How time flies when you’re hungry. Exactly four weeks ago I began the dreaded liquid diet to prepare for my Lap Band surgery. The first couple days were rough as my body (and mind) went into junk food withdrawal. But I soon settled into the groove. I had the surgery exactly two weeks ago. It went without a hitch and now I am pretty much healed from it. Having just finished the two week post surgery liquid diet I am now beginning to work in some solid food. Since starting the liquid diet a month ago I have lost about 25 pounds. Sometimes I feel like I have lost weight and I look in the mirror and can see it. But most of the time I don’t see it. But I do feel better. The mind does funny things as Kathy Brandt from our church tells me. She lost several hundred pounds and says that sometimes her mind still can’t see the weight loss. So I’m not getting too hung up on that. I also decided to stop weighing myself for a while. I was getting too hung up on it. With the liquid diet the initial weight comes off pretty quick but it slows down. So I will weigh myself every couple weeks and not every day.
The food thing has been harder. I have realized just how much my life revolved around food…almost using it to medicate. Feeling down? Eat! Feeling good? Eat! It’s so much a part of our lives. Eating when not really hungry. Overeating because it’s there. Feeling like your day is not right if there is no stop at the golden arches. For the most part if I stick to the plan and eat what and when I’m supposed to, I don’t get hungry. It’s amazing. Tonight for dinner I had about 6 oz. of Liverwurst and 6 ritz crackers and I was comfortable. I was supposed to eat a half a banana but couldn’t because I was full. That’s crazy! After so many years of overeating until stuffed, it is beginning to feel good eating just enough to not feel hungry. For the first time tonight I was watching others eat good food I love–Mexican–but wasn’t envious. I have chosen a life, a new way of life, that isn’t dependent on food to feel good. I think it’s starting to get easier. The Lap Band is a tool, but the decision is still mine. Eat to live not live to eat!
Chris Higgins 