Where am I

“Weight Loss is not a treatment for obesity.” I got this quote from my Dad this morning. A few times a week my Father picks me up at 6:45am and then we go for a walk at the mall. I really enjoy this time. There are no interruptions, and we can just talk. I have noticed that when ever I am involved in a social event it includes mostly drinking and eating. With going through health problems related to my obesity I have been spending a lot of time thinking. In one week how many times do we go out and socialize around food or drink, and how many times is it a healthy social meeting. Also a co-worker and I have been following a walking program he has. We have also joined Weight Watchers together. He and I are a lot alike, and it is good to know someone who is going through the same thing that you are. I am not going to be following the Weight Watcher plan one hundred percent. But I will be weighing in every week and going to weekly meetings. The reason for this is I have finally got in to the Obesity Clinic at Hamilton Health Sciences. Now I say finally because I have been waiting for almost two years. So I am on a different lifestyle change that is doctor monitored. Basically I will be eating three meals a day and three snacks a day. Two of the meals will be meal replacement that will have two hundred and fifty to three hundred calories and twelve to fifteen grams of protein. The snacks can be any fruits or vegetables. Also I will only be drinking water, tea or coffee. I will also be doing at least twenty minutes of exercise. For me to say I don’t have time would be like a diabetic saying I don’t have time to take my insulin. It is time to take control and responsibility for my life.

For the most part I am following what the doctor told me to do. I am finding it hard and have always struggled on weekends. The lack of structure is my biggest challenge. This is one of my concerns with the up coming holiday season. I am not going to be working for two weeks, there for it will be like a fourteen day weekend. My other challenge is the sweets that are lying around everywhere. Sometimes I think I would do better if I was alone somewhere for this whole time. But then I am also an emotional eater, so I would probably eat because I was alone.

Another thing they talked about at the clinic is to think about all the things that I have lost because of my obesity. So here is a list of a few things I can think of just off the top of my head. I miss activities that I loved like riding a bike, kayaking, swimming, playing basketball and street hockey. I have to worry about where I sit, will I break the chair, will I fit on the chair, and is there a table to sit at in the restaurant because I don’t fit in booths. I can’t buy clothes at any store that is not a Big and Tall Shop. I have never bought a drum corps T-shirt. I love going to movies, sporting events and live theatre, but it hurts to sit in there seats. I can’t tie my shoes in the center. I can’t play on the ground for a long time with my little god daughter. Walking up stairs hurts my knees. I don’t fit in any chairs at work. I have lost so much and I want it back. I want it all.