[Imlosinit]

I know this is an "older" thread but that letter pertains to each of us.

Thanks Doc for "resurfacing" it. I'm going to print it out and hang it on my refrigerator.

[A new me]

I had missed this before when it was first posted but it gave me goose bumps. It really hits home with me. What a great letter.

[GinaGurl]

all i can say is wow that is one awsome letter and it has given me inspiration for my upcomming surgery i am on two week two shakes a day and 1 meal and i was really hungry until i read your letter thanks you really write some great posts thanks again

[Queenofthenile]

So very fitting for what I am feeling right now. I am struggling with saying goodbye to my dear friend. Our relationship is coming to a close after Oct.22. I hope I can say goodbye. Thanks for this letter.

[chocofreak]

Originally Posted by fr1endly2

Dear Food:

I want to thank you for the comfort you brought me many times in my life. I believe more than once that you saved my sanity. When I was scared, alone, a young teen and no family, I turned to you and when nobody would listen I shared my pain and loss with you.
I want to thank you for the good times I shared with others while eating a delicious meal. I have good memories sharing a good meal with people very dear to me.
So far, so good. But it hasn't been all good, the relationship between you and I. My devotion to you, my obsession with you, has reaked havoc in every area of my life. You became a crutch for me to hide myself, to protect myself, to comfort myself physically while ignoring myself mentally and spiritually. The effects you had on my body at first didn't compare to the comfort you brought me. But that caught up with me and my body paid too high of a price. My spirit suffered, my body suffered, my mind suffered, my social life suffered, my ability to work suffered, my ability to be an active mother suffered, my relationships suffered.
For all of those reasons I worked on my "self" for a very long time to prepare to say goodbye to the role that you play in my life. It took two years for me to learn to find comfort elsewhere, to reclaim my life, to reclaim my own power over my future and my body and my health. I've taken the plunge and purged your importance in my life. You are no longer needed for me to find solace in hard times. You are no longer going to be the person I run to for comfort, I am no longer too weak emotionally to turn to myself, to find other ways to feel better.
Already I see the differences physically since beginning my path to redefine our relationship. I feel better than I have in years. I am no longer afraid to look in the mirror. I can also feel huge changes emotionally. I am so much stronger and no longer need you the way I once did.
So food, this is goodbye. I won't call you my friend because many times you weren't. I won't call you my enemy because many times you saved me from a downward emotional spiral. But I will say that with this redefined role in my life I am ready to accept you into my life as a tool to stay healthy and strong. We won't see each other as much anymore, and heck when you hit my plate alot of you will be thrown into the trash. I am learning that there are valuable things you can offer me and I'm choosing only those valuable things.
From here on out you are merely a means of existance, a fuel for my body which is nurturing my inner self. Dont be sad to say goodbye, I am not. I think we'll get along much better this way.

Signed,
A very happy weight loss patient

im new here. and i feel like i can so relate to you. congrats on defeating the food issue. i have just begun my journey to have gastric bypass surgery. just had my first appointment with the doctor last week. i printed your letter and im going to read it again later and write in my journal. i hope that this site will be helpful to me as i go down this path. that i will make friends and i wont feel alone. thanks for your letter!

[bela]

I hope one day I will write a letter like this!!!

[Triuness]

I needed this today. Thank you, Lisa, for sharing this letter

[jclemos]

I loved reading your letter. I am just beginning to consider the surgery. I am a good candidate with all the side effects of morbid obesity. I am 64 and not real sure if any surgeon will find me a little old to do this on, so I am just starting my research. How did you find the right place to have it done? There seem to be so many different ways and so many different physicians.

[Perfesser]

jc, no matter where you have it done or what procedure you decide upon, you are far less likely to have problems if you use a Bariatric Center of Excellence.

Good luck!

CT

[Tricia Igo]

powerful!!