People Are Watching Your WL Journey

[kaydin81 8]

This is a great post. It's crazy how many people (behind closed doors) hope we will fall on our butts and fail. I hate that. I have a good friend who I share everything with, and she tells me what people have to say about the surgery (good and bad). It just amazes me how people who you thought were your friends, can be the nastiest behind your back. I WANT people to be healthy. I WANT people to succeed. This isn't the easy way out for me, it is so much work! But I know I couldn't have done it without the lapband. And I will forever be greatful for it!! I know how bad it feels to be so fat you can hardly wipe your own butt! I really did get a lot out of this post, and am so proud of you in your journey. I wish you even more success and hope everyone remembers to keep trying. It is definitely tough at times, but don't give up!

[elcee 3,340]

There is another side of this as well.

Now that I have "come out of the closet" about my surgery I feel that I have to maintain. ( I haven't told everyone but amongst those I have told a few know someone that has had it done and failed). To gain back any weight would just prove the theory that so many have that WLS doesn't work. I have heard so many negative comments about how surgery doesn't work, or how after 5 years you put all your weight back on, or how someone had surgery and didn't lose etc that I feel I have to prove that it can and does work.

Those people that have had a friend that failed with it also now know that the weight loss is not automatic. That there has to be some kind of effort on your part and that if there is then you reap the rewards.

I am now 2 years 5 months out. I am hoping that I can maintain so that at 5 years out I am still a success and can prove all the naysayers wrong.

[thsisme 14]

Cheri, handing out a card....??? I have to agree with Dave, it is plain tacky and I think condensending as well as perhaps mean. I don't hide the fact that I had WLS, but I don't go around selling it either. Like Dave, if people approach me, then I tell.

I think the decision to tell or not is of personal nature and who knows what their/our reasons are? Some for fear of being judged or looked at as weak, others for not wanting their business hung out for the gossips.

There will always be critics out there as well as those that support. Personally, I just don't care what they think. I did this for me and am glad that I did.

[pendulum 6]

to me its like the 'religious' folks who hand/shove out pamplets...

if I am curious- I will ASK. if I see its working for you, AND I am curious, then -I- can ask (not the other way around).

and lets face it, when we are ready then we can ask (the joys of googling!)

[Dawn200321 146]

I think if some stranger came up to me and handed me thier doctor's card they would be picking thier teeth up off the ground...that is the rudest dumbest thing ive heard...Most folks are aware of WLS...if they wanna know more they will do the research themselves....

[SageTracey 608]

Now that my weight loss is so noticeable (at 106lb it ought to be!), I find that people are watching what I eat and feel as though they have a right to ask how much I have lost and how I've done it, not to mention how much more I am going to lose! One even had the audacity to tell me that I had started too soon if I wanted to be looking good for my son's wedding next April! What, does he think I am going to fall off the wagon and put it all back on! Thanks for the support (that was my attempt at sarcasm.)

The interesting part is that very few know that I have a lap band. Mostly I don't think it is any of their business, but now I am glad that I haven't told them because I am already getting the pressure about how much I've lost etc. It is starting to move beyond support from some of them. It's almost as though they are waiting for me to trip up. Well, guess what? They are going to be disappointed!

Why is it that people think that obese people losing weight are some sort of public property?

[123crod 170]

Please note: I was not the one giving out the cards I heard about it, I would never do that, but would talk with anyone who asked about me. But I would never give out WLS cards to anyone unless they asked me. My Grandaughter tells everybody I have a LapBand people in stores, Mcdonalds and anywhere else we are together she is 5 so there is talk about it in public too much!!

But . . have and still do give out tracts about savation and Jesus but I do not shove it down their throats so I could be considered a 'religious' folk. But thats okay. For some reason it does not seem the same

Cheri

[thsisme 14]

Cheri,

hope that you did not think that I thought you were giving out the cards! I re-read my post and it kinda read that way which is not what I meant it to be....I just kinda like WOW some fool is handing out cards...how absolutely rude of them...not you.

Dawn, how funny!