"Where did you go?"

Yesterday, I saw a friend from church that I hadn't seen since I lost all this weight. She ran up to me and was very excited. She kept saying over and over "Where did you go?" I didn't understand that she was talking about my body. I thought she was talking about my having just run an errand so I wasn't at the registration table when she got there. So, I explained I just ran a quick errand. Then I realized she was talking about my body and I started laughing. She was so impressed and asked how I did it. I told her I had surgery. I was surprised when I didn't feel embarassed or guilty about it. I know I didn't have to tell her anything, but I actually feel proud of my progress no matter how I did it. It has not been easy so I'll take the compliments Thank you. Huggs and blessings, Heidi

Heidi, I know how you feel. Right after surgery I didnt really want to tell anyone how I was losing weight, but now when I see an overweight person I just want to tell them how this surgery could change there life! ( I dont tell them that of course cuz its a personal choice). I also had a friend that had it 3 yrs ago and did wonderful. I remember telling her that she took the easy way out! Well I was wrong. It was definitely and still isnt the easy way out,, but it sure is fun now!!! Take all the compliments you get cuz you deserve every one!! Patti

I hate to hear people say we took the easy way out. Risking death for a normal body size is definitely not the easy way, but for me it was the only way. That's so funny that you actually thought that about someone and then ended up on the other side. Heidi

Heidi, I bet you were smiling all day when that hapened!! I havent had anything like that happen but I know next year when I go to my 20 yr high school reunion I hope to have some people take a second...and even third look...LOL. I dont mind telling people about surgery either but I would not at first...was too afraid of hearing you shouldnt do that...blah blah blah...you know what I mean. Have a great weekend and enjoy the compliments...you deserve them!!! Hugs, Michelle www.active/donate/tntwpawv/michelleuschock

I know what you mean about people saying "you shouldn't do that..." I had a lot of people tell me that. Sometimes I felt like asking them, "Are you my doctor? Do you have a clue about my health and my needs? Aargh. I get mad just thinking about it. Heidi

Hi Heidi I had the same kind of thing happen to me at church. I waved to our pastor's husband as I was pulling out of church a few weeks ago. He didn't wave back, and the next week, Pastor told me it was because he didn't recognize me! I have never been shy about talking about the surgery, although I was very tight-lipped before it was done. I didn't want people talking about me beforehand, but I love hearing everyone make nice comments now! Linda 280/198/160

That's a very funny story. I think it's funny that your Pastor remembered to tell you the next week about not waving to you. I bet you're getting lots of nice compliments! Heidi

I am glad to hear everyone's experiences. My friends are very supportive and now call me the incredible shrinking woman, which makes me feel so good, I am afraid my head is going to start growing! Then I would look upside down compared to before surgery! LOL I was secretly embarrassed when I first started seriously contemplating the surgery worrying that people would think I was a loser who couldn't just control myself. Of course, that's probably what they thought while I was walking around 120 lbs overweight, huh?! Anyway, it suddenly hit me one day that not a single other person had to live my life (or NOT live the life I want to live by doing things with my family that I couldn't do before!) and what in the world did I care what they thought? It set me free and I immediately started telling everyone with no shame whatsoever. If someone felt they should say it was an extreme choice, (everyone was nice, but of course, some were concerned as I was), I would say yes, but so was slowly dying which is what I was doing. I don't try to recruit anyone to have the surgery, but if they ask, I want everyone to know how beneficial it can be since I know they have probably tried everything and lost all hope, too--like I once felt! Skinny people may be judgmental (when they should just be thankful), but many will ask questions because they know someone who has had WLS or who they think could benefit from it. It's been a great experience for me and I am becoming more and more concerned about educating others on a grand scale, so that insurances, etc., will hopefully begin to support this life-saving option and to hopefully teach other prejudiced folks that we aren't just eating machines that can't turn off--afterall, we could still eat things we shouldn't and not be successful even with WLS, so it's just the added help a certain group of people might need to be successful. Eating is not the only problem this population has! Oh, well, that's my soapbox!