Katie Jay’s Tips on Losing the Obesity Mindset
Katie and Mike Jay
My husband Mike and I watched the movie “The Notebook” recently. We don’t normally watch a lot of love stories, especially not tear-jerkers — too intense.
But something told me we should watch this one. And Mike agreed.
The movie is about a man and woman who fell in love, separated, and eventually got together again. Their love was deep and enduring. Once they were reunited, they stayed together for the rest of their lives.
They died in each others arms.
The story is told through a notebook the woman wrote, apparently to help her remember her life story. (In her later years, she had developed dementia.)
So each day, a man she did not recognize would read to her from the notebook, and every once in awhile she would have a few moments of clarity.
She would recognize the man as her husband, and they would embrace.
In one scene she asks her husband, “How long do we have?”
And he replies, “About 5 minutes.”
So, the couple dances to old, familiar music, savoring every moment. When they pull apart her confusion is obvious.
“Who are you?” she asks the man.
Do you ever lose sight of what’s important in your life?
Sometimes when I am caught up in the drama of my food obsession, I forget who I am and what is really important in my life. I forget what weight loss surgery has given me.
I bash myself for overeating, for skipping my vitamins, for criticizing myself for looking fat … for not being perfect.
I totally forget I have a good life. A life with love, opportunity, fun, potential, hope, and joy.
“The Notebook” really touched my husband and me. We have tough circumstances right now, with some family demands and job issues, but when we watched that movie, we realized our problems are manageable, and our burdens, well, welcome!
I am going to enjoy a thankful heart this week. I am going to remember, because I can, that this world has plenty of joy to offer me, and I have plenty to offer the world.
I’m not going to let my food, body, and weight obsession rule me, define me, or distract me. (And if I need to take advantage of the weight loss surgery support available to me, I will! No excuses.)
I’m going to LIVE MY LIFE this week with gratitude.
How about you?
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- Tags: bariatric surgery, bariatric surgery support, Carbohydrate Sensitivity, Emotional Eating, food addiction, head hunger, Katie Jay, NAWLS, perfectionism, sugar addiction, sugar sensitivity, Trigger Foods, type II diabetes, weight loss surgery, weight loss surgery support, weight regain, WLS, WLS Lifestyle, WLS support
About Katie
The author of Dying to Change: My Really Heavy Life Story, How Weight Loss Surgery Gave Me Hope for Living, and Small Bites: Daily Inspirations for Weight Loss Surgery Patients, Katie Jay, MSW, Certified Wellness Coach, is a nationally recognized expert on weight loss and weight loss surgery. She is the founder and director of the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery (www.nawls.com). An online membership organization created to help weight loss surgery patients master their eating, mindset, and lifestyle to achieve long-term weight loss success.
Noah
December 18th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I love the notebook. Im a dude and not a big fan of chick flicks at all, but the notebook is awesome, it makes me think of how much I truly truly Love my wife and how she means the world to me. Thats how I lost all my weight and decided to stand up and start loosing, anf loose I did. What helped is dieting, excercising, and staying on top of my nutritional supplements. Take Bariatric Advantage they are awesome. http://www.bariatricadvantage.com and you can see what you might need. You can even get samples before purchasing bigger ones.
Linda Lou
December 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Katie, I love this! I think the picture of you and Mike is fabulous but I loved your message. I have gotten so wrapped up in preparing for the holidays, getting ready for the company to arrive - TONIGHT - but I needed the reminder to stop, take stock in what I have and to be thankful! Thankful that I am healty, that I have a wonderful husband that loves me and stands beside me no matter what, and that no matter how bad I think things are they could be a great deal worse and that I can get through. I get so busy I tend to have my blinders on and don’t see everything that thw world has to offer me but also what I have to offer is just as important. Thank you!
Katie Jay
December 21st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for your comments, Noah and Linda! It’s easy for me to let the frustrations in life get to me, but this movie really puts things into perspective. At home we try to pay attention to and point out the little joys and miracles. It makes a big difference in my attitude. It’s very healing.