Question:
Starting to feel like a normal human being?

This is probably going to sound like a strange question, and it is. A wonderfully stange situation. LOL. I recently started a new job. I was at my last job (bank) when I had the surgery in May 2003. EVERYONE knew about it, and were 100% supportive. Every day I was talking about the surgery, or someone was asking me how I felt, customers and employees made it a big part of my everyday life at work. Which I'm not complaining about. I appreciate that everyone was on my side, and was enjoying the compliments. I've since left the bank and am working in an insurance office. No one there knew me before, didn't know I weighed almost 300lbs. During my first few days there, getting to know people, I mentioned the surgery, showed pics of me before and answered questions. (I've never hidden the surgery, I don't feel I need to hide or be ashamed of it.) It was a pretty good ice breaker actually. Now, I go and sit and eat lunch with these ladies every day, and it's RARELY mentioned. It feels so good to sit with a group of co-workers and talk like a normal person (Pre-surg I would have sat by myself and not made any conversations,) and not have my weight be the center issue of every conversation. Is this what "normal" feels like? To be able to sit with people and have an enjoyable, normal conversation, AND BE INCLUDED, and not have my weight be an issue (either for them or myself?) Okay, done babbling. LOL. Thank you . RNY Lap 5/15/03 down 112 lbs.    — KellyJeanB (posted on February 7, 2004)

February 7, 2004
What a great post. This is exactly one of those "small" things that I look forward to! When my family asks what is it that you are most looking for out of this surgery, I always answer "to be normal". They look at me like I'm weird, since they have no idea how weight affects our normal day to day lives. I am the friendliest person one will meet, as long as they initiate the conversation. I'm also a very powerful leader, as long as I feel comfortable. I can't wait until I'm not too intimidated to initiate a conversation! I can't wait until I feel comfortable that my weight is not the first thing people notice about me! I just can't wait to be normal!! Congrats to you for getting there, appreciating the changes and making a difference in your life!! Annie
   — ruokannie

February 7, 2004
This has been my lifelong dream. Not to be thin, but to be normal. Not to have this fat stigma (that most of the time I impose on myself). I am thrilled for you. Congratulations!!
   — mrsmyranow

February 7, 2004
I can so relate to this. I have so many wonderful supportive people around me but I am getting tired of this always being the topic of conversation and I tried something new. I was at a golf tournament with people who did not know me, I too have always been very open about my surgery. Well this time I decided not to say anything about my recent achomplishment. I got that same feeling of what normal feels like. No one was questioning what I ate, they just thought I ate like a thin person. No one asked why I did not have desert (ice cream sundays). They just said "that's how you stay so thin!" My golf cart partner actually said I was "so light" she did not notice I got out of the golf cart! I did not tell her that "two years ago I could barely fit in the golf cart!" I love all my supportive freinds and family but this new experience of being looked at as "normal" is pretty wonderful. Okay now I am babbling too, but life sure feels different thin! Open RNY 11/02 down 150lbs.
   — cathy G.