Re: When did you first realize you were fat?

[Guest guest]

I've always been fat my entire life. Never a lean moment.

I don't remember who first told me I was overweight (fat,

chubby, whatever) but I remember having that " knowledge "

that I was different and bigger than everyone else for as

long as I can remember.

Before I even went into preschool, I remember kids calling

to me " fatty fatty 2 by 4, couldn't fit through the bathroom

door " . I remember being with my Mom on the first day of

school and saying, " what if all the kids make fun of me

because I'm fat " and she said, " they won't. " But they did.

Anyway, being fat is the only thing I've ever known and I'm

so curious to find out what it's going to be like to be one

of those " straight up and down people " instead of one of

those " round people " . LOL My size and people's reactions

to me because of it have colored virtually (dare I say

literally?) every aspect of my life.

I'm reminded of that poem " Alone " by Edgar Allan Poe

that starts out,

" From childhood's hour

I have not been as other's were

I have not seen as other saw... "

-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA)

BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001

self-pay

5'5 " / 348 pounds / 33 years old

Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts

Have lost 63 pounds since surgery!

Total of 72 pounds gone forEVER!

http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/

> Dear All,

> I posted this earlier today on OSSG - and there has been a

> tremendous response! We all have a story, and many of us feel

better

> sharing them. So I've decided to repost here.

>

> Dear All,

> Sometimes we argue, and get hung up on differences, but the

real

> reason we're all here is because we're all overweight and are

looking

> at surgical options.

> In an effort to foster further understanding, I have a

question

> to ask: at what point did you realize that you were fat, and it

> wasn't just going to go away? Example: For years as the weight

crept

> up, I made many excuses, " I'm big boned " , " I'm actually just very

> muscular " , " I have 'thick skin' " , " It's 'baby-fat' from my

> pregnancy " , etc... Yet I never would diet. I realize now that I

was

> afraid I'd fail, and then I'd have to admit that I was fat, and I

was

> going to stay that way.

> Then one morning I woke up very upset, because during the

night

> I'd had a dream, and in that dream I was fat. Before, in my dreams

I

> was still a thinner, energetic me, like in my teens. But that

> morning I woke up and knew I'd never escape from being fat. Thus

> started the diets, failures, tears, depression. That morning was

> probably 15 years ago, but now there is hope on the horizon, and

> thanks to you all, I've stopped wishing I'd lose weight, and am

doing

> something about it. Would anyone else like to share a story?

>

> BMI 60

[Guest guest]

I've always been fat my entire life. Never a lean moment.

I don't remember who first told me I was overweight (fat,

chubby, whatever) but I remember having that " knowledge "

that I was different and bigger than everyone else for as

long as I can remember.

Before I even went into preschool, I remember kids calling

to me " fatty fatty 2 by 4, couldn't fit through the bathroom

door " . I remember being with my Mom on the first day of

school and saying, " what if all the kids make fun of me

because I'm fat " and she said, " they won't. " But they did.

Anyway, being fat is the only thing I've ever known and I'm

so curious to find out what it's going to be like to be one

of those " straight up and down people " instead of one of

those " round people " . LOL My size and people's reactions

to me because of it have colored virtually (dare I say

literally?) every aspect of my life.

I'm reminded of that poem " Alone " by Edgar Allan Poe

that starts out,

" From childhood's hour

I have not been as other's were

I have not seen as other saw... "

-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA)

BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001

self-pay

5'5 " / 348 pounds / 33 years old

Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts

Have lost 63 pounds since surgery!

Total of 72 pounds gone forEVER!

http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/

> Dear All,

> I posted this earlier today on OSSG - and there has been a

> tremendous response! We all have a story, and many of us feel

better

> sharing them. So I've decided to repost here.

>

> Dear All,

> Sometimes we argue, and get hung up on differences, but the

real

> reason we're all here is because we're all overweight and are

looking

> at surgical options.

