The Plight of the Nutritionist's Message

(Can you say hello to a stock photo?)

I was talking to a friend yesterday afternoon. He was telling me that he had lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, had no appetite and was feeling kind of depressed. I later got an email that said that he was talking to his wife (she is on vacation), and she was concerned - and wanted him to start eating. After forcing himself to have a good meal, he was immediately more energetic, and had no sense of depression.

Now, I've been taking these WLS classes from Kaiser, and one of the things they keep beating in our heads is that, after surgery, we will *need* to eat. We have to focus on protein, but we need to move food through our bodies, or we will get sick or possibly have fatal consequences. Paying attention to food and water consumption is critical for post-surgery success, and we spend a lot of time on exercises to support those facts.

But if my behavior toward my friend is any indication, all of the nutritionist's words translated into a Peanuts' style "Waa wa waa waa wa". I should have seen the signs in my friends behavior, and been able to suggest that he wasn't being honest about his food intake. I should also have seen that the direct result of this would have been depression.

I've got to snap out of this: if I can't see the issues in others, I certainly won't be able to see it in myself. Not only do I have to pay attention in class, I also have to pay attention in real life. The world around me. The world that isn't wrapped up in a work book.

-sd