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    KellyJTn
    Oak Ridge, TN
    Duodenal Switch (07/07/10)
    Member Since: 02/06/04
    [Latest Posts]

    I am curious to know what everyones response is to someone who criticizes the way you look post-op. Namely, people who knew you before surgery and like to point out your flaws now.

    To date, I have had an old friend tell me I look sickly, one tell me my face looks anorexic and then went into detail about how my body wasn't proportioned correctly and that I just wasn't pretty anymore. My most recent came last night when I ran into a girl I used to work with. She saw me and immediately rolled her eyes and let out a laugh, then goes on about how my face is far too skinny now and that I lost too much hair and that it was super noticeable. 

    I'm just at a loss. My close girlfriends all say it's just jealousy, but what in the world do I say back to these crazy people? I don't think I look like any of that!!  And they are really starting to make me feel self conscious though I know it shouldn't.  Here's the most recent shot of me...

     ~Kelly ~   
    SW 364/CW 171/GW 150             
     
    "Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before."- Erich Fromm

             
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    KellyJTn
    Oak Ridge, TN
    Duodenal Switch (07/07/10)
    Member Since: 02/06/04
    [Latest Posts]

    And of course the photo didn't show up. Not surprising OH, you never work properly. :\
     ~Kelly ~   
    SW 364/CW 171/GW 150             
     
    "Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before."- Erich Fromm

             
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    JerseyMom
    Pequannock, NJ
    Member Since: 10/24/05
    [Latest Posts]

    Darlin':

    In your avatar, you look goreous to me.  Get the larger photo to work and I will let you know if I still feel that way. ;)

    You know what you say to these do*chenozzles in your life?  N-O-T-H-I-N-G.  Do not dignify their comments wih any statement.  Either walk away or, if that is not appropriate, say, "So...how 'bout them Giants winning the Super Bowl, huh?  That was something, right?"  Make it obvious that you are switching the topic and that your weight is none of their damn business.

    When I was at my lowest, my sister (who was very overweight) said to me, "I am sorry...you are just too thin.  You look drawn and sick."  I said to her, "Thanks for your concern but I am very happy at this weight.  It is heathy for me.  I did not have this surgery to look like a model.  I did it for my health and, right now, I am healthy."  It was an uncomfortable conversation but it NEVER came up again.

    Your friends are right...it is ABSOLUTELY jealousy.  Want to know how I know this?  My friend had WLS 2 years before I did.  Of the two of us, she was the "fat" one (and I weighted 280!!).  While she was losing weight, it was the first time in my ENTIRE life that I have felt the emotion of jealousy.  And it is an ugly, ugly emotion.  It made me an ugly person.  So I have witnessed the green beast and now see it in others!

    Let me ask you...when you are walking down the street...do men look at you?  Stop and stare?  If so, it isn't because you are sickly...it is because you are ROCKING your healthy body!!  That is the real litmus test.  Ignore the haters.  They really don't MEAN to be mean...they just truly cannot help it!

    Hugs,
    Jersey Mom
      
        
       Height: 5'10"
      Current BMI: 
    27.5 (Overweight)
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    KellyJTn
    Oak Ridge, TN
    Duodenal Switch (07/07/10)
    Member Since: 02/06/04
    [Latest Posts]

    Thank you!  I can't for the life of me get OH to post my photos! I go by their instructions and it has never worked. I do have some public ones on my FB page if you want to look there :)   It's www.facebook.com/knjohnson1980

    And I absolutely do get looks while walking down the street, so I know I'm not totally hideous now, lol!! Plus, my date card is always completely full.......and what about the girls who say those things to me? They're miserable because they whine about it ALL the time. Guess I came out on top ;)
     ~Kelly ~   
    SW 364/CW 171/GW 150             
     
    "Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before."- Erich Fromm

             
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    JerseyMom
    Pequannock, NJ
    Member Since: 10/24/05
    [Latest Posts]

    Hey Kelly:

    I am having no luck!  The link to your Facebook page did not work for me.

    If you want, message me and I will send you my Facebook page and you can friend me (if you want!!).

    Jersey Mom
      
        
       Height: 5'10"
      Current BMI: 
    27.5 (Overweight)
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    Bette B.
    Member Since: 08/25/03
    [Latest Posts]

     Me: "what on EARTH would possess you to say something like that?"

    It puts the onus back on them.



    Over 8 years with my band and still knowing I made the right choice!

    * Bette's blog: http://thatcrazytattooedbaldbroad.wordpress.com/

    * Follow me on Twitter @BaldbroadBette

    * Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cre8TV

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    KellyJTn
    Oak Ridge, TN
    Duodenal Switch (07/07/10)
    Member Since: 02/06/04
    [Latest Posts]

    Great response!

    The girl who went on about me looking anorexic kept repeating "I'm only saying this as your friend, I'm just being honest, please don't be mad at me".  Finally after keeping quiet for a bit, I said "listen, I don't exactly think there are a million beautiful things about you, but you sure as **** don't hear me telling you about all the things about you I find ugly, do you?"  Then she stopped talking altogether (this was via IM on FB).
     ~Kelly ~   
    SW 364/CW 171/GW 150             
     
    "Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be. Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before."- Erich Fromm

             
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    Judi J.
    MN
    Member Since: 11/25/06
    [Latest Posts]

    well done!
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    Bette B.
    Member Since: 08/25/03
    [Latest Posts]

     HER: "I'm only saying this as your friend, I'm just being honest, please don't be mad at me". 

