what I want to tell ever overweight stranger i see

do any of you have this crazy urge to tell every overweight person you see on the street or train, please have this surgery?

I can't help it.  Today, I saw this girl on the train, maybe 16 or 17 around my height and she must be tipping the scale in the upper two hundreds.  She was sweaty, short of breath and she looked so sad all I wanted to do is hug her and tell her "sweetie, have VSG surgery. PLEASE it will save your life"

 I definitely feel a lot of sympathy for people that I can see that are struggling, looking miserable, but I know that until and unless they are ready, surgery will not save their life. Surgery cant help us until we can help ourselves. 

 I totally agree!!!!  AND when it is fully covered up here in Canada where I am....it is even harder to not run up to every single person I see out and about......Maybe it is because I am only 3 months post-op...but being -45 lbs in that short of a time and never feeling hungry...OMG   I feel like someone needs to take out an ad in the paper to tell more people about the options......

Good luck on your journey, and I hope you don;t get punched out if you do approach anyone...ha ha

Since starting this journey I've been an open book with people - posting on FB so friends could follow my journey and not hiding the surgery from friends and coworkers.  I do this for 2 reasons - 1. to keep me honest and on track.  There is far more accountability if people know what you've done and they will give you the look if they think you are going off track (lol). and 2. I have friends and coworkers who were/are in the same boat that I was/am in and I wanted them to see what is possible if they choose to take the same path.  I also wanted to provide them with a safe place to come with questions.  I don't think this surgery is for every obese person - you have to be ready to make changes in your life, and not everyone is.  One of my friends on here had the surgery and didn't make the changes and she has not lost the weight.  You can always drink lots of calories and eat all day long and defeat your sleeve...  

Keep your joy and enthusiasm for the sleeve - it is an awesome tool! Congrats on your success! 

Definitely!! I haven't lost massive amounts YET! But I know what's coming. I welcome it, and I want everyone who is overweight to join my world!! I completely understand what you are saying. I try to be sensitive, because so many people have such different perceptions of themselves. Some people who are overweight are very comfortable in their own skin, and may find offense...so tread lightly in your endeavors. Also, approaching a 16 or 17 year old and pointing out her weight issues may devastate her fragile self esteem. Be gentle.

Congratulations on your choice to be make yourself healthy!

This is just my experience from suggesting people get help with this surgery from a friend,

I am happy with my body, why would I do something like that.

That was basically what they said to me and that they were offended that I thought they were severely super obese. So I basically keep my mouth shut now unless they ask. I didn't mean to offend my friend, she is beautiful and I just want her to get help. So I couldnt imagine going up to a stranger and telling them that there is help out there.

 I felt that way early out. I wanted to share it with everyone. What I learned the further out from surgery I became, is that WLS is a very personal decision and one has to be ready to make the required lifestyle changes in order to be successful. It isn't for everyone and most people are not ready to make the required changes. They are just not "there." If people bring it up, I will share my story, otherwise, I keep my mouth shut.


gail

I still want to share my story with every single heavy person I see, but I understand that it is not reasonable for me to think that they are ready to hear this.  Once, I did share with a sales clerk who was SMO and very sweet.  I just couldn't help myself and I was recently at goal, she turned bright red and ran away.  I learned my lesson and if I could go back, I would apologize to her.  My intentions were great, but I now know that I hurt her.  I will not make this mistake a second time.

I have told very few people that I've had surgery mainly because I think people didn't think I was "that' overweight to begin with and to prevent the 'you didn't need to do that, you can just lose weight' mentality.

However when I post on Twitter or FB that I've lost 53 lbs in the lst 3 months, some people ask me how I've done it. If I know them well, I tell them what I did because I don't want them getting unrealistic expectations from the "low carb, very high protein" answer I give everyone else.

I never thought I'd be telling everyone that this is a *tool* like I still have to make healthy choices every single day, every meal but having something take away the hunger gives me the opportunity to make those choices without scarfing down some chips in the mean time.

I have had a friend approach and her boyfriend is interested in the surgery. I told them I will tell him anything he wants to know, just ask. I think we're having coffee next week and I can't wait. I also told my surgery center they can give someone my email address if they have questions. I think when I hit goal, I might be shouting it all from the rooftops but for now, I don't know if everyone can possibly understand.

I don't believe the sleeve is for everyone, however. It would not help my husband. He goes all day without eating then consumes a ton of calories in one meal. He's not the food addict I am. His issues are different so I can't see this helping him. Regardless, I hope we are able to figure out how to help him also so we're both loving our new bodies!

Have a great weekend everyone!

No.

The decision to get WLS and actually make it work long-term has to come from within. If someone is not ready for it, and has not worked through their own reasons for getting it- the end results (physical/metal and emotional) can be far worse than remaining fat. This is not a free pass, get cut lose the weight and be happy forever deal.. yes, it may feel that way for the first few months.. but that passes and the real work quickly starts.

I AM an open book about it if asked, but I have never brought it up among friends after the time I told them that I was having surgery.. I don't talk about my eating, my losses or the struggles of getting smaller. I save that for here!

I am not proselytizing to friends much less strangers.. and frankly if someone came up to me when I wasn't ready and suggested WLS to me.. It's would have been an overwhelming combo of hurt, ANGRY, embarrassed, shamed.. the list goes on. This HUGE life-altering, seriously major decision needs to come from inside each of us.

The best thing you can do is be honest if someone asks how you did it, or asks for details, but please- let them broach the subject, please.