Do you have a surgery buddy???

Oct 20, 2012

 



Seriously folks, this journey is hard, and not for the weak.  The more tools you give yourself, the higher your chances of success.  
The surgeon operated on your stomach, not your head.  You need your head in the game in order to win.  And this is a game that never ends, and you can never give up.  That is sooooo much easier to do with support.  If you have support at home - that's great.  In my case, (as I often brag) my husband and kids are my support and I couldn't do this without them.  However, there is a lot that they just don't "get".  And while this board is a great, wonderful resource, sometimes you just don't want to post, or your mood is off, or you honestly want to bitch to someone about what you just read - and you want that someone to "get it".  Support groups are awesome too - but again, sometimes they just don't meet often enough.  And when you really need support, it may be weeks or months or days or hours away.  And you need help NOW.  
I am grateful to this board - I met my surgery buddies, Jenn & Alison, here.  Ok, honestly I kinda pushed my way into a friendship with them, but I adore them both.  Here's the example of why I feel a surgery buddy is important:
Today was super stressful.  I have been dealing with some chronic pain issues, my last midterm was this morning, and then I got some bad news that left me feeling just disappointed and crushed.  I was on my way to a meeting and crying in my car - just everything hitting me at once.  I was going into Starbucks to grab a coffee, and whipped out my phone.  I wanted that lemon iced loaf in that case at starbucks.  I was upset, feeling low, stupid, whatever you name it - I was there.  That lemon iced loaf used to make me smile - and it looked so inviting in that damned case.  All yellow and white and ooey and yummy looking.  And damn it - with this bad fricking day - didn't I deserve a little bit of happiness??? No matter the form??  
I texted Alison - told her I was gonna eat that lemon loaf, lifestyle change be damned!  She reminded me that it wasn't worth it, that I didn't NEED it and to just get my coffee and get out.  She reminded me of the purple dress I just dropped a buttload of money on, and that I was looking forward to wearing soon.  I know that just that little bit of support in the 30 seconds she took out of her day was exactly what I needed to hear.  Sometimes we can tell ourselves something over and over - then just hear it once from someone else and we get it.  That was me today.  I walked out with my iced coffee and went on my way.  I vented my frustrations elsewhere and in different ways - but I didn't turn to food.  Thanks to someone who "got it" and could give me that 30 second pep talk. Today was just one instance, I assure you - there have been more.

We are all human, and I know that we all make mistakes.  But having someone there that will understand and talk to us can make a buttload of difference when we need it most. 

So here's my advice - I am only 7 months out, and haven't hit goal, so take it or leave it - but if you don't have a surgery buddy: GET ONE!!!

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