One size does NOT fit all

Have you ever gone into a store to try on leggings or a shirt and the tag says "one size fits all"? I know I have.. I also know I couldn't get those pants up over my thighs and I couldn't get the shirt past my one arm! One size fits all is a lie.. in a lot of ways.. It kind of feels the same way with family sometimes doesn't it? Some family members will find out you have decided to have bariatric surgery and say things like "well that's the easy way out, why can't you just do it natural like other people?" Or "well I know this girl who was way bigger than you and she lost all her extra weight just by eating better and doing Zumba." And even occasionally "I don't understand why you'd put your life at risk like that just to loose weight. I mean why can't you just diet or take some supplements?" What they don't know or understand is that you've tried the diets and exercise for years with little results that you couldn't keep stable. Or that you've prayed a lot about whether or not this is the right decision because your doctor has told you it's only a matter of time before your health goes way downhill if you don't loose some weight. Or that you are putting your life in more of a risk by not doing the surgery than if you do it.. every individual person is unique and so is their situation! There is no one person exactly like another in every way, and I think that is for very good reason and done for a very important purpose by the Creator!

I've heard lots of people talking about how their loved ones reacted to their decision and it was absolutely devastating to hear that not only did they not support their decision but they made them feel like a failure because of it! That hurts my heart to know there are people out there who have to go through this path all alone. If you are one of those people, please reach out to me and let me be there with you to encourage you and support you! You can share as little or as much about your life as you want, I just want everyone to have someone there for them.

On a better note, I am proud to say everyone in my immediate family and circle of friends completely supported my decision and my husband was the one who suggested I bring it up to my physician being since it's 100% covered under our military insurance (I had no idea). Even my daddy, who refuses to have any kind of elected procedure, supports my decision! I have to say, my sister is my biggest supporter and biggest fan girl ;) love you Brit!

I've read a lot of articles and such on bariatrics lately and I've also come to find out that a lot of people who start a pathway to have bariatric surgery, don't finish it because they learned the right way to fuel and take care of their bodies and have lost so muck that they want to continue to do it on their own! Now that definitely could've possibly happened to me if I didn't have hypothyroidism because I was that person who grew up eating whatever mama bought and cooked and then when I went out on my own, I bought and ate what I knew and what I liked. My whole life I have been eating what I liked and what I could afford. I thought that was most important. Then I started the pathway and learned I couldn't be more wrong! Over the course of about 6 months, I learned how to shop for healthier foods, how to cook healthier, how to snack better, and also learned I wasn't drinking half as much water as I should be lol.

Have you ever noticed how you get in a daze at the grocery store and you know exactly where to find the things you buy most often and you just go there and get what you always get and move on to the next item? Did you know that marketing people in certain companies pay money to have their product placed in a particular spot in the store that is most likely to catch your attention and cause an impulse purchase? It's so true! Have you ever noticed how the healthy option is always on the very bottom shelf or the very top shelf and you have to back up from the aisle to see it good? That is on purpose! I could go on and on about tricks of shopping but I think I'll just make another post for that one lol. My point is, that just because you think you can't have (for example) tortillas because they're obviously loaded with unhealthy carbs, it's FALSE! There's a healthy tortilla option called Carb Balance and it is WAY healthier! That's just one example, I've got tons! I still eat delicious food and some foods that I've always eaten! I just can't eat as much but I am perfectly okay with that because my new anatomy lets me feel fully satisfied off of a few bites! That's an amazing feeling y'all! Also, I'm not cooking different meals for me, my family and I can all eat the same thing for dinner.. win win!

If I had to say one negative thing about gastric surgery, it would be that the surgery doesn't affect your brain. Meaning the part of your brain that tells you you're always hungry is still telling you you're always hungry. Also, urges to buy sweets and junk food is still there. But I guess if the surgery took all that away too then there would be no work for us to do but wait and exercise lol. And that would be too easy :D

Much love y'all! Until next time,

Kay