Truck driving is a tough job; you either love it or you do something else. The long hours, the lack of sleep, and the lack of exercise all contributed to my health problems.
by Ron Morton
. I have no one to blame but myself. I made poor choices and ate all the wrong things at all the wrong times. I ate way too much. Food was my friend. Eating was for comfort and not for health. I was never thinking about what I was doing to my body and the effect it was having on the people who cared about me. This is my journey to healthy living.
Please do not continue to kid yourself, obesity affects everyone around you. I was at the point I either had to do something or die.
Today I wonder how much damage my obesity caused my beautiful little girl that I love so very much? Was she ashamed to be seen with her big fat dad? Was she ashamed to have friends over when I was home? How much was she hurt because I didn’t go as many places with her as other dads do? I hope someday she can forgive me.
My wonderful wife, the love of my life… How did all this affect her? Sometimes having to be both mom and dad; having to go places by herself because I didn’t like going out in public because of my size; the loss of affection. Was she wondering how long I would live? I’m sure it took its toll but she never complained.
One other sad little fact. Fat people don’t get promotions as often or climb the corporate ladder as far as thin people. We are looked down on and thought to be lazy. Did you ever go in a store and have a sales person walk right by you to help a skinny person? I know the feeling and it hurts.
Do you ever sit in a truck stop and watch drivers going round and round the lot looking waiting for a spot by the door? I was that driver not because I was lazy but because the walk wore me out. After a while it was easier to park in the fuel island go in and load up on as much junk food and soda as I could and go sit alone and eat. It wasn’t a great way to live. Today I park in the back of the lot and walk, sometimes even picking up some trash on the way.
I was at the point I either had to do something or die. The solution for me was weight loss surgery. This may sound like a big step, but it was the best choice for me. Diets just don’t work for me. People over 30 BMI very seldom reach their goal or keep the weight off. Sad but true. I had to do something and soon, no way would I pass another DOT physcial, and then what? It was time to sink or swim!
The truth is you can’t afford not to do something. What is your life worth, what is the love and respect of your family worth? What will they do without you? If you are on medication for high blood pressure or blood sugar you probably won’t ever have to take it again, what a savings. Good health returns!
The day of my surgery I topped the scales at 329 lbs. In a few short months I was down to 174lbs. AMAZING! I would have never believed it. I had my life back, Wendy had a husband back that might live and be around for a while. Things started to change very quickly. After 4 or 5 days at home I was back in the truck doing what I do best. It was not all that hard learning to eat healthy. There were not any cravings and I wasn’t hungry. The first year after surgery I am sure what I saved on junk food and soda more than paid for the surgery. So many things happened the first few months after surgery.
The only regret I have is not being honest and telling people what I had done. People kept asking how I was losing so much weight. Not sure if it was shame or fear but for whatever reason I wouldn’t tell people the truth. So many people could be helped if they only knew there was help out there. This is my way of giving back to this industry, and thanking Wendy, who passed away from cancer and remembering her for all she gave to the trucking industry.
Oh what a journey it has been. Six years into this and still going strong! I am still in contact with the skilled people who gave me back my life. They truly do care, what a wonderful gift indeed.
Don’t wait any longer, you don’t have to stay fat! There is help, there is hope. Give yourself and your family the gift of good health, enjoy life again. Please think about it. This is a life changing thing. You will not regret it. Save your life. Save your job. Get busy enjoying life again. Please join me and so many others on this journey back to good health.