judgements?

Ok, first for the good news!  I went to Curves this morning and it was my day to get weighed and measured.  I am down 15 lbs and 16 inches in one month!!  Holy Cow!!  That is just crazy.  I am so happy with the progress that I have been making. 

And now on to my other question....has anyone noticed the very different reactions you get based on your answer to "How do you do it?". Ok, when someone asks how I am losing all the weight I answer based on my mood.  If I don't want to talk I'll just say by working hard and eating less--which is the truth.  When I give that answer they are all over me with the atta boys and compliments and high fives and keep it ups.  If I answer by mentioning the WLS--well, then it is oh that's how.    Why is it less of an accomplishment if you have WLS than if you don't?  I don't get it.  I have to work just as hard, if not harder than if I hadn't had WLS.  I guess this is just on my mind since this morning at Curves.  Thoughts?

I think that many people still have misunderstandings about how much work we have to put into WLS.  Honestly, people are probably sick of me talking about it, but I try to give everyone education about what I am going through when I tell them that I had WLS.  I explain to them what I had to go through for the liquid diet, I explain what I can eat now and how much I have to chew, I try to let them SEE me eat a meal, I tell them about dumping, pouch pain, etc.  I also tell them about all of the challenging aspects of rapid weight loss - gallbladder concerns, releasing all those hormones, fatigue, lack of focus...  Don't get me wrong, I don't make it sound like it is the most HORRIBLE experience that anyone can go through, but I provide enough accurate information that nobody leaves my prescence thinking that I took the easy way out.  They usually have much more respect and admiration for the whole process.

Obviously, this isn't something that I would do with a stranger, but I do make sure that I get the information to people who see me on a consistent basis.  I've lost almost 60 pounds in slightly over 60 days and I have over 200 pounds total to lose so I know that the "I'm eating less and exercising more" comment is not going to be believable by those who see me consistently.

I'm not sure why either.....So I decided only to tell family and not anyone else......Even relatives are like that, I think they think it's the easy way out......And in my family I have 2 relatives that have almost gained it all back, so it's not looked upon very good since they weren't sucessful.

Kelly

You ask a very good question!  When I'm asked how I lost weight I use to answer like I was ashamed because I felt the perseception was I cheated.  But you know I'm at the point where I don't care anymore what people think.  I can educate them but some people are just going to perceive WLS as a "quick fix".  What is important is I know how much work I'm putting into this and I can be proud of it!   

Way to go 15 lbs & 16 inches in a month is GREAT!!!

I know.  I had a few bouts where I was unsure of how to answer, cause I just didn't want crap from anybody.  Than I realized that I did the very best thing that I could do for myself, and that I need to be proud that I am taking care of myself.  I always answer that I had surgery, and then offer immediately to answer any questions they may have.  Many people I've run across really do want to understand.  If they don't want to understand, or want to cop an attitude, it ain't worth the worry.  I've been dating, and have decided that I am better off to tell the guys on that first date, cause hey, it affects how I eat and most other areas of my life.  You know what?  I recently met one guy who accepted it, then a few days later when we were talking on the phone, he brought it up and told me that he that it was great that I had done this to improve my health and my life.  The other day when we saw each other, we had supper, and he was kind of watching, and asked me if I was going to dwindle away on him.  Me?  Dwindle away?  Incomprehensible!  I guess that the people who are worthy of us, will make the effort to understand it.  I thinks it's best that we be proud of our accomplishments, can we can/could blow it.  We could have come out of surgery and done the opposite of what we are supposed to.  It still takes hard work and, (gasp) will-power, for us to use our tool to our full benefit.   

When people ask me how I did it - I always tell them I've had surgery.  I'm not ashamed of what I've done (and I'm not suggesting that people who chose not to answer that way are!) but from day 1 I have talked openly about it.  I know there is a lot of misconception around the surgery itself as well as about the "type" of people who choose to have surgery.  The standard reaction I get is, "I never would have guessed!"  I actually smile when I see  shock or surprise, because that means I just poked a hole in someone's misconception!



Truthfully tho, I got a LOT more judgemental comments before surgery than I ever get now...

M~