When we look at the obese person what do we see?

The fatlady at the circus? A novelty, something to make us ooh, and ah, and maybe laugh?

Santa Claus? He's fat. But he can still make it down the chimney.

Buddha? Giver of Light? He's fat, but preached self restraint?

Do we see someone who is always conscious of the gaze of strangers?

Someone who hates their disability?

Someone who feels guilty buying anything more substantial than a head of lettuce at the supermarket?

If I could lose a pound for every time I"ve heard someone say "Dont' buy that, it'll make you fat" I just wish I could answer them this way: "Too bad we don't know what food makes people rude"

Boy, you can say those again! How did your dr. visit go?

When I look at a fat woman who takes care of herself, I see someone soft, curvy and inviting, someone warm and loving and caring. Usually someone funny, smart. I love fat women... I just don't love being fat, myself... Perhaps because I never saw myself the way I saw other fat women...

I hear you talking, Donali!

Donali, all I can say is: Me too. I love 'em. My wife was four hundred and sixty pounds, five foot four inches, and I loved her from head to toe.

She is very particular about her makeup and her clothing. She is always careful to look neat and nice.

Now, after losing two hundred sixty of those pounds, I still love her. And the great thing is...... I get to love her for even longer, 'cause she's gonna live longer.

Gee, I sure am a lucky guy.

Some of the other ladies here have already expressed this, but...

Ryan, you are one amazing dude...

Ditto! You're a LapBandTalk favorite Whip!

You guys are making me blush!

I don't think I'm any different from most other men. I've just forced myself to learn self expression.

(Whip faces turns red, he puts his hands in his pockets, and swishes one foot through the dust)

I love the visual description. And your avatar is so adorable, his little eyes look like a man!

The size of the pic makes it deceptive.

It's a man's face, Not mine, superimposed in a dog's face. (Not my Mr. Whipple)

There is a pic of me on the comp, but it's very poor quality. I'll get a better one. After all I must start a photo record of where I begin and where I end.

It's good to laugh. Laughter is the most powerful form of defiance.

And it is one of the most healing actions we can take. Laughing more, and frowning less would improve the world. All we gotta do, is do it.

Whip,

I have always been told I look younger than I am. (wonderful) maybe it is because I am a laugher. I have always tried to be as cheerful as I can be. As a result I don't have frown lines. One of the best compliments I have ever received in my life was , " you have smiling eyes. I'll bet you are a warm person." I really like that. Maybe I am a warm person.

You are one cool dude Ryan. You rock. I love reading your posts. You put into words what a lot of us are thinking....and you say it so well.