I need to vent to people who will understand!!

I need to vent so thank you in advance for listening (reading).  My place of employment provides us with health insurance for which I am very grateful.  The problem is that uneducated people have been overheard numerous times saying things like" oh boy, our health insurance is going up because those fat people keep having surgery because they can push themselves away from the table".  When I hear it I tell them of the success of my surgery ( no more insulin, high blood pressure pill and CPAP) but they don't seem to get it or maybe want to get it.  I am horrified that people make judgements about the private concerns of others.  I know the only way to stop this is through education, but sometimes it seems like a good slap up the side of the head would be much more satisfying. Thanks for listening.. you are all a great bunch !!

I totally agree.  I have been told that I took the "easy" way out.  This is by no means easy.  It does come down to being uneducated, but there is only so much we can do.  I told one person that maybe if they were in my position, their mindset would change.  That got a "hummm" look, but it was not discussed after that.  So just keep your head high, vent all you want, and be thankful for the people who do support you, both here, and out in the real world. 

I know it can be maddening, but I don't think there's much we can do to change the mindset of those who don't or won't understand our situations.  Feel free to vent all you want on this board.  I learned long ago that it's not worth my time or effort to try and change those who don't want to become more educated on the subject.  Unfortunately, it's still okay to exhibit prejudice against the obese.  

You're right about them being ignorant. I spent much more health dollars on all of my obese related illnesses than I will now as I get healthier from WLS.
I guess if I heard comments like that I'd just take it like I do when someone of the opposite political opinion tells me something about the Gov't that I don't agree with. I ignore them.
Good for you for using the board to get it off your back!

It's kinda like (from the opposite side) saying that anorexia can simply be cured with a couple of cheeseburgers.   Those people are simply shallow insensitive dopes that probably get their hard news from the National Enquirer and People magazine.

You are so right. And, this is a great place to vent.

I bet a bunch of the people who are making the statements smoke!! They cost the health care system even more than obese people do. We have a health concern that can and should be treated by the most approprate means possible (as with smokers, alcoholics, those with mental illness as well as the "socially acceptable" diseases such as MS and epilepsy)!! People like to just to point a finger of blame.

Aside from the obvious, that they are ingnorant, uneducated and insensitive........
NOTHING about obesity is easy.  It's hard to live with it, die from it, or wage a lifelong battle to conquer and control it.
Sadly, I also agree that prejudice against the obese (even within our own ranks if you are not deemed to be "fat enough" by some of our heavier brothers and sisters)  is still largely socially acceptable.  We all feel your pain and outrage.
~Donna

I bet they have NO idea that some of us still struggle after the surgery.  Seriously, if they have never felt the way we did for SO many years, they will never understand. 

On the other hand, I am surprised that some people I know consider me a "brave" woman for having the surgery.  Having enough balls to take the risk to improve my life.  I like to listen to those people, and not the negative ones.  I say in one ear, out the other to those negatives!

Lisa

I've heard this one too.  I chaulk it up to this:

 

"Opinions are like bums.  Everyone has one, and some of them STINK!!"

Think about all these idiots are missing out on in life because of their narrow-minded thinking.  Because you sure don't think this is the ONLY area in which they are this ignorant, do you?

Hang in there, you're doing the right thing, and what those people think doesn't matter.  You deserve a pat on the back for trying to enlighten them, but some people just won't hear the message and deserve our pity, because they are just plain missing out.

 

 

OMG we must work at the same place or this is just a result of our economy. Our coworkers don't realize how much we are saving an insurance company and the premiums will go up anyway.