Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing to have the surgery itself. Some of us are very private and others of us are very open. Overall I think we do the best we can on any given day. There are times when the moment is right to share and times when it is best to keep quiet. Here are a few things this bariatric zealot has learned the last few years:
It is well known that when a person affects a tremendous change in their life they often experience a great spirit of sharing and a desire to convert others to the new belief system. This is an altruistic desire to bestow upon others their wonderful new life. Think of converts to religious beliefs or former addicts graduating from recovery programs; often these people reach out enthusiastically to others who are as they once were. The recovering alcoholic is a champion of reform to the drunken and depressed. The born again believer is a champion to the sinners and downtrodden. So it is with the bariatric zealot, a champion to the fat and hopeless.
The desire to share our stories - to make converts to the bariatric persuasion - is sincere and well intentioned. But just like the recovered addict or the new believer, we must tread lightly when it comes to proselytizing this new wonderful way of life. First, we cannot assume that every obese person we meet is in a place where they wish to hear about our weight loss success. Second, it is quite easy to hurt someone's feelings by suggesting weight loss surgery ? it implies inferiority, even coming from a formerly obese person.
Think back to when you were overweight and hopeless. Didn't you sometime feel betrayed by a former fatty gone thin? Chubby folks stick together and when one betrays the band to join the tiny tummy league the others can feel exposed and vulnerable. They can feel like failures because one of their members has succeeded where they have given up hope.
On the other hand, a bariatric patient is an inspiration for the heavyweight hopeless among us, a living breathing shrinking miracle overcoming the obstacle of obesity right before our very eyes. It is my experience that this metamorphosis is the greatest inspiration of all. Let the physical manifestation do your talking for you and tread lightly on tender feelings. We all share a great empathy for the obese and should never forget where we came from, even after the giant clothes have long been tossed on the garbage heap.
When asked about the wonderful transformation weight loss surgery has affected, the opportunity is ours to empathetically inspire others with hope. It is an opportunity to commiserate. Obesity is a lonely place to be. Sharing an intimate understanding of that loneliness will go far to ease another's pain.
Copyright ? 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Maybe you losing weight comes down to the simple question,... Read More
Getting involved in Weight Loss Program can be intimidating for... Read More
I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
In the last 12 months or so, low carbohydrate diets... Read More
Fat does Not Make You Fat. One of the other... Read More
When we hear all the success stories of the gastric... Read More
The people of earlier times depended on the rich resource... Read More
A client wrote, "Help me! I thought I was finally... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
The Quest to Reach Your Ideal WeightIt was late in... Read More
The diet that worked for meI have had a lot... Read More
One of the hardest aspects of getting yourself into shape,... Read More
Hannah was distressed that, with all the inner work she... Read More
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Blood pressure... Read More
Discover secrets to overcome food addictions by releasing negative thoughts... Read More
Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
You could try one of the many sexual enhancement drugs... Read More
Self-acceptance and body love can be tough concepts to grasp... Read More
Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More
The diary is an essential help in reaching your weight... Read More
A metabolism drug like ephedrine, has shown many people how... Read More
"Help, none of this mainstream stuff works!"There is a specific... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka ..Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient... Read More
I gotta confess: I'm completely addicted to crisps. Any kind... Read More
Summer is about to be in full swing, and it's... Read More
Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food... Read More
Do you struggle to maintain or lose weight? If so,... Read More
Addicted to Restaurants Are you addicted to restaurants? So are... Read More
The diet that worked for meI have had a lot... Read More
To understand how surgical procedures aid the grossly overweight person... Read More
Name a diet...any diet. It doesn't work. Try to name... Read More
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More
Lipoxinol Weight Loss Review: Does Lipoxinol Live Up To All... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
All Diets Are Based on the Same Premise: Eat Less... Read More
There are those that walk amongst us who have followed... Read More
When you talk about losing weight you're really talking about... Read More
I never intended to get fat! I am not exactly... Read More
Making the Decision:Whether you are interested losing ten pounds that... Read More
More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More
If you've been on a low carb diet for any... Read More
All of the things we tell sick people so that... Read More
You don't realize it, but in the next few minutes... Read More
In a culture of blame-shifting we often look for someone... Read More
The Sour Truth -------------------------- Question: I had a baby 6... Read More
Glycemic index ranks different carbohydrate foods depending on their potential... Read More
When it comes to weight loss, most of us would... Read More
Weight Loss |