Don't talk to strangers? Ha!

I have a couple hours to kill before I see some friends in Heathers: The Musical tonight and decided to kill some time at IHOP.  I know it's sounds out of the norm, but it's quiet and I can eat eggs! Yes, the pancakes and four syrup options are tempting the shit out of me! 

The woman next to me heard me talking to the waiter, Howard, about egg whites and vegetables as well as if I can substitute the hash browns and fruit with a side of broccoli instead. He wasn't sure if he could do I told him it didn't matter if so.  As he left, the woman next to me, with an adorable 2 year old, chimed to me that it was crazy about not be able to get substitutions when you are paying for the items you aren't going to eat anyway. Which, she is right!  Why shouldn't people have the right to substitute for a healthier item that the restaurant has in stock? Seems like a no-brainer to me, but who am I?

The woman and I continued to talk as she heard me mention my upcoming surgery. I found myself listening to a woman 50lbs lighter than me talk about her weight struggles. Like she needed someone who understood and didn't judge.  She kept mentioning people who told her to lose weight and judging her for her size without knowing her story.  She is 41, with 5 children, and 2 grandchildren!  She isn't fat, she is a storyteller. She has lived.  Every part of her belly has a story to tell.  My story is very different then hers, but we both are sisters in obesity.  We both look at each other without judgement. 

I gave her some pointers in what I've had to do and how I've gotten to this part of my weight loss journey. I did not preach. I did not deem my way is the only way. I just shared my story. Even though my story doesn't involve 5 children and 2 grandkids, it's still a story worth something just as golden.