WLS Causes Thick Skin???

Hello everyone.   I'm not sure about having thick skin but I sure have plenty of  it lol.  I use humor in everything.  It's also a huge coping mechanism for me.  Maybe I laugh at myself before others can laugh AT me?  I have also found in my old age I could really give a rat's ass what others think lol.  Now, if anyone really cares, I am only happy to share my journey... hmm come to think of it, I may often share even if they are not too interested  .
Jane

From one Rat 2 another thanks Jane

I haven't had surgery yet either, but I wanted to give my opinion.

For the most part I'm the kind of person who wears my heart out on my sleeve.  I'm extremely sensitive, and I feel things for myself and for others.  But there are situations where I have some pretty thick skin, and I think being overweight has taught me that.  I have this wall around me to protect myself from the rude comments, the stares, etc., and then I come home and feel everything.  It hurts how society teaches such hatred for the obese, and how we're taught that having that hatred and showing it is okay.  Factually, I flat out HATE it!  I hate how it makes me feel about myself and others.

Now as for comments from people after I've told them that surgery is the route I've decided to take?  So far everything I've heard has been positive.  People look at me and say, "way to go!"  I'm very happy for that fact, and I know that there will be the naysayers out there that only have negative things to say, but I also know that I'll just let those comments roll off my back too.

Okay, so that's all I wanted to say...

I appreciate your comments. Though you have been prepared for rude comments don't be surprised if your blind sided by compliments. After WLS you'll loose a incredible amount of weight fast and " friends" might say you look great and then turn to someone you don't know and start to tell them how terrible you use to look. You leave feeling dam I must have been a troll! C'ya Bob

I think I developed thick skin from the years of being obese when people I worked with (especially one lady) would ask me continuously how much weight have you gained?? And when I would go on a diet she would always say "Heavy people lose faster than skinner people" and things like that.

The big thing that pushed me into having surgery and even quiting a job that I had for 8 1/2 years was when fellow co-workers (men and more than one) were overheard in a full elevator talking about me and saying things like "could you image having sex with someone as large as Debbie" and a person that heard that told me and needless to say I could not face those people. It was so bad I quit my job after about a month because I just could not face them and work with them every day knowing what they were saying behind my back. Even had one of them say to my face "How are you going to be able to get up off that chair and come into my office if I call for you?"

On the bright side it got me off my butt and made me make a decision on my life. I have went back there since I have lost all my weight and everyone oo's and aw's over me but I finally got to tell the offenders "thank you" and they were like What? I told them if it had not been for them I would have never taken control of my life and my health and I just wanted to thank them. Boy, you would have heard a pin drop and their jaws dropped open.........lol.

So you see nothing anyone could say now could hurt me because I have been through the fire and I have come out on the winning side.

Nancy Your story makes me think of the Toby Kieth song "What Do You Think of Me Now"! C'ya Bob