Suze's Muses - THANKSGIVING THANK YOU!!!

Coming into the Thanksgiving holiday, I asked Susan to write a post about all the things she is thankful for. I know it sounds a little sappy, but I have posted her response to my holiday challenge and I will be posting one tomorrow as well. Be sure to check out the blog tomorrow as well to see my thoughts on this amazing holiday. Be sure to post comments below about all of the things you are thankful for this holiday season and share the love with the readers of this site to gain encouragement as we all prepare for the holiday season ahead. Thank you all for all of your love and support on this site. 

Thanks a lot.  Seriously.

So now I’m a month post op, and the first major holiday is around the corner (though Halloween wasn’t a picnic, tbh).  Anyhow, the easy thing to do would be for me to lament the kickoff of the holiday “yummy season” by hosting a pity party for all the things I wasn't going to be able to eat this year.  But you know what?  Not me- not this girl!  I’m going to switch it up, and offer my list of stuff  (in completely random order except for the last one- I think all the people in my life have been so important I don’t want anyone to feel slighted) I’m grateful about now that I have a stomach the size of an egg or so.  Ready?

Suze’s Top Things to Gobble About (instead of Gobble Up!)

My family… at least those who know.  I’m rather surprised at how supportive and non-judgmental they’ve been through this whole process.  Maybe I was the one who had a negative stigma about WLS.  Hmm…

My amazing surgeon and his team.  Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever met a more wonderful, caring group of folks who were and still are there for me every step of the way.  They rock!

My second chance.  I know this sounds kind of hokey, but I’m serious.  I’m still (relatively) young, but health issues were starting to catch up to me, and without this opportunity to really fix my eating habits, I shudder to think of how I could have ended up.

My virtual buddies on MyBariatricPal- like Jonathan!  I stumbled upon this site completely at random & now check in every day.  I’ll never claim to be an expert, but I enjoy offering opinions and advice as a “noob” with WLS, and hope that someone out there smiles with what I write.  The folks on those forums are great people & I’m very thankful that I’ve found such a caring, open place to talk.

My determination.  Sure, I’ll toot my own horn here for a second.  As someone who isn’t a fan of meat of any kind, (including fish), doesn't drink milk and feels her throat close at the thought of eating an egg, it seemed like adequate protein intake was laughable.  I’m happy to say I’ve found a number of workable sources of protein and have gotten 70-90 grams a day since I got home from the hospital.  Without.  Fail. J

My life as a morbidly obese person.  Nutty thing to be thankful for, you’d think, huh? Not so fast, my friends.  Granted, being overweight was very painful at times- much more so mentally.  Our world rates us on our physical appearance and unjustifiably attaches our worth to our looks.  Take a world who has a negative schema towards us “fluffy folks” and pair it with the every day embarrassments of going sideways through turnstiles, bathing suits, and buffet lines, and that world can be a pretty upsetting place.  If you let it be.  One of my favorite quotes is by Eleanor Roosevelt:  “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  I love that!  No words, looks or actions can harm me unless I allow them to.  It was all those judgmental people in our world that really caused me to sit back and reflect about who I am as a person.    And you know what?  I’m pretty darned awesome exactly how I am!  I don’t mean to seem narcissistic, but it’s my honest opinion that folks who are so harsh over someone’s appearance, usually have some pretty deep-seeded issues themselves.  Being overweight has shown me that there’s way more to someone than their physical appearance.  It’s taught me to be kind, tolerant, and see the incredible worth in every person I meet.  I guess that’s why I’m so happy to answer questions about WLS- I’m still traveling down the road and already feel so much different from when I started.  J

It’s my wish for you, dear reader, to have the most blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving you’ve ever had- whether you’re pre-op, post op, or just thinking about WLS.  I have so much to be thankful for…and cookies/cake/pie just aren’t on that list this year. J  Cheers!