No room to complain….
Despite my plan to make it an early night, I was up late again lastnight and found myself getting sucked into a documentary on the Discovery Channel. It was the story of a woman named Kathy who at 350+ lbs made the decision to have gastric bypass.
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They showed her life before surgery, very limited mobility and a variety of health problems. Then came the shot of her 6 months post op. I was floored at how thin and healthy she looked. How she was walking and exercising with ease, mostly how happy she seemed. She looked alive and vibrant again, and for a brief moment I started to question whether or not I should consider the surgery myself.
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That thought came to a screeching halt when they showed her being weighed. Her incredible weight loss, that I was so jealous of, put her at only 10 lbs less than I am right now. I listened to her talk about how she can work out and move through the world feeling confident now, how she never thought that she would see her current number on that scale. Holy reality check BatMan!
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Everything is relative my friends, everything. Here I am sitting in, and disliking, the same body she was so happy to finally be in. Here I am feeling limited and confined by the same body she feels liberated and unstoppable in. So my excuse for not working to my fullest potential would be what?
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Seeing someone who needed to sit to wash dishes, needed to take a break from walking to the mailbox, who couldn’t run and play with her son, and seeing the pain and dispair of it all on her face moved me. Then to see her being able to do all of those things with ease, like I can, and being so very grateful for it inspired me. Talk about perspective.
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So I write this today with a new found sense of motivation and drive to succeed. A new appreciation of the fact that I have yet to become disabled by my weight, and the gratitude that I have the ability to do better. Hopefully Kathy’s story will give that to you all as well.
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Thanks for writing that~ It sure has given me thought ~ have a great day ~
Thank you Erika for that insight. The Bariatric clinic around here closed recently, as there was a wrongful death suit on them. So thats something else to think about.
Let me begin by saying that I MISS THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL. But, cable is a luxury, so oh well.
I know you needed sleep, but I am glad you got sucked into this story. It’s great to have this new perspective, Erika, and I absolutely agree with you. Everyday that I workout I am very grateful that I have the ability to do so, because back when I started, I was in a lot more pain. Above all, I am happy to hear you say that this story has further inspired you. Kick that ball’s butt!
Sounds like that late night was well worth the loss of sleep!
I guess we all need to take a step back and look at where we once were and compare it to where we are now!
Great blog.
Very good, thought provoking blog! I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us!
Actually my friend, it was your blog that left me with that sense of appreciation and, “the gratitude that I can do better.” One of the things that really shot out at me from your blog was the this journey is “all relative.” There have been some buddies here who say that because they have a shorter journey than others, it doesn’t make it any easier and that’s so true!!! At the same time, it’s good to step back and realize that we are blessed precisely because we have a shorter journey.
Thanks for that blog!! 
Wow, sounds like a good show to see. It’s funny how some things can be such an eye opener. Kind of like a light comes on at that moment. I came so close at one point in my life to having that surgery and I thank god I didnt go through with it. I have had 2 family members do it but it was a life or death kind of thing and in that situation I think it’s great but for me, nahhh, cuz I knew that I was just being lazy and I knew no surgery would every fix that lol…..
We all have it within ourselves! Sometimes we lose it but if we try everyday it comes back. Keep at it. I am telling you I would have been way off the deep end by now. I remember when I could lose like 80 pounds in 3 months. Now it’s like 6 FREAKING pounds sense christmas lol But I feel like a million bucks.
Yes Erika, sometimes a change in perspective is what we need to shake us and wake us up!! I’m glad you found motivation in Kathy’s story…and indeed, we are blessed.
I guess it takes something like that to realize that some people would love to be where we are at. We need to be lucky for what we got while improving what we have.