Are you happier now that you are thinner?

[Bandista 7,466]

I am so happy that I made this decision for my health -- that I've invested in myself and my future. I'm happy that this option was available to me. I feel very lucky. I've lost a quarter of my weight and I'm fitting into smaller clothes, but what really makes me happy is the peace of a reduced appetite. For me overeating is connected to quelling anxiety; the less anxious and stressed I feel, the happier I am. The band has done that for me. I am not anxious about whether it will work. Yes, I have tough days and my mood goes up and down, but I know the band is going to work for me. So there is this lifeline -- it's not just me trying to do it (and failing over and over again); I have assistance. This makes me very happy.

[gowalking 10,790]

She's not saying anything new in her article. We all know that thin does not equal happy. All the author is saying is that she's happy with her size....and good for her. If you're happy with how you look, more power to you. If you're not happy with your size, that's when you need to change it.

I had to lose weight for purely physical reasons...joint disease was ruining my life and I needed to replace the hips and at some point in the future, the knees as well. I was not a candidate for surgery at 267 lbs. so I chose to do the lapband so I could get the joint replacements I needed. I was basically happy before I lost the weight...but in tremendous pain. I'm much happier with my size now because I feel better physically. But again...this is not about whether or not I'm happier one way or the other.

[chasingadream 1,311]

I'm happy that I have this opportunity to use this little tool to improve my health and my self-confidence...so far so good!

I'm happy that just tonight I tried on the "skinny" section of pants in my closet of many sizes only to find that they are too big...I'm trying to be happy that now I have to go and get some new clothes (being overweight my whole life I hate to shop)....I am happy to hope that I will learn to love to shop...lol

I'm happy that people are complimenting me on how great I look and that I'm FINALLY able to accept their compliment and believe that it is the truth.

I'm happy to look in the mirror and see a smaller me but my view of myself is still "off".

I'm happy, lucky and blessed to have the most supportive husband ever.

I'm happy that I can keep up now with my 2 little sweethearts.

I'm happy to have more energy than ever before.

I'm happy to have met some wonderful people here...some who I now call friend!

And I'm happy to not be controlled by food anymore!

Edited January 9, 2014 by chasingadream

[pink dahlia 2,513]

Yes, yes, and "Oh, hell yes !!! " I never had a weight problem until I hit 30, and im 55 now , so the last 2 years have been so much better after being banded Dec, 2011. Down from 225 to a healthy 160, hopefully someday 140. Before, sleep apnea, no energy, old lady size 18 clothes, could barely roll over in bed or get off the couch without feeling like I was 9 months pregnant, and didnt like how I felt or what I saw in the mirror. I was literally a slim girl trapped in a big body ! So not "ME ", now, ............. no more sleep apnea, more energy, cute size 10 clothes, I swim and run, I get almost daily compliments or looks , I like what I see in the mirror, and more importantly, I FEEL good from the inside out ! Ummmm , my answer would be "! YES !

[NaNa 878]

Aww Jean you make me want to blush....

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

My experience through this adventure so far has been every emotion practically known to man or woman.....this has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life time..And i have been through a lot in my life.....

There are times I think the world is my oyster and I have been so happy I feel almost out of control...there have been times I have felt so dark it is a wonder to me that I can go on....

I did this for health reasons and the fact that I could not hug my grand daughter close to me.....some of the other reasons were there too but they did not enter my mind until after.....

I will always see this as the best thing I ever did for myself and the people i love...but I have lost so much and gained so much in the journey that it is hard to decide if I am happier or not....

One thing I will say though is that I can wear leather now.....I am becoming quite obsessed with it....I own 5 coats now and was looking at a vest on Ebay....Love that!!!!!!!!!!!

[QueensTy 82]

Since I've lost some weight I am happier knowing I'm on the road getting healthy.

[Kai-shek 230]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-ohuiginn/i-am-happier-heavier_b_4413458.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

Interesting perspective. My only observation is that I am not as anxious over gaining my weight back or about reaching goal, the LB has created a new "normal" for me.

interesting, but not right for me I happy thin, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay this way.

[FloridaGal 41]

NOT even a moments hesitation... ABSOLUTELY!

I'm going to have to call a big fat BS on this author....

