My Story

Until a few months ago, I used to spend hours thinking about food. At 9:00 a.m. I was thinking about what I was going to have for lunch that day. And at lunch I was planning dinner. What would taste good? What was I craving today? McDonald's? Taco Bell? Mike Sell's Groovy Potato chips and sour cream, Cookies and Cream ice cream, Oreo cookies and milk? What was I in the mood for today? Oh my diet? Well, I'll start on it tomorrow. I worshiped food. Food was my best friend. I was addicted to the stuff. When I got me driver's license I was thrilled to death. Not because I could take the car and drive and feel true freedom and independence, but because it gave me the ability to go thru the McDonald's drive thru by myself and order anything I wanted and eat and no one could stop me! Food became an obsession for me. Growing up in a Jewish household with a Jewish mom and grandma meant lots of opportunities for good eating. My father was from Russia and came over to the US in the 60's and experienced food shortages while growing up in Europe. So you can bet at his table second helpings got eaten! My plate was cleaned so well it did not need the dishwasher. Nothing went to waste. I have never known a person that could clean the meat off a chicken leg like my dad. Leftovers got put in tin foil and brought out the next day. And the next day. And the next day. Nothing was thrown away. I remember fighting with my brother for who got to lick the beaters and the bowl when my mom or grandma made one of their (from scratch) Sour Cream Coffee Cakes. Man was that heaven. When I was growing up I was blessed to have friends that had very high metabolism. They could eat any thing and they stayed skinny. I swore they had hollow legs. It was just so unfair! I just looked at food and gained weight. Instantly. I was jealous of them. Yes I was so jealous of them that in fact I would steal candy from their Easter baskets and Christmas stockings to eat! That is how I was going to get even with them for being skinny! Can you imagine! Here is the little jealous Jewish kid stealing candy. You can just imagine what God was thinking! I was the fattest kid on the neighborhood! I got the horrid nickname in elementary school "Shellye Belly Jelly Jar." Just hearing those words again makes me want to hang my head in shame. Of course being heavy meant that I was not as athletic as other kids. I was not interested in running and playing competitive sports like other kids. I was always that last one to get chosen to be on a team. Because no one wanted me on their team. I was dead weight. A loser. A liability. My mom, bless her heart did all she could for me. Taking me to doctors and having tests run to rule out a medical reason for my extra weight. And she was always there with a cookie to make me feel better when I was down. Though my teenage years I continued to put on weight. I tried Diet Workshop, Weigh****chers and Nutra System. Initially I would lose weight and then get bored with the program and go off it. Only to regain what I had lost and more. Like a good Jewish daughter I married a Jewish man that owned an extensive set of Calphalon. That translated means a man who knows how to cook and eat. Hallelujah. Another Jewish cook in the family! With every year of marriage I gained 10 pounds. Now I tip the scales at 278 lbs. I am 5'2 with a body mass index of 50. Twice that of what I should be. I am considered Morbidly obese. Gosh that sounds so, so morbid. On April 17th I am going to have Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery. My decision to have this surgery came by way of months of research, questioning, discovery, and prayer. Over the past 9 months, everything has fallen neatly into place. I truly feel that this is where God is leading me. I ask you to pray for me. Pray that this time, this time I don't get bored with the routine and go back to my old ways from which I have recently departed. Pray that I can call on the Lord to give me the strength to resist temptation to eat foods that are unhealthy for me. Pray that God lights a burning desire in my heart to exercise and eat healthy for the rest of my life. Pray that I am an inspiration to others.

Shellye, Your story is so familiar to so many of us here. I know for myself I was a total food addict and my beginning bmi was over 50....I am taller so I weighted alot more. Food was a comfort and my very best friend for so many yrs. Its lonely at times to be without that comfort but its not worth it to cheat. The one thing I have learned from my 9 months post op is.... Dont eat sugar. I know Ive heard others say they can take up to 10 grams per day but sugar makes me crave sugar. Im like a drunk when it comes to sugar...Ive heard it said u cant give an alcoholic one beer...they cant stop with just one. Well I cant have sweets and not want more sweets. Reminds me also of the old lays potato chip commerical where u cant stop with just one. Once u get off the crap...and its so easy that first 4 months or so to get off of everything. In the early months the surgery makes it very easy. Stay off of it. Once u slip in just a little...its so easy to slip in a little more. Then the cycle starts all over again. I know u will be fine. I'll keep u in my prayers. I hope u make it Sat...u will meet alot of ladies that will give u lots of support. Pamela

I am sure you will do great, Shellye! It's sure coming up quickly. I don't have regrets over getting my RNY. I have lost 82 pounds in just over 4 months. I am thankful for it. Linda Vicory