There's a fantastic thread here on what folks will NOT miss about being fat. It's an incredible collection of so many things I'd been dealing with leading up to the surgery, and continues to be a great read: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/319355-what-is-everyone-not-going-to-miss-after-sleeve/

So here's a twist... is there anything you'll miss about being fat? I'm not trying to spark a riot or anything, but we all change so much in this process, I thought a look in the other direction might be interesting...

I'll go first: at 6' 4" I'm "big" no matter what my weight is. But at 475 highest weight, I was a force to be reckoned with. I recall an incident in traffic once where the car in front of me was braking hard, and rather erratically. I made a decision to put more space between us, but I made it a split second too late, because he braked hard again and I almost rear-ended him. This time he stopped, slammed it in Park and jumped out of his car to yell at me. So I got out of mine, and tried to say something... but he got one look at me, and walked quickly back to his car and sped off.

I'm a gentle giant, but it was kind of funny that I was deemed too big to mess with. Soon I'll be far less large, and the basketball jokes from my teen years will resume.

I actually saw a funny post of facebook that bigger/fatter people are harder to kidnap.

I do miss eating and drinking at the same time. The other day I had to fast for my blood work and when I was done after 25 hours of nothing but Water I was starving but I also wanted coffee. It was a tough choice but I chose the food first and then the caffeine 30 min later.

~LA

My first reaction was an adamant "hell no!" - but thanks @@aSleeveStory, for making me think it out. Just this morning I realized that it now takes me a good deal longer to get dressed because my standard has risen from "good enough to get out the door and not look horrible " to "gosh I look good!"

Good one... I hadn't though about that, but its great to hear your confidence is up and that you're diggin' your new appearance. 112 lbs down is amazing!

I think there's a positive to everything... even being fat. My wife had a birthday party yesterday and some folks we know were complimenting me on the weight loss.

Afterwards, I was thinking about it some more... and realized that I've definitely improved my overall eatings habits tremendously because of all this. I wasn't a terrible eater before, my weight gain was a 15 year journey with undiagnosed insulin resistance... but by NO MEANS did I eat a healthy diet, or was some picture of perfection. I've really learned to study what's in my food, and even if I put some of this weight back on... I know that I've gained something from all this.

Sometimes I miss saying "I am fat anyway so I might as well...." I haven't reach my total weight loss goal at six months sleeved. However I am still moving forward.

I actually saw a funny post of facebook that bigger/fatter people are harder to kidnap.

Heh... hadn't thought about that! I guess there is some added personal security in size. Guess we all need some self-defense classes at the end of our journeys.

Another benefit to being fat, now that I think of it... is that nobody would ask me for help moving. I HATE doing that no matter what size I am... but people quit asking after awhile. My usefulness in the process has dwindled.

I do wonder if, when I'm at goal, I'm going to become more obsessed with my appearance. I have never even worn make-up. I was always content to just throw on a t-shirt and jeans no matter where I was going. For work I have to "dress up", but that has entailed having two pairs of the exact same dress pants and dress shoes in black and dark brown and buying whatever shirts are on clearance the couple of times a year I go to a department store.

Once I'm thin, I wonder if I'll feel obligated to dress better and even maybe start putting on make-up and doing more than just putting some leave-in conditioner in my hair.....

Well this topic has got me really thinking. First, I am still fat, just less so. And I am very comfortable with my body. I didn't and don't hate it. I was frankly terrified of what was going to happen to it if didn't get a handle on my weight which prompted this WLS journey. I like the compliments I get now and that i can fit into smaller clothes. I hope I will still feel like me and not weird. Will I recognize that person in the mirror? I really like her now and hope that it stays that way!

This is a real topic, cause I've read a few articles about being on the other side and the downsides to being fit and thin.

I'm going to be uncomfortable with comments.. I know I am fat for a couple reasons.. one of them so that I don't get attention.

I miss being overlooked at times. I now get lots more attention from salespeople, men, pretty much everyone. Sometimes I preferred being "invisible"

When I first read this - I laughed and then as I was reading alot of the comments about being "visible" and "noticed by men" it sort of hit me that this isn't really a joke.

I am over it now, BUT, 1-2 years ago I felt vulnerable, exposed, and on some level unsafe. I don't think I consciously ever considered the funny remark from facebook but I now know it was a factor.

After losing weight, I came to realize one of the events in my life that ensured I would imprison myself in obesity happened when I was 17 - I was held hostage for a day, raped and terrorized by a mentally ill man twice my age who was obsessively stalking me. I never even considered that event influenced me until something happened to make me think of it again after all these years. Then, I started thinking about so many decisions I made (mostly relationship and lifestyle related) that were very much about being safe/secure/invisible. As the fat suit got smaller, I became more and more anxious about this stuff - talk about unresolved emotional issues!

You know, until about 2 years ago, I never told a soul about what happened to me - not even a counselor I saw for 2 years - how is that for living in shame?

Anyway, I have been at goal for a few years and feel pretty comfortable in my body these days. My advice to all that worry about "being noticed" - pay attention to this emotion but realize that it will pass and that extreme sense of being watched, stared at etc will go away. I am quite sure that the reason I could not handle being thin in my early 20s is that I felt panicked about being so vulnerable because it is true A) fewer people want to kidnap a fat girl and Fat girls ARE harder to kidnap...haha You just try to pick up my 300# ass and toss me like a ragdoll!

I do get "looked at" now but don't feel the least bit threatened anymore - and that took some time, effort and facing some bad old memories. It is very freeing to not feel this fear anymore.

I actually saw a funny post of facebook that bigger/fatter people are harder to kidnap.

I was warmer.

1. Using my thighs as hand warmers

2. Using my belly as to hold things up so I can read

3. My boobs, booty and thighs

Lol

@@CowgirlJane thanks so much for sharing. I'm truly happy that you have been able to free yourself of that damaging emotion. Good for you! It takes a lot to be able to talk about it and even more to work through it.

And in spirit of the convo i think I'll miss warming my hands in my love handles

This is a real topic, cause I've read a few articles about being on the other side and the downsides to being fit and thin.

I'm going to be uncomfortable with comments.. I know I am fat for a couple reasons.. one of them so that I don't get attention.

A lot of folks here have talked about the invisibility factor... I hadn't though of it much before now. I'm sixteen years married this month, so I guess my mind just didn't go there.

Congrats on your recent surgery! Looks like you're on your way!

Anyway, I have been at goal for a few years and feel pretty comfortable in my body these days. My advice to all that worry about "being noticed" - pay attention to this emotion but realize that it will pass and that extreme sense of being watched, stared at etc will go away.

I'm sorry to hear about what happened to you when you were younger. Not sorry to see that you're doing great now! I love your attitude and outlook towards things, and think your advice is dead-on.

Congrats on two years of maintenance. That's inspiring!