"I Won't Change"

If you are considering weight loss surgery, someone in your life has probably expressed fears that surgery and weight loss will change you—the person they love just as you are now. It may be tempting to respond, “I won’t change,” but chances are, you will. You may even transform in completely unexpected ways.

In their book From the Inside Out: Resolving Obesity through the New Science of Bariatrics, Steven Baum, Angela Bickman and Paula Magid bust a series of weight loss surgery myths: among them, the myth that your personality will be unchanged after surgery.

What do Weight Loss Surgery Patients Say?

“I was just curious to see what others’ opinions are or what you have gone through after WLS. Did your personality change? More confidence? More daring/less conservative?

Click here to read more of, "I Won't Change."

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5 Comment(s)

Comment by mostar07 on May 14, 2008 at 09:15am

I hope I do change. I am very shy and reserved because I have no self confidence (due to my size). I hope when I have the surgery and I start seeing the weight come off I will become more extroverted. I feel like everything now that I say and do are judged solely on how large a person I am. I don't want to be seen that way. In a past job I was constantly passed over for promotions I feel because of my size (although I can't prove it).

Comment by cheyenne on May 14, 2008 at 10:53am

I've changed! All my life I've hidden behind my fat and now, 52 pounds down and 48 to go I am actually enjoying clothes shopping (who knew!) and receiving compliments! Whenever I tried diets before, at the point when I'd lost enough weight that people would compliment me, it would send me running for the cookie jar, but now I am enjoying "strutting my stuff". Most importantly, however, my knees and feet don't hurt, I sleep well, I am no long pre-diabetic, I have no sleep apnea and that makes for a much happier person! Food no longer controls me.....I control the food!

Comment by groyster69 on May 14, 2008 at 04:37pm

My husband is the one that pointed out the changes. I used to hide because I figured everyone was talking about me and I didn't want to embaress my kids, now I am more outgoing now. I like talking to people and including myself in activities. I am loving this new found confidence.

Comment by fatinthefire on May 15, 2008 at 09:43am

I've been hiding for a long time so I hope I do change. I've held myself back from doing many of the things I've wanted to do--both personal an professional--because of my appearance. While I am going forward with the surgery because of health issues, I can't deny that the prospect of no longer being judged because of my size will be a huge bonus. Had I taken this step 10 or 15 years ago, I could see myself having some version of the "meltdown" described in this article, but as I am now, I am confident that I won't go off the deep end. If I do begin to have those reckless thoughts, I will RUN to a therapist!

Comment by deedee45 on May 17, 2008 at 06:34pm

I have changed a lot since my surgery 4 years ago. I used to live nearly the life of a recluse. I didn't go out much, I hid behind my weight, I was depressed and instead of focussing on my family and living I spent my time thinking about food and diets. Now I live my life, enjoy my kids, work too much sometimes, but I'm confident enough to leave home to dow it, and I love my life. I feel like God has given me a second chance at living through this surgery, and I know I'm blessed, the only thing is that through the blessings have come some curses - I still want to hide behind my weight when I am fearful and have to fight to keep from putting back on weight when uncomfortable situations arise. I know know that I have good friends and a great support group to help me through it though.