I was skinny once..up until I was about six years old..you could actually see my ribs. Now looking back, I can see that I began gaining weight when I had leg surgery at age six. I had just been diagnosed with Charcot Marie-Toothe Syndrome which is a form of Muscular Dystrophy. CMT had caused my heal cords to be very tight so I was always walking on my toes and constantly falling. So I had to have surgery to have my heal cords lengthened...This meant 6 weeks in full leg casts and a year in leg braces. Food became a friend and a comfort during this time. It's funny, I only have one this one picture of me during this time.... The one thing I remember most about taking the picture is that I had a box of big lollipops hidden under the blanket I had on. For the next year I had to learn how to walk all over again.
Once I got my driver licence, all bets were off...I would sneek off to every fast food place in town and still make it home in time for dinner with the family. My best friend was food and he never let me down. Once I went to college, I was a full fledge fast food junkie. The kind who ordered 2 of everything so that the drive thru person would think it was for 2 people..2 burgers, 2 large fries and 2 cokes. I would even order different topping on the different burgers. God forbid that the teenager at the drive-thru window judge me harshly..lol.. During College, I became a diet expert...Weight Watchers, Nuti Systems, Optifast, Lean Line...I did them all. The last time I went to a Weight Watchers meeting, I left halfway thru because one of the women not only brought her chiild to the weigh-in, but also brought his McDonald's Chicken nuggets and fries. One whiff of the fries and I was flying out the door to to get my own.. It's sort of like Scooby Doo Smelling Scooby Snacks, I was done with Weight Watchers.
One summer I came home from college, my parents decided that i need to see a hypnotist to help me lose weight. We were so lucky because there was a Dr who had an office in both upstate New Jersey and one in Palm Beach. So off we went to see Dr Fleisher for the all important first meeting in New Jersey...I would follow up in Palm beach when I went back to school. My Dad and I drove about 2 hours to get there..We walked in to what looked like a personal home. About a dozen other people were also waiting. We were told that the Dr. was not there yet and was running a bit behind. So we waited and waited and waited. After about 2 hours we were told that the Dr. had been rushed to the hospital after a diabetic problem occured, but was on his way there so please be patient. Now more waiting..I think it was about 5 hour of waiting..Then in he walked...Dr. Fleisher..A very skinny 76 year old man with urine soiled pants and a hospital band around his wrist. Evidentally he had passed out on a bus and had been riding around..And this man was going to hypnotise me to lose weight...ummm ...ok so after a total of 7 hours, we left there fully hypnotized, carrying a tape of his voice... and fucking hungrier than I had ever been.. So much for a good start with hypnonis. I will continue this story in the next blog. As you can see..Food and weight play a huge part of my life. Too much for just 1 blog. Anyway, thats all for today.
Be Full, Be Caring and Be Superb
R
Wow Ricky! Your post brings back some memories of food for me. My parents didn't like "junk" food in the house and rarely did we get Mac Donald's. When I was old enough to walk to a friends or to the corner candy store, that is when all bets were off for me. I remember buying candy and gum, and making sure it was all gone by the time I got back home. My little brown bag tossed into the garbage before I went into the house. At my friends I would eat sweets, Ring Dings, Yodels, anything that we didn't have at home. I fortunately haven't had a weight problem but I think that is because I was able to play sports and run around. I still am very active and never stop unless I am asleep. My memories of Mac Donald's were my mom telling us, (my siblings and I) that we were to only order one hamburger and split fries. I remember still wanting a 2nd burger cause I was truly still hungry. (guess its good I only had one)
ReplyDeleteMy kids were offered treats and snacks, (not carrot sticks) because I knew they would get the snacks and candy some place else if I didn't provide it. Its what kids do! I did give my kids healthy food, just not all the time. We had a junk food day each week or two. Thanks for sharing this part of your life with me. I remember you when you were young but I don't remember any disability. You were just a bratty kid I baby sat for! LOL You and your family played a giant role in my younger teens. I have very fond memories of you and your brother, and of course your parents! Say hey to Mr. V. for me. My funniest memory is when I got lost on the Q E 2 during your folks bon voyage party. I was so scared but it was funny in the end going up and down on the elevator trying to remember what floor the party was on.
Richard, I love your blog. It resonates with my struggle too, but I don't have CMT to blame it on. Not sure what, but I swing 50 pounds back and forth my whole adult life, each time I lose it saying I'll never ever ever let that happen to me again. Now here I am, the chubby one in the crowd. I'm kind of past the vanity and more worried about my mobility. I guess we knew each other when I was more "normal weight" at Certified.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I didn't know you moved to Green Bay. It's so pretty up there. I remember the last time I drove to Chicago for the Christmas holidays. We has left Indiana and the signs were already starting for Great America and Chicago and Milwaukee. Then I saw the funniest billboard -- huge, all decked out for Christmas, and it said "Wisconsin, 84 miles. Say it with Sausage."
Keep blogging! / Carol Rodgers