> In an effort to foster further understanding, I have a

question

> to ask: at what point did you realize that you were fat, and it

> wasn't just going to go away? Example: For years as the weight

crept

> up, I made many excuses, " I'm big boned " , " I'm actually just very

> muscular " , " I have 'thick skin' " , " It's 'baby-fat' from my

> pregnancy " , etc... Yet I never would diet. I realize now that I

was

> afraid I'd fail, and then I'd have to admit that I was fat, and I

was

> going to stay that way.

> Then one morning I woke up very upset, because during the

night

> I'd had a dream, and in that dream I was fat. Before, in my dreams

I

> was still a thinner, energetic me, like in my teens. But that

> morning I woke up and knew I'd never escape from being fat. Thus

> started the diets, failures, tears, depression. That morning was

> probably 15 years ago, but now there is hope on the horizon, and

> thanks to you all, I've stopped wishing I'd lose weight, and am

doing

> something about it. Would anyone else like to share a story?

>

> BMI 60

[Guest guest]

I've always been fat my entire life. Never a lean moment.

I don't remember who first told me I was overweight (fat,

chubby, whatever) but I remember having that " knowledge "

that I was different and bigger than everyone else for as

long as I can remember.

Before I even went into preschool, I remember kids calling

to me " fatty fatty 2 by 4, couldn't fit through the bathroom

door " . I remember being with my Mom on the first day of

school and saying, " what if all the kids make fun of me

because I'm fat " and she said, " they won't. " But they did.

Anyway, being fat is the only thing I've ever known and I'm

so curious to find out what it's going to be like to be one

of those " straight up and down people " instead of one of

those " round people " . LOL My size and people's reactions

to me because of it have colored virtually (dare I say

literally?) every aspect of my life.

I'm reminded of that poem " Alone " by Edgar Allan Poe

that starts out,

" From childhood's hour

I have not been as other's were

I have not seen as other saw... "

-Sherry (Lake Marcel, WA)

BPD/DS Feb. 2, 2001

self-pay

5'5 " / 348 pounds / 33 years old

Lost 9 pounds in pre-op weight loss efforts

Have lost 63 pounds since surgery!

Total of 72 pounds gone forEVER!

http://www.fluffynet.com/wls/

> Dear All,

> I posted this earlier today on OSSG - and there has been a

> tremendous response! We all have a story, and many of us feel

better

> sharing them. So I've decided to repost here.

>

> Dear All,

> Sometimes we argue, and get hung up on differences, but the

real

> reason we're all here is because we're all overweight and are

looking

> at surgical options.

> In an effort to foster further understanding, I have a

question

> to ask: at what point did you realize that you were fat, and it

> wasn't just going to go away? Example: For years as the weight

crept

> up, I made many excuses, " I'm big boned " , " I'm actually just very

> muscular " , " I have 'thick skin' " , " It's 'baby-fat' from my

> pregnancy " , etc... Yet I never would diet. I realize now that I

was

> afraid I'd fail, and then I'd have to admit that I was fat, and I

was

> going to stay that way.

> Then one morning I woke up very upset, because during the

night

> I'd had a dream, and in that dream I was fat. Before, in my dreams

I

> was still a thinner, energetic me, like in my teens. But that

> morning I woke up and knew I'd never escape from being fat. Thus

> started the diets, failures, tears, depression. That morning was

> probably 15 years ago, but now there is hope on the horizon, and

> thanks to you all, I've stopped wishing I'd lose weight, and am

doing

> something about it. Would anyone else like to share a story?

