It seems like everyone and their Momma and grandmomma are taking to social media today to write open letters to this person or that person that is basically screwing up their life. So, I guess why the heck don't I jump on the band wagon.
Oh, I could go on and on about Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber, but they have no hope of changing as long as they are celebs that everyone believes can do no wrong, no the person that I will chose to spend my open letter on is Penny from the TLC series My 600lb Life.
Dear Penny,
Your episode of My 600lb Life really struck a chord with me. Not just because I too am an obese woman who has used food or comfort, but because you spoke of your desire and willingness to change and yet you squandered the greatest opportunity that you could have ever gotten.
You are currently on disability. Not because you are mentally deficient or have some type of congenital handicap, but because you are too large to go to work. Why you don't get a work from home job (they do exist) I do not know. Because you are unable to move from your bed your spouse also cannot work. My husband and I both work and sometimes we struggle. I can't imagine what it is like living off just your disability payments, and yet, instead of getting food with ANY nutritional value at the grocery store you choose to have your husband get cake mixes, cookies, ice cream, etc.
Some people are overweight because of medical issues whether they are physical or mental and I understand that. But I am unsure which one you fall into.
I do not know how the show works with payment for this surgery. Does the show pay since you are on it? Does the Dr. comp the surgery, does your private insurance pay? But no matter how it is paid for I want you to be aware that the cost and the hoops that one has to go through to get this surgery is astronomical.
When I had health insurance, my insurance required that I go through 6 months of a rigorous diet and checking in with my physician because they would consider paying for the surgery. If they could prove that I was unable to lose weight without the surgery, then I could submit to have it approved. A procedure that I am sure would cost perhaps $100,000.
I do not have children. One of the reasons that I have no had children is because I am obese and I know how serious it can be for me and for the fetus for someone of my size to be pregnant. I don't want to miss out on things in my child's life like riding rides with them picking them up at school, etc. Now I am not your size, but these things are more difficult than they would be if I were not this size.
So you are given the opportunity to have this weightloss surgery at one of the best hospitals for it, by one of the best surgeons. You have the chance to get OUT of your bed and take care of your son and experience things with him and be a MOM to him, not just a mother. You have the chance to SAVE YOUR LIFE. You talk about wanting to change and being willing to change and what do you do?
You waste it.
You are selfish. I understand that you most probably have some type of mental issue which you need counselling for to help you move past using food as a crutch and help you STOP SEEING YOURSELF AS A VICTIM. Maybe they give you that but did not show it on the show. I know that my insurance was also going to require that I meet with a psychologist.
You had your husband sneak food into the hospital for you, you REFUSED to put forth any effort to walk or even get up out of bed. You blatantly LIED on national television by first telling the doctor that you had your diet information to follow and then saying that you didn't have it. You acted like a spoiled child, not a mother fighting for her life.
There are millions of people who would probably give everything that they own to be able to have this opportunity that you were given. But you are so happy being a bedridden, absentee parent who is living off the system that you REFUSE to put forth any effort. You should be ashamed of yourself.
The reality is that you will probably be dead within 5 years at this rate. Your son will have to look back at this episode when he gets older and he will realize that you had the chance to change your life. You were given every opportunity to make your life one where you were able to do the things that you wanted with him. He will realize that you COULD have changed, and you didn't. He will put you in the ground having NEVER known what it was like to wave to you from his karate classes, or school graduations, he will stand beside your casket knowing that your love for him was not greater than your love for food.
I started this by saying that I too am obese. I am. I still crave food everyday, I still want to turn to that when I am made or sad. But I decided that the future I want is more important than that hamburger or venti B&W Mocha. My hope for you is that you will really put your love and concern for your son first. Think of him. Think of what he deserves in life. Please, save yourself. Get some counselling, make the change, take this opportunity that you were given. I know that it can be scary and hard. But I promise you that is it worth it. I have lost almost 16 pounds. I'm almost under 300 now. It's not easy, it's damn hard, but I promise you it is worth it.
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