what I ahve noticed

We had a steak Dinner at Church Last night to raise money for our youth group to go to the 2009 Gathering. I noticed a lot of my friends...mostly the larger ones...came by to see what I was eating and how much. It did not bother me I thought it was cute. I may have done the same thing myself. I imagine this will continue to happen. I hope some of my friends will see it working and  want it for theirself. I try to make jokes and lite of my new eating habbits so they will all feel at ease. I also make myself avalible for questions they may have. I am the first one in my church community to have this wls done.  I hope others will follow my lead. But I  dare NOT sugest it. It may hurt feelings and cause me to loose friends.  We walk a fine line to not be know- it- alls and being careing and loving friends.  So I don't preach wls I just answer questions. Do others of you feel this way? Myrtis

I know how you feel Myrtis.  I have a coworker who is super morbidly obese.  He has given up trying to walk and now uses a scooter.  He is becoming more and more handicapped by his excess weight.  I just want so much for him to live a long and healthy life but I dare not say a word to him about his having surgery.   I have noticed him asking more questions about my experiences so I try to be positive and upbeat when I share with him. 

The scooter and all the SMB at Wal Mart is one of the reason I chose to have wls. I did not want to be there and it be my fault. Because who else could I blame that outcome on. I'm not as far along as most of the wonderful people here but when I see an Obeise person (especially a young one) I want to say do this...check this option out..it will eventually hurt or kill you to be this large.  But I can't do this  but I can glow, be happy and tell how much wls has done for me already.

Hi Mrytis and Ruby, It is great you are available to answer questions for others. I do feel many obese people including myself many times live in denial. Anyone who is SMO hate being the way they are and many times want an answer. Personally I feel in my heart it is my job to my fellow man to talk about my wls. I only relize now just how sick I was before wls.                                             Annie

Annie, Ohhh, I use to be in denial. "Look at me ..I ride horses, play ball, swim, hey I am a healthy fat girl."  Yeah that was me then you get slapped in the face with health probs.  WEIGHT RELATED  I'm right with you on this Myrtis

But don't you just want to run up to every fat person you see and say "HEY!  You don't have to live like this!!!"  I certainly do!   It is funny that your overweight friends are watching what you eat.  I know mine do too... but hey.. I watch what they eat too and think that is why I got so fat in the first place.  Eating like they do.  LOL

I'm still one of the overweight and want to run up and say this very thing. I am so happy I can't stuff myself with that full plate anymore. Myrtis

Myrtis -

Boy, can I relate?! Heck, my own husband is super morbidly obese, as is my dear niece who is just barely 26 yrs old and confined to a motorized wheelchair in large part because of her obesity. However, I have to say that I view WLS in a vein somewhat similar to religion. I'm so glad I found it. I wish that everyone who needs it could and would find it and make it their own too; but I also realize that people have to come to it on their own and OWN it. So, while I may introduce them to possibilties, I would never try to persuade someone to do it. This said, my husband is in the process of trying to have surgery approved and my sweet young niece and her family think it's fool-hardy. I would not try to change her mind for the world. It's not my place, but it does break my heart.

As you continue your journey, you will lead by example. Some will follow you and some may not.

Barb

I only hope I can help some change there life by example. If someone asks me questions like they might be interested I get  as excited as a child on Christmas morning.  Myrtis

Yep, this happens to me all the time!  I call them the food police.  Most people are really curious what we're "allowed" to eat after this surgery.  I get questioned all the time on what I'm "allowed" to eat.  I tell people that I can eat anything, I just keep my sugar content to 6 grams or less per serving and eat whatever I want -- just smaller amounts.  And if whatever I want comes in a sugar-free variety, then I choose that.   I think it's curiosity more than anything.  And like you, I just answer questions.  I have a lot of people that tell me they wish they could eat like I do so that they could lose weight, and I tell them there is no way without the surgery I could have ONLY eaten the small amounts that I do.  They just don't "get" that I am as full after 2-3 ounces of something as they are after eating second helpings.  Heck, if I could have stopped at only 2-3 ounces then I wouldn't have needed to have the surgery to begin with.   I don't mind the attention.  I know it really irritates some people when they get policed like we do, but I could talk about my RNY all day long and never get tired of it, so I don't mind!  I'm a very proud patient!