A few days ago I visited my old home town in southern Louisiana near New Orleans were in some areas being overweight with a beer belly is worn like a badge of honor. A few old friends were there and some new folks who I did not know. One friend stated I was poor looking since I lost 100 plus pounds. What was interesting was all but one of the gentlemen had some type of illness brought on by being overweight, and one had Parkinson's (person said I was poor looking).

All had high blood pressure, most suffered from elevated cholesterol, others had gout, two had prostate cancer, and few were taking medication for diabetes. After good-naturedly listening to each tell about their illness and the associated complaints. I put in plain words how I had all the sickness in which they were talking about, and continued enlighten the good ole boys that this 60 year old have the energy of a twenty year old and only taking multi-vitamins; and all my illnesses went away with weight lost.

In departing the area, I mentioned if they wanted more info how to feel better and possible extend their life to contact me. But for some strange and sad reason I feel I won’t hear from them.

This was one fascinating experience.

Lash

It is amazing, isnt it? People get so used to seeing you a certain way that when you change, even for the better, their minds do not comprehend and to them there must be something wrong. You tried to educate and inform them, weather it works or not at least you know you did what you could to help them. You never know, some of them may surprise you.

Hey Lash,

Yeah, WLS isn't something that most people, even people who could benefit the most from it, are willing to think about. The known is less scary than the unknown. When I was still at the hospital, just after having had the surgery, I was in a semi-private room with a lady who truly was huge. We got to talking on the second day (when I was a little more "with it") about our surgical procedures. When she found out I had just gotten the sleeve, she proceeded to tell me how she could "never do that" because food was such an important part of their family gatherings. She said that she just didn't know how her husband would react if they stopped doing the things they were used to, like tailgating and crawfish boils, etc. She said that she had tried dieting but was pretty much convinced she was never going to lose weight and just didn't know what to do. !!!

I think it's just that people get into a mindset about how much hassle it would be to change, how other people will view the change, etc., and they can't imagine how great it could possibly be--it's lack of education and lack of imagination, too. And it's south Louisiana....are we still the fattest state in the union, or did my surgery bump us up to #49 above Mississippi? LOL (No offense to my friends in MS--you know I'm speaking truth!)

hey! I thought San Antonio TX was the fattest! hahaha. . . anyhow yes you are so right meg, people get really comfortable with themselves and worry about what will happen if they change. . . for example, there was a poster here that was wondering what would they do with their anger etc now that food wouldn't be there. . . i didn't post anything because i'm known to say the truth. . . but what a question that was to me. . . hope she/he gets the answer and help they are looking for. . . .

hey! I thought San Antonio TX was the fattest! hahaha. . . anyhow yes you are so right meg, people get really comfortable with themselves and worry about what will happen if they change. . . for example, there was a poster here that was wondering what would they do with their anger etc now that food wouldn't be there. . . i didn't post anything because i'm known to say the truth. . . but what a question that was to me. . . hope she/he gets the answer and help they are looking for. . . .

Sometimes the truth hurts and sometimes that pain is exactly the medicine you need. I love your honesty and wouldn't have it any other way!

Meg,

We know too well, how food play such an important part of in people lives. More in the New Orleans area than any other part of the country.

Food in the Big Easy is easily a way for life for most. No matter how we look at it, its one the best places to eat and maybe one of the worst.

I recalled Sunday after church meal were green salad, potato salad, mash potatoes, gumbo, greens, stuff peppers, rice, gravy, fried chicken, roast beef,

macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, and of course sweet sweet tea.

What's ironic, diabetes and obesity ran rapid is my family. But we continued to enjoy the food. It's a cycle even at today's standards is difficult to break.

But that's life in the Big Easy.

Lash

Hey Lash,

Yeah, WLS isn't something that most people, even people who could benefit the most from it, are willing to think about. The known is less scary than the unknown. When I was still at the hospital, just after having had the surgery, I was in a semi-private room with a lady who truly was huge. We got to talking on the second day (when I was a little more "with it") about our surgical procedures. When she found out I had just gotten the sleeve, she proceeded to tell me how she could "never do that" because food was such an important part of their family gatherings. She said that she just didn't know how her husband would react if they stopped doing the things they were used to, like tailgating and crawfish boils, etc. She said that she had tried dieting but was pretty much convinced she was never going to lose weight and just didn't know what to do. !!!

I think it's just that people get into a mindset about how much hassle it would be to change, how other people will view the change, etc., and they can't imagine how great it could possibly be--it's lack of education and lack of imagination, too. And it's south Louisiana....are we still the fattest state in the union, or did my surgery bump us up to #49 above Mississippi? LOL (No offense to my friends in MS--you know I'm speaking truth!)