Today is Father’s Day which is bittersweet. I lost my Dad in November 2007.
My father was a thin man most of this young life, but my whole childhood he was always a chubby/fat guy (6’2 300+ pounds). Then in high school he lost 100 pounds with slimfast and exercise. My dad actually could FIT my pants in high school….crazy. He looked great and his life completely changed (my parents also got divorced around then too, but that’s another story).
My dad kept the weight off for 8ish years, but then he retired at 55. He moved to Florida, traveled and ate…a lot. He fell out of his routine and within 3 years he gained all the weight back and then some.
My dad was not happy with himself and he didn’t think he could lose it again the right way, so he decided to get a lap band. I wasn’t thrilled, but no one could change his mind. He was set on the lap band when his doctor told him it wasn’t permanent enough and that if he wanted to keep the weight off he really needed gastric bypass which is a more invasive surgery. I remember he told me he was getting the gastric bypass only a few days before his schedule surgery. I had a bad feeling about it, it scared me, but his mind was made up.
To make a long story short he died at the hospital 3 days after his surgery.
I still have lots of emotions and thoughts about his death, but mainly it was so UNNECESSARY. Obesity has plagued so much of my family and refuse to let my weight control or end my life. Like I’ve said before I started this change in January and it’s a lifestyle change. I just want to say that I believe in each of you and as hard as it gets stay strong, because your life is worth it!
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