Well........I opened my big mouth.... and.........

    I approached a SMO dude in the mall.....and brought up WLS to him!   I have thought about doing this SOOOO many times!  My heart goes out to MO people who seem to be struggling W/ their weight.   When I see them I want to let them know  help IS available!  HOW to broach the subject.....is the issue..........here's my account of what happened.  
   I could see there was a SMO guy walking ahead of me......I could pick out that "waddle" a mile away.  As I could not see his body too well....but I saw his head swaying from side to side.  When the couple behind him passed him up (he was walking pretty slow) I saw a figure emerge that was very reminiscent of myself!  I happened to be walking to the same store....same section. (big and tall)  I got there ahead of him....when he arrived he was sweating...and huffing and puffing!  I felt such sympathy for him. After all........I was him........not so long ago! 
     So I thought to myself .......I have to say something to him.......but how?  I waited till he left....(nothing in his size!)  I knew (from experience!) he and his dad? would be stopping somewhere to rest.
   I was right....they were sitting on a bench 200 yds or so from the store!  His dad went to the near-by food court to get napkins for him....so he could wipe the sweat from his face ( something I have done many times before!)  I went and sat on the opposite bench from theirs....back-to-back.  I thought to myself NOW....."wait for it.....wait for it!"  and The opening ....presented itself to me!  He started complaining about his knees! (YES!  i thought to myself!)  I listened a bit.....and said "knees botherin' ya ?  He said "yeah....when you're as big as I am it sorta comes W/ the territory!"  I said "I HAD the same problems about 18 months ago.....AND.... I walked W/ a cane too!"  He said "did you have surgery to fix your knees?"  I said "no..... but I DID have surgery to lose weight!"  I told him "you are in great shape ...compared to how bad off I WAS!"  I would not have made it INTO the mall (too far!) He seemed very receptive and him(and his dad) sat and listened to me for about 20 mins! 
    Not sure if he will "run W/ it" or not.....this is HIS decision....but i feel like he has info on other "options" in life!  I know i took a bit of a risk with this......but  I also did this cause i knew it would "eat" at me if i did not at least try....ya know/?   Just thought i would share this with you all.  I hope I don't start "stalking" every MO person I see now!  Thanks for reading this it was long!

 Great Job - very hard subject to approach with people you know, much less strangers!!!
Kathy

Aaahhhwwww Jim I am so proud of you...  you were senstive to his situation, you picked an oportune time, they listened...  even if he does not act on it now, he may someday.  And at least you got the chance to talk with him about it.

Good on you buddy.  I have thought about it, but not done it yet, and it is because I am really skinny now, and I don't want to scare people into thinking they will look like me when they are done :)  Just kidding!

I hope you, and I, and others are presented with those kinds of opportunities again and again...  we just have to remember how sensitive people can be, especially women about their weight... we sure don't want to hurt anyone.

Big hugs, proud of you!

Cindy

What a great thing to do...so hard to do but it sounds like you hit exactly the right note!

Lizanne

I think that was a fantastic way to broach the subject! You must have such a big heart to want to help people the way you do. Hugs..

Wonderful story Jimbo. You done good. Could be you saved this guy's life. Paying it forward is a good thing.

I consider myself a barriatric busybody and have taken a few friends to wls seminar/group. And I carry a "before" picture in my purse partially as my own little reminder but also to show it to others if the opportunity arises. 

Anyway, sounds like you handled this diplomaticly  and really reached out and connected with this person.

Think you can do anything about the Middle East?

Diane

Congrats Jim on being such a sensitive and caring guy.  I think you waited until the perfect moment to approach him and say something because you were able to chime in about how your kenes had felt.  I think that we all relate more to hearing from someone that is/was "like us" because it doesn't come across as preaching, but as just telling our story.

I bet you planted a big seed for thought with the guy.  You may have just saved his life.

I don't think you could have done a better job!  That was terrific!

All I can say is thank you for doing it, and doing it so very well!

I'm a bariatric busybody too - ANY time anyone talks about weight, diets, etc (and in groups of women it seems to come up in conversation a LOT) I mention that I used to weigh almost 300 pounds and that I had WLS which has made all the difference. I usually also try to throw in the horrible statistics for sustained weight loss through diet and exercise among morbidly obese individuals.

 
Big Mouth !!!!!

Just don't get all DS on us !!!!

frisco