I had lost nearly fifty pounds before anyone mentioned my weight loss. Then, all of the sudden, everybody noticed! As soon as they noticed the questions began. The most often asked: "How much weight have you lost?" People who I barely knew asked me this question as if it were their right to know. I was never sure of the motive for the question? Did they want to celebrate my weight loss? Did they want to gasp knowing just how fat I was?
How much weight have I lost? I have shared the answer with very few people ? it's nobody's business. I know many weight loss patients who are proud of this number and I admire them. I wish I had more confidence in myself. But truthfully, I'm embarrassed by how fat I was and how much weight I had to lose.
These days when I'm asked this question, with a curious tilt of my head I ask back, "Why do you want to know that?" Never has anyone answered my question with a valid response. This data, the number on a scale, means nothing to anyone but me. I don't care to give someone an opportunity to marvel at just how huge I must have been that I could lose that much weight.
Most of the time when I ask in return, "Why do you want to know?" the busybody retreats. In general, we know when we've crossed the line ? sometimes it just takes a gentle reminder. If, however, they persist, I say I prefer not to share that information. Only on one occasion has a nosy person continued to pester me, at which time I said I wouldn't answer a rude question.
I admire the courageous patients who openly and proudly answer this question. Patients who are comfortable sharing this number must by all means include others in their weight loss celebration. We are all different and whether our approach private or public we have only have to answer to ourselves.
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.
Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially... Read More
Yes Virginia, the fail-safe weight loss formula exists.It's so simple,... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
No doubt about it, when we feel stressed we want... Read More
In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More
Want an after dinner snack? Jealously watching your family consume... Read More
Do you tend to find your weight increases when you... Read More
Obesity is a disease that is not caused by a... Read More
A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now... Read More
What is the best form of physical activity?The best form... Read More
"Unless that apple tastes like the best apple you've ever... Read More
With tons of information out there on "Fat Acceptance" does... Read More
How did a thin person like me become overweight? My... Read More
You can overcome the desires of your sweet-tooth by incorporating... Read More
These days, most everyone has heard of low carb diets... Read More
Weight loss information is often confusing and misleading. The more... Read More
AND SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. The secret is simple... Read More
In December 2003, the FDA incorporated an ephedra ban making... Read More
There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan... Read More
There are numerous ways to make a bad weight loss... Read More
Chant the following each day, several times. They are mantras... Read More
The world today has more obese and overweight people than... Read More
For those of you who aren't familiar with ephedra let... Read More
At the beginning of December, WeightWatchers.com announced the release of... Read More
"Life is like a box of chocolates," drawled Forrest Gump.Metaphors... Read More
Telling yourself you have to "struggle with this weight issue... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
It seems there are two schools of behavior patients follow... Read More
My first article provided steps for fast healthy weight loss.... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
Don't get discouraged. I, too, have found myself in this... Read More
Gastric bypass surgeries are temporary physical fixes to a long... Read More
We have plans for everything these days. That is how... Read More
More and more people are starting to recognize that they... Read More
Losing weight and going on a diet can be quite... Read More
There are tons of fad diets and weight loss schemes... Read More
According to the American Obesity Association, an astounding 64.5 percent... Read More
Activity means both mental and physical activity.Mental activity is similar... Read More
A distorted body image is one of the symptoms that... Read More
Did you know that being successful with losing weight starts... Read More
It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More
The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More
Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict? Let's conquer these cravings... Read More
Many individuals these days, male or female, young or old,... Read More
If only we could solve this question, the world (for... Read More
Yes, you must be aware of the following 7 points... Read More
Have you ever wondered how actors stay in such great... Read More
If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More
Maybe you've heard about body dysmorphia ? it's a mental... Read More
"Help, none of this mainstream stuff works!"There is a specific... Read More
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing... Read More
If you are a mom at home on a diet,... Read More
You don't realize it, but in the next few minutes... Read More
Are you one of the many people who feel frustrated... Read More
Have you heard about it lately? Everywhere you look, women... Read More
For the past 20 years, the American public has been... Read More
Even if you're not overweight, you still could have a... Read More
When considering that pathological eating disorders and their related diseases... Read More
Do You Sometimes Eat Because You're Afraid You'll "Miss Out"... Read More
Axiom Number One - Nourish your body.Probably the most important... Read More
Many of us have tried losing weight in the past... Read More
Is this even possible?Well hold on to your seat because... Read More
How much will power does it take in order to... Read More
Body temperature is the result of your body generating and... Read More
Do you have a big event coming up? Perhaps you... Read More
Liposuction works best with people who are a normal weight... Read More
Weight Loss |