    YOU: "Don't make me punch you in the face."
    Over 8 years with my band and still knowing I made the right choice!

    * Bette's blog: http://thatcrazytattooedbaldbroad.wordpress.com/

    * Follow me on Twitter @BaldbroadBette

    * Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cre8TV

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    Lisa_Love
    North Brookfield, MA
    Member Since: 06/12/10
    [Latest Posts]

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    mommy2jude
    DE
    Member Since: 11/15/11
    [Latest Posts]

    Kelly, well done! I can't believe someone would say this to you and expect you NOT to be mad! I'm only one month post-op, so my looks and weight have not changed quite so dramatically, but from what I can see of your pics, you are beautiful. I wish I had a clever response for you to give back to them, but only cliches comes to mind currently, lol. Either way, enjoy your success, you've certainly earned it!

    I can do this...I know I can. It's just going to take time & patience.

    "Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."


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    Judi J.
    MN
    Member Since: 11/25/06
    [Latest Posts]

    Kind of like when people tell me I look tired. I just say Thanks so much with lots of sarcasm and walk away.
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    Bette B.
    Member Since: 08/25/03
    [Latest Posts]

     I think people just get used to seeing us look a certain way (chubby/fat/full-figured) and can't wrap their heads around the "new us."

    Or, they could just be ******** 
    Over 8 years with my band and still knowing I made the right choice!

    * Bette's blog: http://thatcrazytattooedbaldbroad.wordpress.com/

    * Follow me on Twitter @BaldbroadBette

    * Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cre8TV

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    AnneGG
    Member Since: 05/31/10
    [Latest Posts]

     I just say "Thanks for sharing your opinion" and finish silently to myself "and opinions are like ******** everyone has them." Sometimes I say aloud "I did the weight loss for my health. Can you run 5 miles a day?"

    It amazes me how negative some people can be. I got that crap from my sister the other day, and this after not seeing her for 7 years, during which time I lost my weight. Guess it's going to be another 7 years!
    Anne
    "What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls the butterfly."

    "Support fosters your growth. If you are getting enough of the right support, you will experience a major transformation in yourself. You will discover a sense of empowerment and peace you have  never before experienced. You will come to believe you can overcome your challenges and find some joy in this world." Katie Jay

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    MyLady Heidi
    Member Since: 07/30/04
    [Latest Posts]

    Answer: Thanks that made my ******g day.  And walk away.  Period. End of story.  And you chose rather you ever speak to this mean sub-human beings again, I wouldn't, but thats me.
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    lady_myst
    Member Since: 01/05/11
    [Latest Posts]

    I have learned to value the opinions of the people I value. That was such a hard lesson for someone who listened to all the critics and bullies MORE than my loved ones all my life. Funny how I did that. The people I cared about and loved so much would tell me something and I would completely ignore it because the mean girl said the opposite. Worse, those negative people were the ones i desperately sought approval from! I see it now, but I couldn't for a long time, even as an adult. I had a...well..not a close friend, but someone I knew for a long time, tell me that my attitude had changed and I was now and not the same. I thought too highly of myself. Man that hurt. Especially since I felt for the first time in my life that i wasnt in competition with anyone...other than just trying to be a better person to myself and to others. I wondered if i had been the things she said. I went to someone who is a close friend of mine and was floored when that friend said, "Yes you have absolutely changed." She went on to say that i have learned boundaries. That i am not acting like a doormat and that bothers people sometimes, especially when they aren't used to it. I took her comment for what it was worth, processed it, ran it through a few filters and let it go. It is what it is. I am truly sorry she feels that way and I hope to not make others feel that way. Further, i will continue to value myself more. Because I didnt before. My opinion of myself counts. I dont hate me anymore. Therefore hurtful comments can be looked at, analyzed, and then dismissed without the emotional toll they used to take. I dont hate her for her opinion. I didnt dismiss it entirely and will watch out for it in the future. But i dont have to take it on and make it more than that. You are beautiful. Your doctor says you are healthy from my understanding. Run it through the filters and let it go through. If it doesnt fit...its bull...well you get the idea! have a great day!
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    lady_myst
    Member Since: 01/05/11
    [Latest Posts]

    I meant to filter the opinion of the girl being critical.  Although i guess i filtered that of my supportive friend as well.  I know the supportive friend well enough to know she would call me on my crap if, and only if, i asked.  lol. 
                    
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    macortiz
    MI
    Member Since: 12/08/10
    [Latest Posts]

    My best friend criticized me for my goal weight, adding she was only 10 pounds more than that. I mentioned it to my psychologist at our session this week and she said my friend was obviously jealous.

    It hurt. My doctor warned me it would happen and I seriously thought because my friend circle was small it wouldn't. 
    Catch me on FB 
    Follow me on twitter @macsjourney
    Follow my journey www.journeywithme.org


                    
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    annachristine
    Member Since: 03/05/11
    [Latest Posts]

    Silence is golden...
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    Bette B.
    Member Since: 08/25/03
    [Latest Posts]

     And now, for a bit of relief, here is what would be MY response. I do NOT recommend it to everyone. Attempt at your own risk:

    "STFU. When I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you!" 
    Over 8 years with my band and still knowing I made the right choice!

    * Bette's blog: http://thatcrazytattooedbaldbroad.wordpress.com/

    * Follow me on Twitter @BaldbroadBette

    * Friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cre8TV

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