Question:
Observations at a water park
We went to a water park yesterday and had a wonderful time. Idelwilds parks soak zone. Both Jen and I noticed the slides appeared much less brutal weighing less. We had gone to a different park pre op and even the slow slides had beat us up at that time. Yesterday was fun. Anyone else notice this? Does that extra 100+ pounds make us go faster or something?<P> Another sad observation most people were heavy and even many little kids were MO. Most MO and heavy kids were with adults that were really heavy too. Its sad seeing so many so heavy. I know how tough growing up that way is. Its a epidemic. Were going to try to plan another water park outing this week, before the season ends. We helped chaperone some inner city kids from the projects. They were all well behaved and we had no problems at all. A good friend does inner city programs and promised these kids a outing. Had a great time helping out! — bob-haller (posted on August 23, 2003)
August 23, 2003
I agree that it is sad. Especially when it comes to the children. Someone
at a support meeting today talked about packing cookies and chips in her
kids lunches. I thought that even if these kids are slim now that she is
not doing them any favors in getting/ keeping them hooked on the very same
junk food that has done us in. If God graces me with a child after my 18
mo. post-op period is over, then I hope I will raise a child with healthy
eating habits and not a little food addict like I was.
— Wendy T.
August 23, 2003
Hi Bob- My brother belongs to a club that has a fancy pool with a mini
waterslide. Not as big as a theme park or anything, but you have to go up
about 25 steps and it's probably about 15 feet high, with twists and turns.
Due to my family's urging and my feeling that I was missing out on the
fun, I decided to give it a try. Big mistake for me! I am still pre-op
and very MO. I didn't feel like I was going any faster than any other
sliders, however my weight wouldn't let me sit up and I slid lying down,
feet first. I felt every "seam" of that slide on my back, and it
hurt. I have a bad back and didn't see any signs posted about this. Since
we're talking about these waterslides, I'd like to encourage anyone,
whether pre-op or post-op, to check with the life guard and/or read any
signs about health issues such as bad backs, heart conditions, etc. I have
seen some of those huge waterslides with height/weight limits on them. But
I'm sure for most of the population, they're safe and fun. Have fun on
your outing :o) P.S. Yes, I did notice how many other heavy people were
in this swimming pool. None of them were using the waterslide, though.
Mea
— Mea A.
August 23, 2003
Funny, I made this same observation to my husband the last water park we
went too. Used to be you would see a lot of skinny kids and a couple of
heavy ones. Heavy kids were the norm this time. Blew my mind and it's
really sad.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 24, 2003
The couple of times that I have been to parks as a post-op (Walt Disney
World in December and Dorney Park about a month ago), I really noticed the
amount of MO and SMO people out there - especially kids. Hell, I am still
MO (barely) and I am in better shape than a lot of people out there...JR
— John Rushton
August 25, 2003
<font color="007000" face="tahoma">Bob~~ I really
believe the extra pounds do make us go faster!! As a Pre-Op, about 2 years
ago, I was at a water park, and went down a water slide that would take
about 5 people or so in the raft... It was me, 2 "normal" sized
friends, and a little girl (about 6 yrs)... that raft went SO FAST, and
because of my weight on the one side, the other side almost went over the
edge of one of the curves... Very scarey (but also fuN!)
<P> Our weight is also an issue on other rides.. I went on a carnival
ride weighing over 300 lbs, the spider (the cart spins as the whole thing
spins in the air)... my cart was going around so fast, I could not control
it! I couldn't even keep my head up! I tried to yell to the worker to stop
the ride, but he didn't... after I got off.. the worker said I must have
been spinning about 60 miles an hour!! <br>Even when I get to my
goal, I don't know if I will go back on that ride!!! <I>~~Wendy D,
RNY 4/23/03, -87 lbs~~</I></font>
— Wendy D P.
August 25, 2003
Since my surgery (April 03) I have noticed lots more obeses folks. As for
kids....my son eats healthier then his father and I do! LOL! We pack a
meat (protien), vegatable and fruit in his lunch. No cookies or chips! I
hope that he does not have a weight problem as he gets older! Best,
— Louise C.
August 25, 2003
I have a beautiful 5 year-old daughter who is very solid, strong, but by no
means obese. However, I must say that it took me a full year to really
fully adjust her eating habits to be as healthy as mine own. She now eats
food that will "make her healthy, strong, and intelligent." We
try and talk to her about food as a tool for life. She enjoys fruits and
vegetables, and amazingly enough doesn't even like chocolate (She must not
be from this planet). I want her to have the tools now so that she can
make better health choices throughout her life. She is an avid swimmer and
we do yoga, karate, and kickboxing together when she wants to. I don't
want to force my lifestyle on her, but I want to offer her healthy choices
while I still have some influence. I truly do believe that besides
spiritual lessons, lessons to keep the mind and body healthy are the most
valuable gifts we can give to our children. I think that this surgery is
great and I would do it once a year if I had to, but I don't want this for
her. In addition, the life I had to live the years before surgery when I
was MO are years that I would do just about anything for her to be able to
avoid. I would agree that most of the kids that I see at large gatherings
are obese, but oddly enough, none of my daughters friends are obese, and as
a matter of fact no one in her class was even overweight. I don't know
what to make of it other than they are still rather young. I hope it is a
sign that the education about the dangers of obesity are hitting home in
time to spare her generation. God I pray it is!
— Faith Pureson
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