Some guy offered to help me with my groceries yesterday, and while I want to believe that he would have done that 70 pounds ago I know that more than likely he wouldn't have helped me. I think this is why I got even more depressed when I gained all the weight back. Growing up fat, sure you get teased, but you live with it. It is normal. When I lost the weight I felt what it was like to get all the attention, the jobs, the $, the everything. Everything is different. When I gained it back it was truly a horrific experience for me, and I was so depressed. I literally had given up. Care Credit approved me for the financing otherwise this surgery would not have happened. I begged my family to help me, but they wouldn't. Since I am healthy, alive and losing weight they are all now chipping in to help me pay off the loan, but without that loan I would be crying and probably 310 pounds. I just feel like we should all never forget where we were and if you ever see anyone out and about who looks like they need help or just a friendly hello...say hello!

Thanks for sharing. I think it is wonderful of your family to help pay off the loan. And I agree about being kind and friendly to others. It is just the right thing to do.

Thanks for sharing.

My closest family members and friends are all considered "obese" I am still, but my sleeve has helped me lose 27 lbs in 6 weeks. I was always treated horribly being overweight and I know I will never act any different to the people around me whether I am skinny or not. I will always show compassion and caring to those who suffer from obesity because I know what it is like to be mistreated

Good reminder! We need to remember that people are people, no matter their size. I try hard not to let it get to me seeing how much more people go out of their way to help me now, but it hurts to know that I was just invisible at 240 lbs. We should never forget where we came from and always be there for anyone who needs us....

This rings true for me too. I had people let the door close on me after holding it for the "normal" sized woman ahead of me. People snickered at me in the cafeteria at work when I put something on my plate. I had meeting organizers not count me as being in the meeting for cying out loud. I was almost 260 lbs and pretty hard to miss, I thought. It really sucks that people treat you so differently based on your size. I have a friend at work who is a beautiful person and happens to be about 325 lbs on a 5'10" frame. I have seen the same behavior exhibited toward her. I will never allow myself to treat anyone the way I have been treated. I think God had a plan for me that included being obese and now heading down the path to a healthy weight. I know what it's like and will never forget.