I have to say, getting my band was undoubtably the best thing I have ever done. In the past 3 years I dropped over 100lbs and have had so many personal achievements along the way that everyday I wake up every morning excited to finally live. Having always been a plus size child and adult, this is the first time in my life that I have been considered of average size, or even just "a little overweight." I am now an athletic girl (still a little curvy by choice) that plays competitive women's racquetball league, enjoys hiking emensely, and overall I am living my life to the fullest, trying everything I wouldn't have if I hadn't lost all the weight. I am happy in my skin and I wouldn't change this feeling for the world. However, losing all the weight allowed me to personally experience how different society treats the obese vs. the average populus, and it began to really upset me. I noticed how much nicer people are to me because I'm "thinner." I became more aware of how I got served quicker at a bar or restaurant, how men perceive me, and even how generally polite people are to me. I'm not saying that everyone judged me when I was heavy, but the attention I get now vs. then is almost maddening. I feel that I am the same beautiful girl that I was when I was over 300lbs, but sometimes people fail to recognize that beauty when masked behind the curse of obesity. I was sitting here tonight wondering how many other people notice these blatant discriminations due to size and how it's made them feel over the years. Is size discrimination what pushed you to consider surgery?

Again, I couldn't be happier in my own personal success and I wish everyone here equal or greater success in their weight loss journey. When it comes down to it, our health is all we have in the end and we are all making the decision to better our own health by dropping the excess weight. I just thought I'd bring up one of the major psychological struggles I've personally faced with the extreme weight loss and hopefuly I can get other's opinions on the subject. I added a couple before and after pictures so you all can see my transformation, I'd love to see yours too!

Before 1:

Before 2: DESK 001.BMP

After 1:

After 2:

This is an interesting subject. Ive been thin and ive been heavy , and yes ive been treated better when im thin. Sad but true. I cant change peoples perceptions about me based on my weight. I will say this , since ive lost some weight i dress better, put more effort into my appearance, and have a lot more energy and am happier because i feel better too. as a result people respond to all of that, and so yes im treated better. I also think people treat others well when they treat themselves better. By being banded, im eating better and exercising, so when other see me treat myself good , they treat me good too. Just an opinion. my hubby loves me thru thick and thin, but it is nice to have people be complimentary to me.

Have been lucky I guess, no issues that I have noticed. Well maybe I did get a couple seconds looks from several young hot bikers last time we were out riding. The other night we were at dinner with family, I got a stuck (green pepper) and had to leave the table. When I came back my nephew asked; Would you still it now that you know all the problems? ABSOLUTELY !!! An occasional stuck is the least of my problems....the fact that at a recent family funeral no one recognized me was the icing on the cake, that I did not eat.

Really? I have found the complete opposite' date=' people can be vety hostile, assuming I am vain, trying to steal their husbands or that i will hog all he male attention. Even my friends make jokes about how they dont want to sit next to me at dinner becase i mak them feel like they eat like pigs.

Overall, i felt a lot less "different" when i was a dumpy bmi 36 30 something mum of young kids. People obviously feel threatened by living proof that obesity is often simply a lazy choice and that a determined person CAN simpky decide noto be like that any more.[/quote']

Honey, they are jealous of the amazing changes your making! You stand proud of the sexy & confident person you are. And sorry to say but real friends don't sabotage their friends goals. A joke is when everyone laughs because it's funny& no one is made to feel insecure, self conscious or lesser than another.