Question:
For those that were never a normal weight, and now are, tell us about it.

I am now 17 mo post-op and a size 10. Having been an average sized person most of my life, it felt like I was back where I should be after losing the weight thru this surgery. But it got me wondering, for those that have spent their entire life overweight, and are now a normal size because of this surgery, what is it like? Share your feelings/emotions/stories with us, and with those who will follow in your footsteps. Did you have problems adjusting?    — Cindy R. (posted on July 27, 2003)

July 27, 2003
How interesting that you post this question today. I had just updated my profile on this exact thing TODAY. I have been overweight my entire life and admit that I am having a difficult time adjusting. I started out in a 30/32, 345 at my all time high 325 when I started my journey and am now in a Misses 14 and last weighed in at 210. I keep telling myself when I get to be such and such size (mine is a 12) I will feel 'normal'. It really bothers me that I can't see my weight loss yet and others say it all the time. I'm certainly not fishing for compliments, I'm just having a hard time seeing my weight loss. I invite anyone to read my profile through my journey. I'm only 10 months out so have nothing on people further out, but I'm getting there. I can say that I am finally living the life that I've always wanted to have. I'm trying all kinds of new things that I've never done in my life, just to say that I've tried them. I don't care if I decide I don't like something, I can say that I've tried it. Just having the CHANCE to try and do anything I want is what I've always wanted. I'm starting a new school year with a new outlook and can't wait! I'm so thankful to have the chance to live a new, full and exciting life as a result of my WLS. So, it really is a huge deal for me. I truly AM living a different life than I've ever had before!
   — Click

July 27, 2003

   — Faith Pureson

July 27, 2003
For many years, I have only been able to shop at the 2 local large women's sized clothing stores. Once I lost a lot of weight, I found it overwhelming be able to shop almost anywhere and not buy things because I don't like the item rather it not fitting me. One thing I used to do as I was adjusting to shopping anywhere, is when I found clothes at what I thought was a really good price (say a quality $5 skirt or something), I'd buy it thinking it's a once in a lifetime buy. Well, I find $5 skirts regularly! You have to look, but I've also bought wonderful sweaters for $3! I've NEVER paid so little for clothes before since the speciality stores know they can get away with charging whatever they want. It's exciting and overwhelming at the same time.
   — Yolanda J.

July 28, 2003
I was not a fat child, but my earliest memory of knowing I wasn't thin was about 6th grade. In high school I wasn't morbidly obese but I was always bigger than most. I remember as a freshman doing anything to get out of P.E. so as not to have to wear the god-awful uniform with very short shorts! Plus I am tall (5'10") so that made me feel big too. I've always kept my hair longer because I knew a short hairdo wouldn't flatter my fat face. I've always chosen clothing that is long and roomy so as not to cling to my fat. I've never really known, as an adult anyway, what it is to shop in "normal" clothes stores. I have always headed for the womens section or shopped from lane bryant and catalogs. In fact, I just noticed the other day that I don't even look/notice at the cute misses clothes when I walk into walmart because there is no point, I know I can't wear them anyway. I'm sick of wearing solid colors, or things with seed packets or animal prints on them! I have always scoped out the seats in a restaurant before I sit in them, I have always been self-conscious and a habits like pulling my shirt down to make sure it is covering my butt and sucking in my gut are second-nature to me. I am 2 weeks pre-op, and it has really hit me lately that, Wow, this will be the last 2 weeks that I have to be this fat, and after August 11, I will get smaller. I can't wait to go into someplace like Ross or Old Navy and buy something just because it's cute and not have to worry that it is big enough, long enough, stretchy enough, etc. Thanks for asking your question, the answers are interesting!
   — beeda