>

> BMI 60

[Guest guest]

I never really thought about it.. I just remember choosing my " first

day of school dress " for the first grade from the teen section instead

of the kid's section, & thinking that it was ugly. I was lucky in

that my personality must have made up for my weight, because I was

never teased about my weight until I was in the 3rd or 4th grade, and

I didn't understand how that kid could be making fun of me because HE

was a FAT BOY! In fact, most of my harrassment came from about 5 or 6

morbidly obese boys.. guess it was the old deal of making themselves

feel better by making fun of me, but those boys

were the majority of the bane of my childhood. I always knew I was

different, bigger.. but most of the kids I knew in grade school were

not cruel & mean. Only strangers were cruel to me most of my

childhood.. adulthood, too, actually. But I think I'm unusually

lucky. I knew I was fat, but didn't have to deal with it (except for

the once-yearly public weigh-in in the gym...).

Guess I was lucky...

Hugs,

Liane

[Guest guest]

I never really thought about it.. I just remember choosing my " first

day of school dress " for the first grade from the teen section instead

of the kid's section, & thinking that it was ugly. I was lucky in

that my personality must have made up for my weight, because I was

never teased about my weight until I was in the 3rd or 4th grade, and

I didn't understand how that kid could be making fun of me because HE

was a FAT BOY! In fact, most of my harrassment came from about 5 or 6

morbidly obese boys.. guess it was the old deal of making themselves

feel better by making fun of me, but those boys

were the majority of the bane of my childhood. I always knew I was

different, bigger.. but most of the kids I knew in grade school were

not cruel & mean. Only strangers were cruel to me most of my

childhood.. adulthood, too, actually. But I think I'm unusually

lucky. I knew I was fat, but didn't have to deal with it (except for

the once-yearly public weigh-in in the gym...).

Guess I was lucky...

Hugs,

Liane

[Guest guest]

at what point did you realize that you were

> fat, and it

> wasn't just going to go away?

Good question, . The first time it hit me that

I was fat was when I was in the fourth grade at

school. The nurse was checking our class's heights

and weights. Cheerful, happy stepped up and the

scale and the nurse moved that big weight over a notch

and said " My, 140 lbs. You're the biggest in your

class! " This is the first time I ever remember being

embarrassed and ashamed of myself....as if pigeon toes

and corrective shoes weren't enough! Funny, when I

think about it, this is the year I begged my Mom not

to make me wear the corrective shoes any more. A new

pair of penny loafers to replace the oxfords and I was

back on top of the world! Years of up and down yo yo

dieting, but I still managed to function fairly

normally.

The past two years have been the worse. Hubby injured

and out of work, new principal at school where I'm the

secretary, with a whole different set of values than

me... and I just ate right through the stress. The

first snow storm of this winter though, it hit me like

a ton of bricks. I was deathly afraid of falling and

breaking a bone. The slightest incline or crack in

the sidewalk was enough to make me lose my balance,

let alone ice and snow. I walk down the steps (only

use them when I absolutly have to) backwards, one foot

at a time and holding on for dear life. My knee feels

like it is ready to collapse at any time. I've slept

in a recliner in the living room for the past two

years and realized the reason why is because when I

lay down, I feel like I'm suffocating. (Good news is,

I'll have no problems adjusting to sleeping in a

recliner after surgery!)

Boy, I could go on and on, as I guess we all could. I

realized my thoughts were no longer of old age, but of

an early death. Spoke to my Pastor about my wishes

for my funeral service....started investing in a 403B

plan, not thinking about retirement, but thinking

about college for my children if I die. Thanks to

learning about the possibility of having this surgery,

my thoughts are already changing. I think maybe I'd

like to travel after I retire and the children are

grown...maybe take the future grandchildren to Disney

World one day....!

=====

Age 41

BMI 61

Consult 6/7/01

Dr. Herron

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

at what point did you realize that you were

> fat, and it

> wasn't just going to go away?

Good question, . The first time it hit me that

I was fat was when I was in the fourth grade at

school. The nurse was checking our class's heights

and weights. Cheerful, happy stepped up and the

scale and the nurse moved that big weight over a notch

and said " My, 140 lbs. You're the biggest in your

class! " This is the first time I ever remember being

embarrassed and ashamed of myself....as if pigeon toes

and corrective shoes weren't enough! Funny, when I

think about it, this is the year I begged my Mom not

to make me wear the corrective shoes any more. A new

pair of penny loafers to replace the oxfords and I was

back on top of the world! Years of up and down yo yo

dieting, but I still managed to function fairly

normally.

