I think there's a big misconception about people who are overweight. It seems as though skinny people seem to think that we have no idea how to lose weight. Perhaps that's true for many overweight people but my experience is that the exact opposite is more accurate. I think we all have that Fit Friend that wants to help us by imparting their knowledge to us. I've explained that it's not knowing what to do that's the disconnect... it's actually doing it.

I think - in theory - most of us know exactly what we need to do to lose weight. It can be boiled down to a simple math equation: calories burned > calories consumed = weight loss. My brother is a personal trainer and he always tries to thow some wisdom my way and I had to share with him how he should look at my situation:

See, I have all tools and information in my weaponry arsenal but I haven't quite mastered the fight. I've won a few battles but even more have won me. Many of us lose the long term war. We know WHAT to do but we have to master the long term execution of the plan.

I'm viewing this surgery as my next foray into the fight with a pretty defining weapon. It may be the ultimate tool but it's only that: a tool. I'm still going to have to be ready for the fight. This will be the hardest part. I've had 30 years of failing. Thirty years of giving up. Thirty years of resigning that this will be my life and my body. What's to say that I won't show up to fight this time too?

The answer is that in all the years before and in all my failures before I was more comfortable where I was than where I was going. It's like the old adage: Change only happens when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of change. I'm 30 years older, 30 years wiser, with 30 years of failure from which to draw strength. I am no longer comfortable getting winded in minutes, sweating at the first hint of exertion, or my knees opting to work or not seemingly at will.

I have all the weapons and I am finally ready to fight!