Is it possible to be overweight and content?

Oh yeah that and folks who are single-mindedly focused on the food.

I keep wanting to yell "It's not about the food!" And this is coming from both a Foodie and a food addict (and it took me a while to learn the distinction there).

When I see posts with people whose minds are fixed on fighting their way back to certain foods I almost immediately raise a red flag in my mind like, "that person is going to have a big problem soon."

I know that at my lowest weight I was miserable. Not because it was my lowest weight but because I hadn't worked out my head stuff. I'd been so focused on protein and exercise and water and vitamins, all of which were important but none of which helped to address the long-term thing that was standing between me and happiness. So I worked on it and in the process, yes, I gained some weight back and now I'm in a much better mental place.

Will I ever be stick thin? No. Do I have a chance at being content now? Yes, I do think so. And that means a lot to me.

Of course people can be overweight and happy. Personally, I was ok with it to an extent. My dh loved me no matter what size I am and ALWAYS told me I was beautiful (and I thought I was pretty cute myself, lol). I didn't think about my weight on a daily basis until it became harder to move. I couldn't get down on the floor with my twins physical, occupational and developmental therapists. I started developing health problems. For ME I knew it was time. I had been researching since 03.

I know many people that are content in their skin and bodies. Do I feel the need to tell them about my surgery and urge them to do it? Nope. Not my business. If someone asks me about it, then I will tell them all of the pros and cons and tell them it's not a decision to be taken lightly.

Honestly, I try very hard about not judging others b/c I know 1st hand what it's like to be judged based on weight and if someone is happy about their weight and themselves then who am I to judge them?? RNY was MY solution, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone.

Nik, I love your thought provoking posts....So therapeutic..lol

thats interesting....i thought i would always be unhappy with my weight as i was losing it on ww 10 years ago...to the point where i developed an eating disorder and depression! then i ballooned to 395 but i remember being at peace with myself mentally, emotionally, psychologically; yes even at that weight. i was ready for wls only after i was able to fix my head and then surgery was a solution because i could not function on a daily basis. now 16 months out i need posts like this to remind me that i have been at the bottom and the only way to go is up. every single time i keep thinking that i am putting on weight i drop a size. wls took care of my physical body...it is still up to me to deal with my inner demons whether i am a size 32 or a size 12. now that the honeymoon period is over i have to learn to live with the "smaller" me and the problems i had when i was "bigger". one day at a time is all i muster at this point

I have a friend who got WLS a few yrs back who was probably close to 400 pounds.  She was always the liufe of the party, beautiful everything.... she was content with her weight, but health problems had her get WLS..... she has also gained back weight from her lowest ad is okay with that.

I feel that people can be content, and someone else wrote it is easier for the people who have been heavy their whole lives to come to terms and find peace with their weight.  I was super tiny back in the day and I have huge issues with my body.  I am fortunate to have a husband who loves me no matter what, but I want to be me again.  I am not jaded, I know I won't get my size 0/3 pre-baby model body back.... I just want to look decent in some clothes!!!

I would never approach people and tell them to get wls, bc if they are like me, they cannot see themselves as fat (I avoid mirrors bc I have this vision in my head of how I look---and it isn't like the mirror ;)--- it would be a huge negative if someone told me I needed wls.  I know it sounds silly because I am getting the surgery, but I want to be the one to realize I need help, not have someone else tell me I am fat and pathetic :)

I'm not that far out from surgery.

I've had that feeling once or twice where I want to tell someone about WLS.

It's usually when I see them struggling to move around, get comfortable and things like that. I see myself in them in that situation and realize that I never knew how miserable I was. How many opportunities I gave up because it was so uncomfortable to walk around, do things that "regular" people can do.  There are still plenty of things that I can't do yet, but my heart aches for them because I see myself there. Now that I'm able to go to the gym, walk for a half hour and just window shop, sit at a table comfortable I realize just how bad of a place I was in.

I'll never judge anyone +/- WLS.  It's not that I think they are unhappy, and I hope that people are happy at whatever size they are. I'm just in a weird place where I feel like I want to share this new mobility I have with others.

I can be honest and say that I thought I looked good and I felt great at about 230 lbs...once i went above that, I became uncomfortable and my health took a hit.

I actually saw the WW commercial last night with Jennifer Hudson's before and after side by side (with her both moving)....beautiful and confident both ways.

What I do find myself doing is thinking to myself -- "are they really happy that way?" I shouldn't do that but I do.

 Yes, its possible.

And while it's "possible" to be healthy and fat, and escape an early death.. I've seen too many personally not escape that fate.  I had a cousin die suddenly in his early 40's.  My mother in her early sixties...

As for wanting to tell others to have WLS -- my plan is to be open about my surgery.  My coworkers know, my family knows, I think most of my friends know (especially once I posted my story on FB)... and the reason I did that was if there WAS SOMEONE STRUGGLING and was curious about WLS I opened my door for them to ask me about it.

See now I like your attitude. Nearly everyone knows about my surgery in my day-to-day life. I just had a friend ask me about it the other day. She seemed to think it was JUST all about eating less so I had to school her about the changes. But if someone came to me and asked...that's fine. Them asking indicates that they aren't happy and want to change the way they live. Otherwise, I sort of think that it's not my right to assume someone else's feelings.