I'm so excited and nervous at the same time!
Nov 15, 2011
Hi! My name is Eni and I'm here because I want to live life to the fullest. I have been battling a weight problem for most of my life. and I've also been dealing with Diabetes since my pregnancies (about 17 years). I've prayed for a miracle cure and I believe this surgery is it.
I have two teenage daughters ages 14 and 16, whom I've raised on my own since they were 1 and 3, when my husband died. He was a fabulous man, a great dad, and my best friend. Yes, it's been difficult at times, but God has never failed me.
My surgeon (Dr. Anthony Gonzalez) puts all his gastric bypass patients on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to the surgery. I knew I was going to have a problem with this from the getgo because I've never been able to do a liquid diet.
Well, the first couple of days were hard but the hardest part was not that I was lightheaded or feeling weak; it was dealing with my "divorce," from food! I could no longer find comfort in food, spend time with it, or just indulge in it. I was actually grieving, and even cried about it. I cried about not having a heaping plate of arroz con pollo (yellow rice and chicken) again, or going to my favorite all you can eat seafood restaurant, and leaving sick from the amount of crabs I devoured. I swung from being very sad to getting angry at everyone, and back to being sad about the whole situation. I even questioned whether I should go through with this. Up to this point , I had never realized how big of a part, food played in my life!
Gosh, I had even joked about how I had to gain a few pounds to have a bmi of 35, because I was not big enough...and then at the end, I reached a bmi of 36 without even trying to, but, still, in my mind I didn't have a problem with food! or so I thought....
And, now the realization of no longer being able to eat all I wanted, plus the pangs I was feeling for certain favorites, was killing me!
I was still in this frantic state when I called the bariatric nurse at South Miami Hospital -her name is Maria Fuego and she has been a Godsend in so many ways- well, she heard me out and immediately identified what I was going through. She said the grieving I was experiencing, was due to my emotional eating. I was shocked because I never thought I ate because of emotions... yet, food had taken over in so many ways. I had been saying I wanted to have this surgery for the Diabetes, to get rid of it, yet, the truth was I had a very big problem with food. The feelings associated with eating, had replaced relationships and activities. I sat there and realized food was my best friend and lover, the thing I ran to for joy and comfort (I haven't dated in years and didnt care to ???). I have no interest in social or outdoor activities. Eating and watching a good movie at home was what I looked forward to. I enjoyed going out only if it involved good eating. So, no wonder I was in deep mourning!
Now, in retrospect, I realizae that not even the Diabetes condition, put a real stop to my love affair with food.
Wow, I'm going to have to learn ways to enjoy life, that doesn't involve the pleasure of food consumption. How am I going to do this? I still don't know... but I'm willing to learn.
Well gotta go now, I have to get ready for tommorow's event. I'm very proud to be here with such a group of winners! You have inspired me and given me hope.
I have a lot to look forward to. Keep me in your prayers.
Eni
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I have two teenage daughters ages 14 and 16, whom I've raised on my own since they were 1 and 3, when my husband died. He was a fabulous man, a great dad, and my best friend. Yes, it's been difficult at times, but God has never failed me.
My surgeon (Dr. Anthony Gonzalez) puts all his gastric bypass patients on a liquid diet for two weeks prior to the surgery. I knew I was going to have a problem with this from the getgo because I've never been able to do a liquid diet.
Well, the first couple of days were hard but the hardest part was not that I was lightheaded or feeling weak; it was dealing with my "divorce," from food! I could no longer find comfort in food, spend time with it, or just indulge in it. I was actually grieving, and even cried about it. I cried about not having a heaping plate of arroz con pollo (yellow rice and chicken) again, or going to my favorite all you can eat seafood restaurant, and leaving sick from the amount of crabs I devoured. I swung from being very sad to getting angry at everyone, and back to being sad about the whole situation. I even questioned whether I should go through with this. Up to this point , I had never realized how big of a part, food played in my life!
Gosh, I had even joked about how I had to gain a few pounds to have a bmi of 35, because I was not big enough...and then at the end, I reached a bmi of 36 without even trying to, but, still, in my mind I didn't have a problem with food! or so I thought....
And, now the realization of no longer being able to eat all I wanted, plus the pangs I was feeling for certain favorites, was killing me!
I was still in this frantic state when I called the bariatric nurse at South Miami Hospital -her name is Maria Fuego and she has been a Godsend in so many ways- well, she heard me out and immediately identified what I was going through. She said the grieving I was experiencing, was due to my emotional eating. I was shocked because I never thought I ate because of emotions... yet, food had taken over in so many ways. I had been saying I wanted to have this surgery for the Diabetes, to get rid of it, yet, the truth was I had a very big problem with food. The feelings associated with eating, had replaced relationships and activities. I sat there and realized food was my best friend and lover, the thing I ran to for joy and comfort (I haven't dated in years and didnt care to ???). I have no interest in social or outdoor activities. Eating and watching a good movie at home was what I looked forward to. I enjoyed going out only if it involved good eating. So, no wonder I was in deep mourning!
Now, in retrospect, I realizae that not even the Diabetes condition, put a real stop to my love affair with food.
Wow, I'm going to have to learn ways to enjoy life, that doesn't involve the pleasure of food consumption. How am I going to do this? I still don't know... but I'm willing to learn.
Well gotta go now, I have to get ready for tommorow's event. I'm very proud to be here with such a group of winners! You have inspired me and given me hope.
I have a lot to look forward to. Keep me in your prayers.
Eni
