Invisible?

Has anyone noticed how invisible an obese person is? I really didn't notice it when I was MO, but now that I'm not, I notice sales people notice me quicker and are friendlier. Anyone else have the same experience? It's really sad, isn't it? I mean, I'm exactly the same person on the inside but others respond to me differently. I will go out of my way to actually look and smile at MO people from now on. I just figured everyone was treated like that until this past week.

Yeah, Lyn, I've noticed that people are so much friendlier. I have had more doors held for me in the last 9 months or so than I have had in the last 25 years. I stopped at a Kwik Star recently & was still sitting in my car when a man stopped at the door & looked back at me & just stood there. I couldn't figure out why he was looking my way so got out of the car to go into the store & it turned out he was waiting to hold the door for me!He wasn't flirting or anything like that. He was just being polite. People smile more & make comments that I never heard before. I never really thought people were rude before but it is so much nicer now. I too am going out of my way to be nice to obese individuals. They deserve it as much as I do. Dixie

Morning Lyn, Sure have noticed. Seems to me like people are more apt to say hi, hold doors etc etc etc. Sad isn't it? Like Dixie I recognize obese people & go out of my way to make sure I acknowledge them. True to form the men are alot more friendly now that the weight is going than they were before. Oh well who cares? I'm having fun either way Hugs Carolyn

Yep, I've definitely noticed a big difference. Yes, I agree that's its very sad, especially with men. They used to run the other way, now they do a double take. I still have the "what the hell are you looking at" attitude. Its a good feeling though, because the weight loss is like my ultimate F**K YOU to all the men who never wanted me before! Ha!! Even my relatives are treating me better. My grandma no longer makes fat remarks, now she asks if I'm getting enough protein in every day. I also go out of my way to treat MO people the way I would want to be treated. Shelley Rath

I think most people are more friendly. I've especially noticed it with people who I knew from school functions are I think curious also. This can go the other way though. Women can now see you as a threat and some men no longer kid around because you were safe as long as you were the fat girl. Now that we're thin, their flirting or just being nice could be taken for something more, and so they're more reserved. It's funny how this all works isn't it? Janie

Yeah, I'm not even a week out from my surgery, so I haven't seen any changes in me yet, let alone anyone else. But I noticed a long time ago that I didn't get the service in stores that my sisters did, I bought new shoes a week ago, and couldn't get anyone to help me - 3 clerks standing about with no business except me, and no offers for help. And that is not new - it happens regularly when I shop! I even had a sales clerk tell me a few years ago, when I was trying to find a silver service set for my Mom's birthday that I shouldn't even look for one, because I couldn't afford it! That's when you want to have one of those "Pretty Woman" moments and walk back through the store with bags full of stuff that you didn't buy from them! I also know that now I probably go into the stores with a bit of attitude- as a self defense mechanism, and some of that is probably sensed as well. I expect it will take awhile for my brain to catch up with my body.

I think maybe for me it is just because I appear more approach-able. Prior to this surgery I was constantly down on myself and I really didn't enjoy shopping because if I couldn't get into the size I thought I should, I would instantly be stressed. My husband (poor guy) never liked to shop with me, my anger at myself would always trickle over to him on these days. Am I am sure it showed to others as well. Now when I go into a store I have a smile on my face. People notice that smile and respond to it. Accepting compliments was another big thing prior to surgery. If someone would compliment me before (pre-op) on my appearance I didn't think that it was really sincere. No matter what I wore before, I felt like a whale out of water. LOL. If I didn't like the way I looked how could anybody else, right? Now that I feel better about myself I accept a compliment readily with a big Thank You.