Has anyone noticed people treating them differently since losing weight. I have. More people come talk to me, I get waited on much quicker, especially at a bar. I don't get dirty looks from strangers if I happen to bump in to them. Hmmmmm..discrimination against fat people is definetly not a myth.

Hey Robyn, I had a boss who had an RNY after he left a job he had been on for years and years. While on that job he was very fat, but was well liked by everyone. After he lost the weight, he went back to that job and nobody knew who he was. He said that since he's been thin (and yes, he looks old and sickly and has multiple problems because of the RNY) he has seen from the 'other side of the fence' just how mean people are about fat people. Many times he's had people who have no clue that he used to be fat make comments to him about an overweight person they saw. He's not shy about telling them off either. So yeah, I think we are all in for some surprises as we get thin and are accepted into the 'inner circle' of the 'normal people'. Maybe we can make a difference once we are there. Who knows.

Now... about your 71 pounds gone in 6 months... holy cow! Share how youre doing that please? Would love to hear your story.

Ya, I've noticed that girls half my age look at me funny, then they come up and talk to me. Fun and embarrassing to flirt, but since I am so happily married, its purely innocent!

Oh man, this was something we discussed a few days ago.

Here are some things I'm starting to notice:

-First, more strangers talk to me. I've always been outgoing, but now I notice more strangers INITIATE conversation with me before I speak to them.

-Men (of all ages) speak to me a lot more, open more doors, help me with packages, etc.

-People tell me "You're pretty" instead of "You have such a pretty face..."

(which we all know is followed by a silent or not-so-silent "but..." )

-Women watch me more closely now, especially if their husbands / boyfriends or male friends initiate even an innocent conversation with me about the weather, how long a line is, directions, etc :rolleyes

-Sales clerks jump to help me even when I'm just browsing and strangers ask me my advice on how clothes/shoes look while they're shopping in stores.

... I could go on - but I guess this sounds familiar to most of us. It's not lke I felt invisible before but there is a definite difference now. It's not like I'm made a dramatic change like losing 160lbs or anything but I've lost enough to look within "normal" range or where maybe people don't notice my weight first. Or so my weight-obsessed mind thinks:nervous

Happy Band Journeys to All,

New Sho