A Comment Made?

I went to have my hair done yesterday at a place I used to work at years ago. They are like family to me and have seen me go from being thin, to overweight, to MO and now to a post op. Everyone there has been very supportive, but my old boss made a comment that I'm not sure how to take. Now mind you, she's in her 60's, has battled her weight her entire life although she is not MO, just overweight, and she owns the hair salon where her daughters work so she looks at me like one of her girls. She says "I think I'll just eat my way up to 300lbs so that I can have surgery too!" Ummm, what does that mean? Did I intentionally get up to 328lbs so I could have wls~NO! I was MO long b4 I even knew wls existed. Anyway, I wasn't sure if I should take offense at this comment or just chalk it up to someone saying something stupid, LOL. Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

I think it was a stupid way of saying you have done such a great job (making it look easy). I wouldn't worry about it. Congrats on your success!!!!!!!!!! 5'6" HW 250 tight size 24 jeans SW 235 CW 158 size 6 jeans Surgeon GW 165 Mine 154?? "normal BMI"

I agree people think this is a quick fix but they do not realize that is just a tool and you can easily gain the weight back if you go back to old habits. Just because you lose a couple hundred pounds does not mean that you do not have to worry any more about it. The public needs to be more educated about what people who have this surgery go though post op Natalie

Actually, I don't think it was directed at you except in the reference to how good you look. I would guess she meant that the only way she would be able to suceed and look as good as you was to have WLS also, but since she doesn't qualify, she would have to gain more. I guess it's all in how you interpet it, and this is my guess. Especially since she has always looked at you as one of her "girls" Sara

Unfortunately I have heard this comment a lot. People are trying to gain weight just to qualify for the surgery and that is so sad. They seem to think it is the easy fix, if they only knew. I think in your case though it was just an offhand comment as to how great it is that you have succeeded. If it still really bothers you and you are concerned for her and her battle with weight I would talk to her. Giovanna

It's hard to fix stupid. Every time I read of a person who goes out on a food binge prior to surgery, I wonder, "how are you going to arrest the behaviors that made you fat when you celebrate them today?" What people don't get is that WLS does not make you thin; WLS provides you an opportunity to make major lifestyle changes to assist you in achieving an healthy weight. This week and every week, far too many people will undergo a fairly risky and expensive procedure with a view that WLS is the magic bullet. Not only will they be thin, but popular, loved and respected. It will cure everything that is wrong with their lives. Typically in 12 - 24 months, their fantasy will be dashed, the weight coming back on in spades, and the find themselves elbow deep into something to eat, hoping to assuage the pain of a broken dream. WLS is not for wimps nor for dreamers. It is for those prepare to go the distance, which is a smaller number than those who line up for the surgery. Kudos to those honest folk who say they are not prepared to make the change. J

Amen! Vickie J.

J. WOW......Great Answer!!!!! Really well put!!!!! In response to this post.....Someone close to me (cant say who incase this person reads this) ate her/his 30 something pounds in order to be like me and have the surgery....The Doc was a smart one and refused to do the surgery....now this person is over 30 pounds higher in weight and trying desperately to take it off..........STUPID!!!!! People say the strangest things....IGNORE THEM I wish you continued success stacey

I would chalk it up to being uninformed and/or stupid, not as an insult. If anything, take it as a compliment because you look (and, hopefully feel) marvelous! (((Hugs))) ~~Sherry

I take it as my "God Given Imperitive" (TM) to say something stupid in return to a purposely stupid comment. Ones that come to mind are: "That should be fun to watch" "oooh oooh, I'll polish up my fat jokes." "You'd have to stop talking so much, can you do that?" "Fat AND stupid is not a great combination." Just think... next time you see her, you'll be ready