Welcome to The Obesity Project

Please join me for an adventure in finally controlling not just MY chronic illness, but an illness that many of us suffer from.

I know that many have tried, and a few have succeeded, in finding a way to control this disease. Let’s work on this together. Read MY plan, have a look at my blog, visit our “links” page, or e-mail me. Let’s work together to stomp out obesity. I’m willing to start with ME.

The Illness that is Obesity

What an awful sounding word – Obesity. It is an illness – yes, ILLNESS – that is almost always chronic once someone has it. And it is never actually “diagnosed” by a physician. Let’s face it, we can all tell when we are obese, can’t we?

Here’s the skinny: with obesity considered epidemic today, it is appalling how difficult it is to glean helpful information from our healthcare professionals.

Now, I want you to know, I have tried almost everything – Weight Watchers (maybe 5-6 times), acupuncture, and others. I read Dr. Phil, Atkins and others. (PS Atkins worked for a while.) I did NOT try Jenny Craig – too expensive. After going to learn about it we joked about making up our own eating plan with frozen meals. That was a few years ago.

My “Aha” Moment

The idea for The Project came in March 2010 when I was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age fifty-four. One of the doctors that attended to me mentioned something with regard to weight and cancer.

It occurred to me that many doctors over the years had made reference to weight – if you lose a few pounds – and I had my “aha” moment. I realized that not one doctor had ever had a solution. They did not refer me to another doctor, or make any effort to find a solution, just mention it and leave it up to me.

I did not actually start out obese. I was just always a bit larger than others my same age. When I weighed a mere 160 pounds (at least it seems “mere” now!), I tried to lose weight – I gained back what I lost and more. I tried again. Same result. I tried and tried, to no avail. I had already long ago stopped going to doctors.

So What’s Next?

So, after my “aha” moment, I sat down with the doctor mentioned above again and called her on it, asking her what solutions she could offer – was there a clinic in the hospital (no), was there a specialist that she knew of (no).

The conclusion: There seemed to be nothing available unless one was seeking bariatric surgery. There’s a separate area for that. FYI, one is not eligible for that surgery if you have had cancer until you are five years cancer free.

I went to my primary care physician and asked him for suggestions – he also had no real ideas on what to do or where to go. A note here – all of these doctors were associated with the same hospital with the same access to information.

I visited the hospital website – even worse! They should really be ashamed of themselves.

My Next Step – Grasping at Straws

Finally, having treated the cancer, I find myself ready to treat the illness that I chronically suffer with – obesity.

I called the bariatric surgery department of the hospital, searching perhaps a doctor in that area who would be willing to take me on as a regular patient and help me work to treat this.

At first there were no suggestions. Finally, reluctantly, I was referred to an endocrinologist, not actually to see him as a doctor, but because he oversaw the hospital’s weight management program! Well, what’dya know! There is a program!

I called immediately and found there was and “orientation” that same evening, so I went with my sister in tow.

Turns out it’s a program similar to Jenny Craig with a doctor’s blessing added. It’s as expensive as Jenny, and maybe more so. Probably the best choice for folks with moderate to severe medical issues. But not for me – too expensive.

So, back to our original thought – why not try it ourselves, using store purchased frozen meals and other products? Of course, why not?

That’s what came out of my “aha” moment and how we got to where we are today.

Please Join The Project

I invite you to join The Obesity Project (aka The Healthy Choice® Project) with me to help stamp out obesity, one person at a time.

If you begin the journey and would like to chronicle it in a blog, please let me know and I will create a page of links so that we can all join this together. Or, feel free to join our Facebook page and follow along.

Please look at our conventional yet unconventional plan to see what we are eating. Future posts will discuss our look at the nutrition of the plan, as well as other thoughts, hurdles and issues.