Not that I care if someone has had WLS or not, it's simply that I find mysef automatically assuiming everyone has.

I've begun to believe that everyone who was formerly overweight has had one form of WLS or another ...

Case #1 - When I worked for VZW in Cali, I had a co-worker named Carol. I moved there after Carol was thin, but to everyone else it was a huge shock. Apparently she used to be quite large. She said she lost it all after she had gall bladder surgery - and that she was required to lose 50 lbs before they'd even do the gallbladder surgery. She was great and used to encourage me to lose weight now, while I was young enough and still had enough elasticity to my skin that it would be better than if I wait, like her. Anyhow, after reading all the suggetions of "what to tell your co-workers" I totally wonder.

Case #2 - The othe day I saw a guy in Walmart. I was almost positive he was someone I had gone to school with - except he was about 1/5 the size I recall. In my defense, yes he was large his entire life, but I decided I adored him my senior year (12 years ago - gulp!) but he either didn't realize it, or was not intersted in me. Anyhow, I saw him, he's so small now (though totall still has the chubby baby face) so I'm certain he's had WLS.

Case #3 - I was going to be good pre-surgery (currently 8-days out), I really was. But instead, I appear to be sucking down every last drop of Dr. Pepper I can get my hands on. I went to Circle K at 9am today (I can't wait until my 4-mile morning commute no longer includes a stop at the convenience store). There, walking in the door the same time as me was someone I KNOW I used to go to school with (yes, I recently returned to the VERY small town I grew up in). She was buying a pack of cigarettes. But I'm certain it was Tammy. She's smaller than I am. And, sadly, she was always one of those girls who was not just overweight, but actually enormous (another thing I feel more aware of - the pain those really large girls must have gone through in school).

Anyhow, I find myself thinking everyoine has had WLS. My mom likes to give me these "she did it with just self-will, no other help" speeches, tht make me think - what don't you know?

I think I have those thoughts too, but the folks I know that really have long term weight issues sort of yo-yo. I know of a few friends that have had wls and thier weight loss is very substantial (sp) but I think that morbid obesity is just beginning to be understood, wondering if people have had surgery I think is natural. Im sure it doesnt make you feel any different about them, right? I just feel happy that there is any way available to overcome the pain of obesity. I hope you have good sucess!

Lara I do the same thing! It has surprised me how much it has crossed my mind. And if I see them out at a restaurant, I will try to "watch" what they are eating, what they are drinking, how they are acting to try to find out. It's weird! My dh has to remind me to not stare.

I have fought my weight too long and seen way to many people do the same to believe that everyone else I know can lose the weight with "just self-will" and not with the help of WLS. I believe that there are a lot more people who have had it and not told anyone then we know about.

LOL... it depends on what year you see me... I've been up and down the scale so many times that one year you are congratulating me and the next your clicking your tongue......... Hell right now my drivers license looks NOTHING like me...... it was taken when I was right around 200 lbs..... I'm hoping that I am looking even better than that the next time I have to renew!

I do the same thing. I also look at fat people a lot differently and feel its too bad they too can't be banded like me.

I often find myself wanting to run up and tell total strangers about the band but I always stop myself because I don't want to offend anyone.

That's interesting. I too believe I am more aware of it now, and also of the obesity problem that many people face.

Glad I had it done.

Actually, I dont know anybody (outside of my lapband circle) in real life who was very obese and lost a lot of weight. I know plenty of people who lost an excess 10 or 12 kg but dont know anybody who's dropped 30 or 40.

So I dont have suspicions about people around me.

But I firmly believe that Kirstey Alley and Anna Nicole had some sort of WLS.

Hmmmm....Kirstie Alley and Anna Nicole. Never thought about that. Makes me wonder.

Oh yeah, you know who else I now wonder about? Have you ever watched Reba? One of the co-stars; Mellisa Peterman, who plays Barbara Jean, left the season heavy, and came back very lean. I wonder if she had any surgery?

Speaking personally, I have always been over weight, a size 12-14 growing up but 25 years ago, that was large, and people treated me like crap! and I wonder why I can't let anyone close to me. I was called names and taunted daily. I began wearing big sweat shirts and baggy jeans to hide it. Well now I am double that and realize that I was never really huge back then and would die for that now.

I know there are people who were tortured much worse than I was, but it was horrible and have been going through months of pre op therapy to learn to like myself and be comfortable with who I am.

Point being. THANK YOU - sometimes I wonder who has done it and I can't wati for the day people question "how did she do it"

Have a great day!

Ya know, I do the same thing. I also believe that Anna Nicole did have surgery. I don't know about Kirstie Alley. If she did I'd bet she had the Band. I work with a doc who lost about 60 or 70 lbs in the past eight months or so and I asked him how he did it. He told me he just stopped eating. I find myself wondering if he didn't get banded...I've got a pretty good relationship with him so after I get banded, I think I'll ask him about it. I don't plan on telling anyone (other that DH and my folks), so I'm kind of concerned about telling him, but he's pretty cool. I can't wait to get mine so I have a tool to help me control my portions. Now I just have to stop eating right before I go to bed...

OMG-I do the same thing. I was at a dinner recently and a woman there has lost about 100 pounds. I watched her like a hawk as she ate. I am not proud. I did notice that she ate very little food and just nibbled. I am 90% convinced she had it done.

Well now I am double that and realize that I was never really huge back then and would die for that now.

Tell me about it!!!!!

I was a size 16 before I had my first child but people made me feel like enormous, I hid my body in baggy unflattering clothes when i should have been making the most of myself. I would do anything to be that size again!

I will get to that size........I've promised myself I will and when I do there will be NO HOLDING BACK!!!!!!

I find myself looking at people and wondering if they've had WLS. One couple to be exact. They were heavyweight high school sweethearts, most of the kids made fun of them when they married. I saw them a while ago and could not believe it was the same two people. I made a mention to a friend and found out, it was no due to WLS, it was METH, I was totally shocked. I want to tell them there are other ways to lose with out messing up your whole life. SO SO VERY SAD

Story number one sounds exactly like my story, and yeah a lady at work went out "sick" for about 2 weeks and then got really thin really fast.

However, I don't think Kirstie Ally had the band. My mother has managed to loose 60 lbs doing Jenny Craig. She is giving me a run for my money. She'd take the band any day but can't have it done for medical reasons