Question:
Explain to a never overweight person how it feels to lose weight (physical functionin
Please Post op OH family ,explain how it feels to not be short of breath , not to have thighs that rub together etc. to friends and family who have NEVER been overweight. I am pre Op (open RNY 2/12/09).How does it feel to have health issues resolved now . — Lori M. (posted on January 13, 2009)
January 13, 2009
Don't forget crossing your legs and sitting in a booth to eat, or even go
to a movie and sit in confort.
— BrendaSue
January 13, 2009
I honestly don't think you can explain it to them. If they have never
experience getting stuck in a chair or having the heat rash where my legs
rubbed together in the 115 degree heat in texas.... The best I can tell
you is that you need to just tell them that you will for the fist time in a
long time be able to look at yourself in the mirror and smile and not
cry.... My husband thought I was crazy but thank God supported me anyway.
Now he says one of the best days HE has ever had was the day I was laughing
so hard I started crying becuase I could see my check bones in the mirror
for the first time one morning at 5 am putting on my makeup.
— phyllismmay
January 13, 2009
How do your explain what it feels like to try something on and have it be
too big??
How do explain the feeling of not being the biggest person in the picture.
there is no way to explain how much your life will and does change. But it
is the best feeling.
— trible
January 13, 2009
It feels like you have a new lease on life and hope for the future. This
has been a life-changing journey for me and I'm so glad I did it!
— Cindy E.
January 13, 2009
I have a good scenario for them to experience. Have one of them pick up
one of their friends or family members and carry them around for 30
minutes. Piggyback style like we used to play with our kids generally
works well. After a while that extra weight starts to be a burden and they
experience what we experience and have experienced all the time. As for
the health issues, do what the docs tell you and follow your program. Do
this for you and you will benefit from it. Good Luck and God Bless you on
your journey,
vinnigirl, retired RN
— vinnigirl
January 13, 2009
It feels like finally the person you are inside is finally outside too.
(Literally feels like you are inside out and it's weird for a long
while)...Being healthy again and thinner gives you a confidence that you
lacked before...You are suddenly just happy to not have to worry if where
you are going will have a seat to fit you...or if you can keep up and not
hinder your familly from doing fun things...Always feeling like a burden to
them is suddenly gone and you can BE a part of their fun and enjoyment
rahter than make excuses why you can't go...Suddenly people are nicer to
you and men look and you suddenly REALISE it wasn't in your head that
people were ruder because of your weight...It made me sooo mad!...I
guarentee you have put yourself in their shoes more then they ever put
themselves in yours to even begin to understand...And that is why I love
you all so much and want to help as much as I can...I have been thin now
for 5 years and want so much for you all to experience the joy of just
being healthy and normal sized! AND stay that way! ..Only a person who
knows what it's like to put down a walking cane and walk again with no pain
can understand that too! The worst part of being MO though is realizing
that food is a drug for the MO...and will always be even after
surgery...and that they will not understand either...People choose drugs
and addictions that are not necessary for survival...Food is something you
cannot live without to start with...and when abused it becomes the drug of
choice...and so in my humble opinion is the single most hardest addition to
conquer...and must be forever a conscientious CHOICE! So many of us can do
anything we want with ease and even greatness...But losing weight and
keeping it off is something as addicts to food we have failed at
miserably...They do not understand that either...and think having surgery
is the easy way out...I wonder if they wer addicted to drugs to the point
it too threatened their lives...would they have surgery if they knew they
could be helped? I think they would! NO ONE loves being MO and
unhealthy...
Good luck and be healthy! Work hard and then YOU tell them what it feels
like to lose all your weight and finally be free from your fat suit prison!
— .Anita R.
January 13, 2009
Lori- My journey has just begun having had Lap RNY on 12/9/2008. I was
topping the scales and out of breath just walking up and down the stairs to
do laundry. I was only able to take one stair at a time. 60 lbs lighter
that is no longer the case. I walk down the stairs AND back up without a
shortness of breath. My ankles and toes and I have become re-aquainted. (
I actually have ankles now!) I can drive our car without the steering wheel
digging in my belly. My 18 year old son says I have more
"spring" in my step and I can now walk around the block with my 3
year old. Some of those close to you will be more sensitive, but there is
no way to truly understand unless you experience it yourself. I am thankful
for where I am right now and look forward to continuing my WLS journey.
Obesity will no longer CONTROL my life. I wish you the best of luck on
your upcoming surgery and look forward to seeing you on the losers bench!
LisaRae
— Fircrkr64
January 13, 2009
Hi, I am exactly one month post-op and I can honestly say I haven't felt
this good in years. I had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
a bad knee and a couple of other problems. I am off all of my meds (12)and
most of them were making me sick every day. I just felt horrible! Now, I
feel great, I have energy to do things again. I am not hungry. And my
only obsessions with food are in my head and they are very easy to control.
All of my clothes are falling off of me, considering they were so tight
they cut me in half before surgery, this is wonderful. Yesterday, I wore
cordoroy pants and you know how bad the noise is when you wear cordoroy
from the rubbing thighs, well, I was walking to a meeting and something was
really strange and then I realized that I wasn't hearing the swish swish
swish of my thighs rubbing together. It was soooo exciting. I exercise
every day. It is the most amazing thing to finally feel like I am taking
my health back. My only advice to you would be to get yourself up out of
bed as soon as possible after surgery. I was up with in a couple of hours
of surgery and started walking and my doctor even commented that my
recovery was much faster than he anticipated. Anyway, congratulations on
your surgery date, you will do great! Cathy
— brindledanes
January 14, 2009
Lori -- How it feels to not be overweight any more is to still be having
"aha!" moments nearly nine years post-op. I've had the thrill of
not feeling like I was going to pass out when I bent over to tie my shoes,
putting on a skirt only to have it fall right back off again, sitting in a
booth, sitting in a regulation-sized chair, etc., but these things can
still sneak up on you. Case in point? A couple of weeks ago I was out at
a local store looking at boots. FYI I hate boots, but I live in Canada and
it can get mighty cold and snowy here from time to time. So I see this
nice fur-trimmed suede pair and the first thought in my mind is
"They'll never zip over my calves." Well, they did -- and
easily. I still don't really know how big my calves are. And a couple of
days later, I was putting my boots on and I had some straight-leg jeans on,
and I thought -- "They'll never zip up over my calves AND my
jeans." Well, they did -- and easily. How it feels to not be
overweight anymore is to still be surprised now and again about how far
you've come. Not to mention the lower blood pressure, well-controlled
(genetically-based) Type II diabetes, etc., etc. Enjoy your journey, my
friend!
— Cheryl Denomy
January 15, 2009
What does it feel like to be not over weight???? To walk by a store window
and not recognize your reflection. To be able to chase your two year old
down the street and actually catch him before he runs in the street. To
bend over and still be able to breathe. To wake up and nothing hurts. To
put on your old shoes and they are too big too. That is just a few of the
things that stick out in my mind.
— Carlyn M.
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