[Julie norton 2,850]

The fact she did not allow herself to be photographed full body makes me doubt her "I'm totally happy with my weight" statement. Fat-acceptance subscribers are usually women still in their youthful years who have not yet felt the perfect storm of what obesity can do, and are not yet showing the markers of carrying all that extra weight: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bad knees and ankles, aching back, PCOS, etc. It's easy to say "I love being fat" when your weight has not yet showed you what it can do to you. I can't blame them for stopping the diet/binge cycle. Traditional dieting is doomed to failure, except in rare instances, and it is a dreary and depressing task to always be battling hunger and deprivation. Thankfully I chose the lapband to help me do what I couldn't do by myself. Am I happier at a lower weight today than I was last year at this time? HELL YES. No question about it. Happier, more mobile, certifiably healthier, wearing clothes I only dreamed I could wear a year ago, seeking ways to incorporate movement into each day, brave, fierce, self-confident and just all around in a good mood all the time. I would not change places with that writer for a million bucks.

What a great way to put it. Wish I had known about lap band sooner. Changed my outlook on life in general Happy!

[jenweb@live.com 5]

I think taking off the additional weight has allowed the real me to come out. Not the stand in the corner, be embarrassed about being the heaviest person in the room girl I used to be, but the fun, out going, sassy person I really am. I think that in and of itself allows me to be happier. It has also put me on an emotional rollercoaster because I am still learning to be that person.

[dawalsh 919]

Yes I'm happier but get frustrated at the slow process. I'll be happiest however when I lose 60 lbs more and maintain it. Losing weight is one thing but maintaining your new ideal weight is key.

[depressed_bandster 72]

YES!! The LapBand changed my life when I literally worked my butt off!! I have lost almost 100 pounds and I am MUCH happier in EVERY area of my life..as a wife, a mother, being active & having active hobbies (being able to have active hobbies) and in my career as a Realtor.

@@lisacaron , size DID dictate my happiness…or should I say my UNhappiness, in fact I was depressed because of my size. I was unhappy and depressed when I had to look at myself in the mirror every time I got out of the shower, unhappy & depressed when I saw myself in pictures (on the rare occasion I didn't avoid the camera), unhappy & depressed that because of my size I could not join my family in activities like working out at the gym, surfing, skateboarding, playing volleyball, just to name a few, but most of all, I was unhappy to walk hand in hand with my husband in pubic. He is good looking with an athletic body. Anytime he would grab my hand or show me any affection in public, I couldn't enjoy it. All I could think about was what others must be thinking…"Why is HE with HER"? I know now that no one was looking at us or thinking that, but BECAUSE OF MY SIZE, I was so preoccupied with what others were (not) thinking, I couldn't even enjoy my husband's affection. My size did dictate my happiness.

@@lisacaron…why was I not happy??? Because OF MY SIZE I COULDN'T enjoy activities with my family. I was robbed of so many years of making memories, being in all those pictures, being happy and not depressed because I hated the way I looked…ALL because of my size.

What does true happiness mean to me? MY FAMILY…enjoying my family. You are blessed to be a happy person at any size and that your size did not keep you from doing things or being happy. But to some people, SIZE DOES MATTER…A LOT! It nearly ruined my life! Not because I had health issues, I didn't (yet). I had a minor degree of sleep apnea, but nothing serious. MY SIZE nearly ruined my life because I hated the way I looked, which affected me being a happy wife and a happy mom. For some people, size DOES dictate happiness or unhappiness, even depression.

I am proud to say that now, because of my NEW SMALLER SIZE, every time my husband & I share affection, no matter where we are, I enjoy IT ALL…I enjoy his hand in mine, I enjoy his arm around me, I enjoy his kiss. Because of my new smaller size I enjoy working out with my family, surfing, skateboarding and pretty much any activity they want to do!! The LapBand changed my life by being a tool to help me be a smaller size!! Size IS​ dictating my happiness, because if I wasn't this size, I wouldn't be enjoying my family the way I can today…SMALLER.

I am SO happy now that I can truly enjoy life being a SMALLER SIZE!

YES!! I AM HAPPIER NOW THAT I AM THINNER!

[LeeAnnfromNC 46]

I think there is a lot more to happiness than just size or weight BUT I am very happy to feel like me again. Most of my life I have been a normal or slightly overweight person. The last few years prior to my lapband surgery I grew to almost double my normal size. My band has helped me to look and feel like myself again. I am happy to be taking less medication and to fit into a lot of my old/saved clothes again, to be able to cross my legs and move freely , to shop in the regular jr/misses dept. instead of the plus/women's dept., to bend over and tie my shoes easily and put on pantyhose without struggling... so many things to be happy about. I am close to my doctor's goal for me and that makes me happy because I feel strong and capable again, like I'm in control of my life and no longer helplessly trapped in someone else's obese body.