The past two years have been the worse. Hubby injured

and out of work, new principal at school where I'm the

secretary, with a whole different set of values than

me... and I just ate right through the stress. The

first snow storm of this winter though, it hit me like

a ton of bricks. I was deathly afraid of falling and

breaking a bone. The slightest incline or crack in

the sidewalk was enough to make me lose my balance,

let alone ice and snow. I walk down the steps (only

use them when I absolutly have to) backwards, one foot

at a time and holding on for dear life. My knee feels

like it is ready to collapse at any time. I've slept

in a recliner in the living room for the past two

years and realized the reason why is because when I

lay down, I feel like I'm suffocating. (Good news is,

I'll have no problems adjusting to sleeping in a

recliner after surgery!)

Boy, I could go on and on, as I guess we all could. I

realized my thoughts were no longer of old age, but of

an early death. Spoke to my Pastor about my wishes

for my funeral service....started investing in a 403B

plan, not thinking about retirement, but thinking

about college for my children if I die. Thanks to

learning about the possibility of having this surgery,

my thoughts are already changing. I think maybe I'd

like to travel after I retire and the children are

grown...maybe take the future grandchildren to Disney

World one day....!

=====

Age 41

BMI 61

Consult 6/7/01

Dr. Herron

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

at what point did you realize that you were

> fat, and it

> wasn't just going to go away?

Good question, . The first time it hit me that

I was fat was when I was in the fourth grade at

school. The nurse was checking our class's heights

and weights. Cheerful, happy stepped up and the

scale and the nurse moved that big weight over a notch

and said " My, 140 lbs. You're the biggest in your

class! " This is the first time I ever remember being

embarrassed and ashamed of myself....as if pigeon toes

and corrective shoes weren't enough! Funny, when I

think about it, this is the year I begged my Mom not

to make me wear the corrective shoes any more. A new

pair of penny loafers to replace the oxfords and I was

back on top of the world! Years of up and down yo yo

dieting, but I still managed to function fairly

normally.

The past two years have been the worse. Hubby injured

and out of work, new principal at school where I'm the

secretary, with a whole different set of values than

me... and I just ate right through the stress. The

first snow storm of this winter though, it hit me like

a ton of bricks. I was deathly afraid of falling and

breaking a bone. The slightest incline or crack in

the sidewalk was enough to make me lose my balance,

let alone ice and snow. I walk down the steps (only

use them when I absolutly have to) backwards, one foot

at a time and holding on for dear life. My knee feels

like it is ready to collapse at any time. I've slept

in a recliner in the living room for the past two

years and realized the reason why is because when I

lay down, I feel like I'm suffocating. (Good news is,

I'll have no problems adjusting to sleeping in a

recliner after surgery!)

Boy, I could go on and on, as I guess we all could. I

realized my thoughts were no longer of old age, but of

an early death. Spoke to my Pastor about my wishes

for my funeral service....started investing in a 403B

plan, not thinking about retirement, but thinking

about college for my children if I die. Thanks to

learning about the possibility of having this surgery,

my thoughts are already changing. I think maybe I'd

like to travel after I retire and the children are

grown...maybe take the future grandchildren to Disney

World one day....!

=====

Age 41

BMI 61

Consult 6/7/01

Dr. Herron

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Well, I first became obese in my mid twenties. I was quite healthy though and

the fat didn't interfere with my daily life. I also didn't have a self

perception of

myself as GROSSLY OBESE, even though I was.

