The wonderful gift of sickness

I've been doing a fair share of eating sugary stuff this holiday season. Between the several birthday parties for kids (cake), holiday cookies everywhere, and chocolate in one form or another all over, I have WAY overdone it. I've been back to my out-of-control self to be perfectly blunt. Christmas Day, while we were with family, I started having a very sore throat. I spent all day Monday in bed in misery. The doctor on Tuesday finally called it tonsilitis and gave me some prescriptions. By Thursday I was feeling much better. But then a funny thing occurred to me: I hadn't eaten a sweet (or much of anything else) for 4 days. I prayed and it opened up. What a gift that sickness was! I've been out and about again now for a couple of days and I have found new strength to resist the temptation to eat sugary foods. I threw out the remaining Egg Nog we had in the fridge. I feel like I have a new start. The sickness also dropped about 8 lbs off me in a matter of a few days, so my weight loss even got a jump start. I'm so grateful I got sick!!! It was a gift that will help me get back on track and stay the course.

God works in mysterious ways doesn't he, Tom? Anyway, I'll be praying for you that you will be able to fight off food issues. We all have them in one form or another - sugary snacks for you, salty snacks for me, fatty snacks for others. Anyway, best of luck! I know you can do it, Bro! Hugs, Tracy

Tom, You do have a new start! In fact, a new start is there anytime you want it. All you have to do is acknowledge it and it is yours. One of the wonderous things in life available to us. I know that for me...sugar is incredibly addictive. Pre-op (I believe I dump so I don't go near the stuff now)...I found that one sugary thing would send me on a sugar-eating binge where I was craving it each and every day - in fact, multiple times a day. Breaking that cycle, getting the taste out of your mouth and out of your blood stream... can be very liberating yet very hard to do. Your illness was definitely a blessing in this case! Keep forging on! Kathy

Sorry that you got sick but grateful that you are better now and that you are ready to begin again!! Like it has been said many times...we had surgery on our stomach, not our heads. So, unfortunately, as we have done most of our adult lives, we still have to fight those head demons!!! Good for you Tom and Happy New Year!!

Sorry about your throat, that IS very painful. Hope you are as good as new soon. I share your experience about falling off the wagon this Christmas season. Thanksgiving was a breeze...but I tried to out smart the surgery during Christmas with mamas divinity...I'd eat a bite then come back about 30 mins later, and eat another bite...over and over again. Here's to a new start!!!! Shawna

Good for you Tom, congrats on your new start! I'm sorry you had to get sick to get there, but sometimes it actually pays off! I over indulged during the Christmas holiday -- thank God all of our company and the bad-for-me food is now gone! Best wishes on your new start and 2006! ~Wanda