I know I read this on here before but couldn't find it. I was at an event the other night just sitting and talking with people when suddenly one woman said " I'm tired of being fat". This was followed by another comment that said me too but I wouldn't have surgery. Guess we can be fat together. Everyone looked at me and this woman walked away. I wanted to bit@h slap her. I was at a loss and it got brushed over.

How do you handle these remarks from people?

I do not talk openly about my surgery, except with my closest friends and family. There have been times when I wanted to say that I had it, but I stop myself. It's not that I care what they think or say. It's that I don't have the energy or desire to educate them.

When I started talking seriously about having the surgery, my oldest sister was cool with it. She said that it's a very personal choice, and was supportive. My middle sister tried to talk me out of it, and kept bringing up her close friend who did well with the band for many years, but has now gained most all of the weight back. To this day, she still goes back to "well, look at so in so". I always say, yeah....look at her. She stopped doing the work. The band isn't a cure, it's a tool. I think my sister goes back & forth in her head to actually considering doing the surgery (she's now over 200 lbs), to being defeated before she even starts. I wish she would do it, because I worry about her health. She's 60 years old, and carries the bulk of her weight in her mid section....which is a recipe for a heart attack.

Anyway.....bottom line.....I think people with strong negative opinions about WLS are uneducated on the subject. Their comments are fueled by fear and ignorance. I would rather avoid being irritated by stupid comments, so I keep my weight loss method to myself. When someone comments on how great I look, and asks how I did it, I say "eat less and exercise more". End of story.

Edited February 3, 201412 yr by mrsto

I've run into a thousand different reactions and a million personal opinions and have lost track of what difference any of it makes.

We can't change what others do/say/think. We CAN change our own behavior.

'Being in control of myself' has given me considerable relief from having to respond to what others do/say/think.

'Being in control of myself'

The greatest five words I can think of. For me, this is what it's all about. Control. This I can now control even if I control nothing else, I can control the food I eat. No...I'm not turning into an anorexic...I love food too much for that. But I can sort of understand it now. Which is why I'm getting away from using the myfitness pal app. I know at this point, what the basic calorie counts are and what foods you just need to stay away from. I still weigh things out at home but that's all I'm going to do. I don't want to turn this into an obsession...I just want to make sure I stay accountable to myself.

I had to stop using myfitnesspal, as well. I was getting a little obsessive in my tracking and freaking out over my numbers. I know the foods I can have, I know how much I should/can eat, and I stay in control of it all. Life is good