Have you been asked this?

People keep asking me, "Do you feel better?" It is the stupidest question. Of course I do- I am 150 lbs. lighter. I so want to come back with a sarcastic answer, but the people mean well so I say that I feel much better. Do any of y'all have any snappy comebacks? Have you been asked this?

Say - I feel great - thanks for caring - and either walk away or change the subject. Look at their body language - most people are very caring and just curious. Don't be offended. Barb

I usually just give a little laugh and say "oh of course, definitely" I follow everything off with "...but its hard work, I go to the gym everyday and try to eat good but its so hard you know." They usually just agree. But I just recently got the "OH so how much have you lost now?" In public. I mean loudly right in the middle of the freaking cafeteria food area. I just sucked it up and told her how much in a low voice. She meant well but people don't think sometimes about how it can be embarrasing. Her reaction didn't help either with the embarrasement. The whole look of SHOCK about the enormous amount of weight I lost. 'ugh' its embarrasing. Some people have no couth. Ah well. I appreciate the compliment and carry on. I think I have gotten so use to it that I just hold my chin up high and kick the embarrasement to the curb and just act completely and utterly HAPPY to share with them. (if they are sincere or not). I am proud of myself and I know how dag on hard I work at getting this weight off so I have no problems saying how it is. Elizabeth M

It does seem like a dumb question...... how can you NOT feel better after a large weight loss?? I sometimes think that people need to acknowledge your success, but don't know what to say and this results in these dumb questions. I know that the first reaction is to hit them with a snappy comeback, but I just take it all with a grain of salt and say that I feel great and let it drop. Cheers! Mike

I think that some are genuinely concerned because of either hearing WLS horror stories, or because we are conditioned by experience to associate rapid weight loss with illness. There is a skeptic in each of us that says "if it looks to good to be true, it must be too good to be true!" I see these questions as an opportunity to educate. Many have a hidden agenda to gather information for a loved one (or a not-so-hidden concern about themselves). I saw some friends this weekend that had not seen me since surgery. They knew about the surgery, so were not surprised by the weight loss, but kept staring and asked if I had a face lift too! They said I looked so much younger! Funny thing is that I notice my wrinkles more and have been toying with the idea of a face lift! I guess it is that old negative self image thing again! Joy

I never thought about it, but yes, I am asked this question all the time. I think the next time, I'm going to tell them that I felt much better when I weighed 250 lbs, that it was great to be a size 22, and how it sucks to be a size 6. It's like those guys on the newscasts, who go up to a grieving mother who just lost a child and ask, "how do you feel?" I hate that....

You are too funny! I'd love to say that, but never would. People mean well and are trying to be kind, but it is an idiotic question. The first time it was OK, but by the 20th time, it is on my nerves. it is nice to be able to share with folks who understand!

Yup, I think it's because they think because of the weight loss you might have Cancer or something else wrong with you. So that's their way of asking if your O.K at the same time. Of course we feel better, I just keep on truckin & hope they are sincere in their asking. It has been a treat not having ANY probelms within the last 14 months. I no some of you have had, but, the ones that have not had any, like me, have been extremely lucky & believe me count my blessings all of the time. Marilyn, the Bearlady