| What got me to this point? By Joyce May 2000 It is difficult to share personal feelings for some of us and easy for others.� I have been blessed with ability to share my thoughts with ease. For some reason, I am not shy about opening up my life to others.� So perhaps I have a special gift from God that I must use to help others. Friends, family and total strangers will be reading the pages of this web site.� The"strangers" will most likely be people like me, who have heard about Weight Loss Surgery and are researching the subject.� It really helps to read other's experiences.� I have been going to personal web pages and have a few favorites that I will put the link to down the column on the left. My friends and family who come here, will probably be doing so because I have sent them a message to invite them here.� Hopefully, this site will give them some insight on my feelings and plans.� I'm crazy about my relatives, so I would love to have their support.� It is not necessary for me to accomplish my health goals, but it is always nice to have. EATING DISORDER � I believe that I have an eating disorder called "compulsive overeating."� Many others suffer with this frustrating disease that affects us physically, emotionally and spiritually.� My mother recognized this when I was 23, and suggested "Overeaters Anonymous".... but I balked.� So, fifteen years later, I "listened to my mother"... are they ALWAYS RIGHT? :-)� It was a wonderful program, and I did lose weight but mostly, I gained tremendous insight on ME.� While I "worked" the program, I lost weight, but the minute I let my guard down...WHAM...weight back on plus some.� That has been the story of my life, concerning weight. I know that I have this disorder and that it is no reflection on my "will power."� I had the "will power" to stop drinking alcohol, drinking coffee and tea AND stop smoking.� I REALLY enjoyed doing all of those things, yet was able to quit. BUT IT DOES NOT WORK WITH FOOD!� YIKES! MY SOLUTION Well, after 40 years of fighting it, I am going to go on an adventure.� I am about to equip myself with a tool of Weight Loss Surgery, that will, with much effort on my part, help me to get this weight off and keep it off, as long as I work WITH IT!� Some may think that this surgery is an "easy out." But NOOOOOOO!� I must watch what I eat more than ever, as this surgery forces me to do so.� If I do not eat the RIGHT foods, I will become anemic.� My hair will fall out, and I will feel terrible. If I eat the WRONG foods, I will get very nauseated and experience a lot of pain.� I must drink a certain amount of water and eat a certain amount of protein and get my vitamins.... I should loose about 60% to 80% of my excess body fat within the first year.� If I want to lose all the way down to my goal, I must excercise religiously and follow a strict eating plan.� So...it is not easier, but it is a tool that helps me modify my eating, and since I have not been able to do this any other way for 40 years, I am going to go for it.� I have been researching Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) for months now, and I am sure that this is the answer for me....I said ME.� I can only speak for myself.� I have read internet posts, every day for three months, from people who have had this surgery...both good and bad experiences.� I get from 25 to 30 message each day regarding WLS and write back to many of the composers and get my questions answered. I have even developed a statement for anyone who doubts my decision as being a well-thought-out process and gives me any static.� It goes like this: "I am the Captain of my own ship.� I will use God as my rudder to give me direction, and I will use this surgery as a tool to keep me on course. I am tired of being a tug boat... I want to be a dingy!" |