My first real look at myself as a morbidly obese person and the health risks

I was up against was this past year. I gained weight after the births of

both of my kids, but much more so with my son (born in '99). I was tipping

the scales at 320 (at 5'9 " ) and realized that something MUST be done. I had

lost weight before (at least 70 lbs) but always had difficulty KEEPING it

off. I had yo-yod from thin, to svelte, to voluptuous, to quite chubby and

beyond so many times, but this was when it really hit me as a serious health

problem that was chronic and needed to be dealt with drastically.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

Well, I first became obese in my mid twenties. I was quite healthy though and

the fat didn't interfere with my daily life. I also didn't have a self

perception of

myself as GROSSLY OBESE, even though I was.

My first real look at myself as a morbidly obese person and the health risks

I was up against was this past year. I gained weight after the births of

both of my kids, but much more so with my son (born in '99). I was tipping

the scales at 320 (at 5'9 " ) and realized that something MUST be done. I had

lost weight before (at least 70 lbs) but always had difficulty KEEPING it

off. I had yo-yod from thin, to svelte, to voluptuous, to quite chubby and

beyond so many times, but this was when it really hit me as a serious health

problem that was chronic and needed to be dealt with drastically.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

Well, I first became obese in my mid twenties. I was quite healthy though and

the fat didn't interfere with my daily life. I also didn't have a self

perception of

myself as GROSSLY OBESE, even though I was.

My first real look at myself as a morbidly obese person and the health risks

I was up against was this past year. I gained weight after the births of

both of my kids, but much more so with my son (born in '99). I was tipping

the scales at 320 (at 5'9 " ) and realized that something MUST be done. I had

lost weight before (at least 70 lbs) but always had difficulty KEEPING it

off. I had yo-yod from thin, to svelte, to voluptuous, to quite chubby and

beyond so many times, but this was when it really hit me as a serious health

problem that was chronic and needed to be dealt with drastically.

All the best,

[Guest guest]

All pictures of me down to being an infant show me as being fat.

I don't remember this but a very good friend of mine tells me of when

we first met.

I was 4 and he was 3 (this guy has a phenomnial memory). He tells me

he came up to me and said " you're fat " and then, I'm told, I punched

him and made him cry.

I am 45 now so except for a starvation diet at about 25 years old

when I managed to get down to 250# for about 6 months, I don't ever

remember being " not fat " .

Blain

[Guest guest]

All pictures of me down to being an infant show me as being fat.

I don't remember this but a very good friend of mine tells me of when

we first met.

I was 4 and he was 3 (this guy has a phenomnial memory). He tells me

he came up to me and said " you're fat " and then, I'm told, I punched

him and made him cry.

I am 45 now so except for a starvation diet at about 25 years old

when I managed to get down to 250# for about 6 months, I don't ever

remember being " not fat " .

Blain

[Guest guest]

All pictures of me down to being an infant show me as being fat.

I don't remember this but a very good friend of mine tells me of when

we first met.

I was 4 and he was 3 (this guy has a phenomnial memory). He tells me

he came up to me and said " you're fat " and then, I'm told, I punched

him and made him cry.

I am 45 now so except for a starvation diet at about 25 years old

when I managed to get down to 250# for about 6 months, I don't ever

remember being " not fat " .

Blain

[Guest guest]

Good question!

I remember to things one when I was about 4 years old. I wanted to

be a dancer or gymnast you know like most little girls. I wore my red

leatord for an entire summer and danced around pretending to be a

gymnast getting ready for my lessons at the end of the summer.Finally

it was time for the lessons. The coach of the High school was in

charge and was noted at being an excellent coach. All of us little

girls were lined up waiting for our assignments (which part of they

floor we would go to trampoline, mats, horse ).Well, she never called

me...I mean I was there all alone waiting for an assignment and she

just ignored me. I ran home crying so my mom calls her to find out

what happened and she said that " I was entirely too big to be a

gymnast(which I was, but I was only 4 YEARS old I don't think I had

any career plans at that point) Anyway, my mom actually told me what

she said and from that point on I knew I wasn't like the other kids.

