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.blogspot.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.
Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More
Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery has many forms and can involve stapling... Read More
Are you one of the many who may be tempted... Read More
You can overcome the desires of your sweet-tooth by incorporating... Read More
Our bodies only require a small amount of salt for... Read More
If you are about to begin a diet, the number... Read More
Stop Being Influenced by Food Ads on TVThere is much... Read More
Are you or your family members amongst the 65%?To help... Read More
I learned about gaining weight when I heard the question... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
Have you ever wondered with all the weight loss programs... Read More
It's definitely no fun to lose weight -- put it... Read More
Are you just exploding with the presence of light all... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
Over the last twenty five years the most common questioned... Read More
If you have recently found yourself fretting over your child's... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
How to Say No When You Don't Want the FoodA... Read More
Remember that movie with Jim Carey, "Dumb and Dumber?" And... Read More
More likely than not a diet with end up a... Read More
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More
If it seems that you have been eating as usual... Read More
Hold the onions! Let's talk "liver". No, not beef liver,... Read More
I just came back from three days in Las Vegas.... Read More
In order to identify hunger, you must first understand what... Read More
Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what... Read More
With the rise of obesity and the increasing incidence of... Read More
For many years, the experts, including our government have been... Read More
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a best selling... Read More
There are several theories on the origins of Valentine's Day.... Read More
* Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes... Read More
Diet Pills are the fastest growing segment of the dietary... Read More
Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More
Have you ever received those tempting ads that seem to... Read More
Addicted to Restaurants Are you addicted to restaurants? So are... Read More
Adaptation is the most important concept I teach. The human... Read More
With this key, I GUARANTEE YOU WILL LOSE ALL THE... Read More
If you have been watching your weight all year, you... Read More
After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get... Read More
Are there any foods that burn body fat? If yes,... Read More
Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing... Read More
It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More
In this issue, I am going to focus more on... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
If you've been scouring the news, devouring as much information... Read More
Recently a woman went public in her online diet community... Read More
Looking to lose weight quickly? The good news is that... Read More
What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss... Read More
As parents who've had gastric bypass we face many challenges... Read More
"I tried that diet and lost 8 pounds in the... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
We have all set them, and we will revisit them... Read More
It's been called the world's oldest medicine, the miracle fat... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
What is "too young" to begin a weight loss program... Read More
Food cravings can be triggered by various things including low... Read More
Why Walking Could Be the Solution to Your Fitness Dilemma.Walk,... Read More
Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More
There are many books and internet articles written about weight... Read More
So your neighbor, office mate, best friend, whoever just lost... Read More
You step on the scale and groan at the number... Read More
Weight Loss |