Several years ago my younger sister had gallbladder surgery and afterward dropped a lot of weight. She explained that her body wouldn’t take the same amount of food she was used to eating, and with the smaller food intake she saw some very flattering changes in her waistline.
Volume and portion size have always been at the root of my own weight problem. When I first started having gallstone pain, I imagined that having surgery to take it out would be the jump start to finally losing weight. I fantasized about going under the knife and coming out with the magic cure to my overeating habits–you can’t eat what your body can’t take–and voila! My fat days would be over.
Then a few months before I was able to have the surgery, I joined Weight Watchers, learned about Points and portions, and changed my eating habits.
By the time I actually had the surgery I’d already lost 20 pounds. Ironically, I found out that my change in diet probably caused my gallbladder to act up. It was used to working overtime on all the fat I’d been eating, and even though I’d cut back, it didn’t slow down. Hence, more gallstones. Hence, more pain. Hence, bye bye gallbladder.
I’d gotten my wish to lose weight, but in the complete reverse order. The magic pill wasn’t being physically forced to eat less, it was simply learning what to eat, how much to eat, and combining that with exercise.
My sister who had the surgery ultimately gained back all her lost weight. Her body slowly readjusted until she could eat the same big portions she was used to, and her old habits came back. Then she joined Weight Watchers, lost weight and is still losing. Seeing her made me want to try it too. Not only have I lost weight but in spite of the major setback of surgery, I still want to follow the plan and keep up with the new habits. Thanks, Sis.
People often say there is no magic way to lose weight, but after this I have to disagree. I found the way, and it certainly wasn’t surgery. It was being given the knowledge on how to eat, the tools to track my progress, and a reason to keep acting on those things week after week. It’s taken me six weeks to lose 20 pounds. That feels like magic to me. Just because something amazing occurred and you know how it happened doesn’t make it any less of a miracle.