Do you watch people?

I was at the mall last night - I had missed dinner & went to the food court to get a protein shake. I saw a heavy woman leave the McDonald's kiosk with a small bag -- large fry maybe? and head to the Chinese kiosk to meet up with a friend. As I turned to leave with my shake, I saw this same woman just sitting down with her McD's bag AND now a large bowl of fried rice. French fries and rice? Yumm.... I find that I often see people when I am out like that and I see myself in them. I would have done that exact same thing pre-surgery -- but I would have gotten the food to go & would have eaten it in the car on my way home. Part of me felt sad for her - because she is just destined to stay fat eating all that crap, part of me was angry at her -- like I wanted to tell her she doesn't need to let food control her like that, and part of me was jealous of her --- because part of me still wants to eat like that, even though I am so much happier at this lower weight. Does anyone else go through that? or am I just a people watching freak!? Kristin

I guess the good thing is - a lot of us could fit on that bench now, right?? It does make me kind of sick to watch people eat huge amounts of food now. Ugh!!!

Kristin, I'm guilty of watching what people eat also. I used to never pay attention, but now am just amazed at how much food people can eat. I know I used to eat just as much, if not more! I'm also guilty of looking in other people's grocery carts; both thin and not so thin people. I've lost 80 pounds of weight but have gained 80 pounds of nosiness (is that a word?). Wanda

yes I do watch what others eat, all the time. My boyfriend is a large eater so I am always in aww at what he can eat. But I think that I am also always being watched when I eat. people are like dayumn did she just eat that. I hate eating around friends and family because of this reason

Yes, I am more aware now of the people around me. My heart really goes out to someone that I see struggling and I want to jump up and down and tell them that there is another way to live!!!! Unfortunatley, its not ok to share our experiences with everyone on the street, but I really want too. I saw a woman in Walmart the other day. She had a small child with her and she was struggling to get around the store due to her weight. It was really heartbreaking and I wondered if people saw me like that. Tracy B 328/161/??? 5'9"

Kristin, yes I watch people. Good example: I went to bingo the other day (yes, I know, but I did win $750!) and this very obese woman probably about 300 (where I started) sat down next to me with a tray full of food- a loaded hot dog, big thing of fries smothered in cheese, and a full calorie coke and a huge piece of chocolate cake. And I thought... "God, the abuse I put my body through". And I watched her eat all of this, which was probably a snakc just like it would have been for me, and I hoped that I would never ever do that to myself again. It was a good reminder. Of why I DON'T want to eat like that ever again. Michelle

A-FREAKING-MEN!!! I couldn't have said it better myself!! Have a good night friend...Cap'n K-Man

I do it too and I have to realize that just like me they will get to a point when they want to take control of their food problems and their health. There's nobody that can tell them when it is - it has to happen to each of us in our own time. Some people don't know bad carbs from good carbs and some have just been eating that way forever. It takes education and the desire to change enough - enough to have your insides re-routed or the enough desire to stick to a diet or exercise or whatever. And I'd like to eat like that just once more too! LOL. The food problems never really go away do they? Myrtle.

I'm very aware of other's obesity. Much more than when I was obese and ignoring my problem. I would never say anything to someone I don't know, but I wish I could. Thinking back, I would have been mortified if someone said something to me about WLS - as in "you should consider it". On the one hand I wish someone had. I feel so much more aware of people's pain and plight than they are themselves. When I was in denial I wasn't aware of it. Now when I see the rolling gait of their step (because of the back and foot pain and balance issues), their discomfort in the heat, the little self concious gestures, etc. I just feel the pain for them and for ME and all those years I lived it. It's one of the things I get out of this board. We were all there. No judgement, just a shared memory of hard times both physically and mentally. I especially "watch" when I am sitting at a mall. Patty

I too watch people and crave to help them, but like you said I would have be scared if someone had approached me prior to WLS. So, what I finally decided to do is to carry a copy of one of my WLS magazines that I've already read with me. If I'm on the bus and a "large" person sits next to me, I simply pull out that magazine and start to read it. It has never failed that they ask about it and we get into a great discussion and I end up giving them the magazine to keep. I've also done this with various degrees of success at other places. It never hurts to try. Tom