because I didn't head for the fridge every time I got upset or stressed. But what I realize now is that eating IS emotional. Pleasure is emotion, and eating is pleasurable!

I won't say I'm completely free of all cravings, because I don't think that will ever happen, but the craving doesn't control me anymore. I can think about the pleasure I will get from eating a food, and I can think about whether that pleasure is worth eating that food and make a decision. It's no longer something I do blindly. That's *my* freedom.

(and thanks to you and others like you who have shared some really yummy recipes, I can also have the pleasure AND the health benefits.) ;-)

You sound about a cabillionty seven times more well adjusted than I was at one month out.

You're gonna do just fine.

:)

LOL! Thanks, Nik! :)

Happy Independence Day!

 I can wake up and feel good getting outta bed.

I can work out and not die from it.

I can be a GREAT roll model for my kids.

I can look at myself and be proud of ME! big one for me.

I can believe my hubby when he says I am one hot momma.