I'm coming up on 11 months since my surgery, and I've had great success. I'm feeling SO much better than I used to, in all areas of my life, but especially at work. I work in IT computer support at a busy hospital, and my crazy job keeps me on the go all day long, hauling computers around, installing equipment, solving network user issues, and whatever. I now have the energy to make it through my day, my attitude is better, and everyone I deal with comments on how good I look, and how happy they are for my weight loss. It's awesome to feel this good. (For those of you just starting out on your journey, stick with it, figure out resolutions to any issues, and hang in there -- the results are TOTALLY worth the effort!)

I interact with dozens of people every day, and I wanted to share an observation I've made about some of my obese coworkers: A lot of them have asked me for very specific details about what I did, how it went, and what they'd have to do to have surgery. They all say how envious they are of what I've done, and how they can't wait to do the same for themselves. I share as much as I feel is appropriate with anyone who asks, since I know it's hard to bring this topic into perspective if all you hear is the horror stories and failure tales. Knowing someone in person who is successful is a lot less talked about. So it's another of those "pay it forward" things I try to do in my life.

Most of the people who were the most verbal at first have shown themselves to be "all talk and no walk" as things have gone along. One woman especially, was asking me everything about the ins and outs of me preparing for my surgery last year, and said she was totally committed to getting surgery. She wanted to know everything in minute detail, but she has done absolutely nothing about it. If anything, she's heavier now than she was before. It seems every time I see her she's eating some kind of junk food, or drinking a high-calorie designer coffee drink. She always says "Hey Skinny!" when she sees me, which has long since gone past being amusing. I smile and treat her nicely, but I know she's someone who won't make any changes till she has something dramatic happen in her life. And even then she'll probably approach it from the "victim's" angle.

But some other people have completely surprised me. Two women (one in her 60's and one in her 20's) who asked me a question now and then, saying they were curious about what I did and whether it would work for them, have both started the process of getting ready for surgery. They've both come back to me for more specifics, and I've really tried to support them in their surgery choices. One is having RNY Bypass, and the other isn't sure yet which surgery she'll have. She was very surprised to learn I'd been banded -- she thought based on my weight loss that I'd had bypass. I'm very supportive of them both, and hope they do well. They both have said how afraid they were to start the process, but that my example gave them courage to move ahead with things. I'm very pleased to be able to help others to get their lives and health back under control.

My point in posting this is to share with everyone that people ARE watching you, and how you're doing. Even if they aren't in your face about it, people who know you are interested in your journey. How you handle yourself will possibly bring others along the path you've walked, even those you aren't expecting. You have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others, while making a great difference in your own life.

Wishing everyone great success with their journey!

Dave

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.

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.

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!)

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....

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?

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

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!