I recently heard another weight loss surgery patient say, “I didn’t realize how much I would miss my old friend food.” I certainly can sympathize with that feeling. As much as I thought I was prepared for this surgery, you really don’t know how you will react until you wake up in recovery. One of the first post-op feelings I remember is the crushing realization that there are simply things I will never eat and enjoy again. I thought I had dealt with that prior to the surgery. Until I was post-op though, the finality of this wasn’t a reality.
Consider the statement though, "I miss my old friend food." If I am honest, I have to look at everything my old friend food brought to the table. In my case, it made me obese my entire adult life. At 36 years old, I was 373lbs and a Big Mac away from a heart attack. I had health problems up the whazoo, (literally if you count the hemorrhoids). I was fat, lazy and felt like crap most of the time. On top of that, I found out that my obesity was causing liver disease that would have led to liver failure eventually.
What would you do with a friend that lied, cheated, and stole from you? At a minimum you would want them out of your life for good. That is exactly what food has done to me. It lied to me about what it was really doing to me with misleading advertisement and false, misplaced comfort. It cheated me of the true enjoyment of living every day. It stole time and years from my life. And it robbed me of so many experiences with my family.
Now, that doesn't mean I don't miss my "friend." Just like anyone that has been a part of our lives for so long, we miss them. But when I am really missing my old friend, I’m learning to ask myself this question, do I miss the destructiveness that it has rained down on my life? I truly cannot think of one positive thing that this friend has done in my life. I have to consider the consequences of opening the door for that friendship again.
If I need inspiration to maintain a healthy perspective on the importance of food in my life, I need look no further than myself. Pants that were once too tight for me to wear are now so big they slide down. For the first time in fifteen years I ran one mile, without stopping. I can look at a picture or mirror and see what it looks like to lose 62 pounds in only eight weeks. And I am beginning to understand that the purpose of food is to give nourishment, energy, and yes, some enjoyment. But I have control over food; it is not supposed to have control over me.
I'll share with you what I see. The first photo collage below is me before on the left and me eight weeks post-op. Down 62 pounds.
And here is a progressive collage. Same photos of me on the left and right and me two weeks post-op in the middle.
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The following is feedback received for this blog:
Hey Scott,
Congrats on the 60+ pounds. That is great and I know what you mean about feeling great. I am at 45 lbs - but I am a girl!! We go as a family to the Y and that is fun but that stupid elipitical - I am up to 8 whole minutes!! Running a mile - way too cool!! The pictures are fantastic. I bet your clothes are falling off too! Take care and keep up the good work!!
- DIANE TENDLER
You look GREAT! Keep it up and thanks for sharing with us.
--Jen
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