Daily Post--4/8/08
When you are out and about and see someone who is extremely obese do you wish you could approach them and tell them how wonderful your choice of WLS has been? To encourage them and tell them that there is an answer to the problem of being overweight? If so, have you ever done it? Spoke to a complete stranger about surgery?
I wouldn't dream of approaching anyone... who knows if they are comfortable with their size or not? Who knows if they are healthy or not? Certainly not me. On the other hand, if someone approaches me, I am excited to share my story of weight loss with them (Atkins & WLS). If someone would have approached me before I was ready, I would have taken offense &/or been deeply hurt, I am sure.
Absolutely not...WLS is a personal choice and one that has to be made by the individual when they are ready to face their "issues"...If someone approached me and asked me that is different, but I will not seek someone out on this issue..I know how sensitive I was on the weight issue and would not want to make someone uncomfortable or upset.
There is a young lady at church who is probably right about where I was when I started the WLS procedure. She gets up every Sunday and "signs" a song for the deaf. I am fairly new to this church, but I've always thought how courageous it is for her to get up in front of all the people and "perform".
On Sunday, the pastor announced that April was dieting, and had lost 30 pounds. Of course, this announcement was met with applause and congratulations to April, but I thought how embarrassing that must have been for her! I wanted so badly to approach her afterward to congratulate her and offer encouragement, perhaps even give her my number in case she ever needed someone to talk to. I have no idea what her method of weight loss is, but since it seems to be a fairly slow process, I don't believe it was WLS.
I did not seek out April after the service because I know that prior to my own WLS, I was not comfortable with small or normal-sized people talking to me about weight. As I said, I'm fairly new to the church, so no one there knows about my past, except my boyfriend. Although I would happily tell April about all of my experiences, I don't want to approach her - she may feel the same way I did in the past!
I have been asked, by total strangers, for information. These are usually people who have checked my drivers' license and notice that I look nothing like I used to, and ask me how I did it... I am always happy to tell them my story!
And yes, many times I see someone trapped in that self-imposed prison, and knowing I have the key that could release them, it's very hard not to share with them.
There is a young lady at church who is probably right about where I was when I started the WLS procedure. She gets up every Sunday and "signs" a song for the deaf. I am fairly new to this church, but I've always thought how courageous it is for her to get up in front of all the people and "perform".
On Sunday, the pastor announced that April was dieting, and had lost 30 pounds. Of course, this announcement was met with applause and congratulations to April, but I thought how embarrassing that must have been for her! I wanted so badly to approach her afterward to congratulate her and offer encouragement, perhaps even give her my number in case she ever needed someone to talk to. I have no idea what her method of weight loss is, but since it seems to be a fairly slow process, I don't believe it was WLS.
I did not seek out April after the service because I know that prior to my own WLS, I was not comfortable with small or normal-sized people talking to me about weight. As I said, I'm fairly new to the church, so no one there knows about my past, except my boyfriend. Although I would happily tell April about all of my experiences, I don't want to approach her - she may feel the same way I did in the past!
I have been asked, by total strangers, for information. These are usually people who have checked my drivers' license and notice that I look nothing like I used to, and ask me how I did it... I am always happy to tell them my story!
And yes, many times I see someone trapped in that self-imposed prison, and knowing I have the key that could release them, it's very hard not to share with them.
I would never do that. I would have DIED if anyone had done that to me. I would have cried for a month and eaten everything in sight!!! I have a dear friend who has seen me through this whole thing and I'm hoping she'll decide on her own to do it...she is maybe 150 overweight and I worry about her health. I just could never approach her about it - I know how miserable she is and how self conscious she is.
I agree. There is not way I would ever approach people to tell them they need to lose weight. That is such a personal choice. I am amazed how many people approach me to ask how I lost my weight. I love to share my story and encourage anyone who wants my help. I believe we are living examples of WLS and I try to do my best to inspire others.
I do wish that I could approach some people and tell them about WLS, but I would never actually do it (for all the same reasons as the other posters here). But if someone asks me about it, I am glad to offer any information. Once I was talking to someone at the hairdresser's. She said her husband had briefly thought about the surgery, but was too scared and so decided against it. I told her that she could tell him about me, and if he ever wanted to contact me, I'd be happy to answer any questions and try to put his fears to rest. He has never tried to contact me though.
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