The Real Weight I Shed

So, at the end of May, I did something very dramatic: I had weight-loss surgery! Now, before you think this was just a quick decision made on a whim at the doctor's office, let me tell you-IT WAS NOT--mmmkay!!!! It was a detailed process...

First, I had to get a referral from my doctor. This was the easiest part, because I had diabetes-2, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression---Oh yeah---I was 130+ LBS overweight. My medicine cabinet literally grew at every doctor's appointment. Being diabetic is hard. IF you take your meds, you literally have nausea everyday of your life. It was horrible and I battled diabetes 2 for over a decade. After the doctor's referral, I had to commit to 7 consecutive months of weight-loss counseling with my doctor, a psychiatric evaluation, complete cardiac check-up, diabetes education and nutrition therapy. I went the extra mile, and added behavior therapy for food addiction. I had heard of bariatric patients having severe depression because they could no longer use food to self-soothe. Also, I knew I needed to deal with the root of the issue so that the new fruit would be sustained and the old fruit would be permanently destroyed. After completing all of the benchmarks and losing the 32 LBS that the surgeon required, I was approved for my surgery. We decided on the date of May 22nd. As the wheeled me into the actual surgery room, I knew my life would change. This was my season for all things to be made NEW, and I had so many people loving, rooting and supporting me through this!

It has been a little over 3 months. So many things have changed: My body, my movements, my boobies have deflated, my butt is jigglier, All of my favorite articles of clothing have fallen off of my body and into the donation bins at our local Downtown Rescue Mission. Also, I no longer have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, anxiety or depression. I take no meds at all! Currently, I am looking for a good multi-vitamin, but also leaning on the idea of juicing for my nutrition- over pills. I've learned so much during this process.

Here is the random list of things that I have learned:

1. The scale is irrelevant!

2. There are many roads to health. Find what works for you and stay consistent.

3. The comparison game is TRASH---Congratulate instead!

4. My journey is for me.

5. Non-scale victories are more important than the scale

6. Focus on the system not the goal. The fruit is the last thing that pops up-it will come-deal with the root, the fruit WILL come.

7. I don't need to protect unhealthy Sharon. I can let her go as I embrace this new me!

8. The largest weight that I lost was self-hatred, rejection, comparison, and insecurity

9. My health journey began the first day I went to therapy and started taking my mental health seriously

10. I AM SACRED!!!!

11. Patience with myself is self-love

12. I am not fearless. I am so resilient that I chose to go through fear knowing that it is intimidated by my Faith in my God & Creator

13. Breathe, let go of the stress that I carry in my back- Sway my hips, and let this booty bounce as I run/walk towards my goal.

14. My competition is only with me...not others

15. I have fallen hopelessly in love with me!

Many of these are still in seed form-and that is the stage that they belong. When I surrendered to God, he broke up the soil in my life. He fertilized the soil of my life with the resilience, faith, love and strength found through my devastation...And This is MY era to FLOURISH!