Then in about fifth grade my mom says " guess what you and I are going

out tonight, just the two of us " . Let me tell you I was one of six

children and NEVER did we receive special time. I was so

excited " Where we going? " my mom wouldn't tell me, period. Until we

got in the car and we were on our way to a Weight Watchers meating. I

was so, so embarrassed, angry, and so hurt. I couldn't even tell her

actually I never told her. I thought I must be so fat that I embarass

her that's why she has brought me here. Oh man it was terrible.

Brigid

[Guest guest]

Aww Brigid, my heart goes out to you and all kids who had to endure

this type of thing happening. Hard to blame our parents, as they

were just trying to do what was best, but it seems they always

forget kids are people too and their memories are long and they are

very impressionalble. Amazing the things we remember.

>

> Good question!

> I remember to things one when I was about 4 years old. I wanted

to

> be a dancer or gymnast you know like most little girls. I wore my

red

> leatord for an entire summer and danced around pretending to be a

> gymnast getting ready for my lessons at the end of the

summer.Finally

> it was time for the lessons. The coach of the High school was in

> charge and was noted at being an excellent coach. All of us little

> girls were lined up waiting for our assignments (which part of they

> floor we would go to trampoline, mats, horse ).Well, she never

called

> me...I mean I was there all alone waiting for an assignment and

she

> just ignored me. I ran home crying so my mom calls her to find out

> what happened and she said that " I was entirely too big to be a

> gymnast(which I was, but I was only 4 YEARS old I don't think I had

> any career plans at that point) Anyway, my mom actually told me

what

> she said and from that point on I knew I wasn't like the other kids.

> Then in about fifth grade my mom says " guess what you and I are

going

> out tonight, just the two of us " . Let me tell you I was one of six

> children and NEVER did we receive special time. I was so

> excited " Where we going? " my mom wouldn't tell me, period. Until we

> got in the car and we were on our way to a Weight Watchers meating.

I

> was so, so embarrassed, angry, and so hurt. I couldn't even tell

her

> actually I never told her. I thought I must be so fat that I

embarass

> her that's why she has brought me here. Oh man it was terrible.

>

> Brigid

[Guest guest]

Aww Brigid, my heart goes out to you and all kids who had to endure

this type of thing happening. Hard to blame our parents, as they

were just trying to do what was best, but it seems they always

forget kids are people too and their memories are long and they are

very impressionalble. Amazing the things we remember.

>

> Good question!

> I remember to things one when I was about 4 years old. I wanted

to

> be a dancer or gymnast you know like most little girls. I wore my

red

> leatord for an entire summer and danced around pretending to be a

> gymnast getting ready for my lessons at the end of the

summer.Finally

> it was time for the lessons. The coach of the High school was in

> charge and was noted at being an excellent coach. All of us little

> girls were lined up waiting for our assignments (which part of they

> floor we would go to trampoline, mats, horse ).Well, she never

called

> me...I mean I was there all alone waiting for an assignment and

she

> just ignored me. I ran home crying so my mom calls her to find out

> what happened and she said that " I was entirely too big to be a

> gymnast(which I was, but I was only 4 YEARS old I don't think I had

> any career plans at that point) Anyway, my mom actually told me

what

> she said and from that point on I knew I wasn't like the other kids.

> Then in about fifth grade my mom says " guess what you and I are

going

> out tonight, just the two of us " . Let me tell you I was one of six

> children and NEVER did we receive special time. I was so

> excited " Where we going? " my mom wouldn't tell me, period. Until we

> got in the car and we were on our way to a Weight Watchers meating.

I

> was so, so embarrassed, angry, and so hurt. I couldn't even tell

her

> actually I never told her. I thought I must be so fat that I

embarass

> her that's why she has brought me here. Oh man it was terrible.

>

> Brigid

[Guest guest]

It's funny the flood of memories that come back to you

when you asked that question (at what point did you

realize you were fat). I remember sitting on my front

porch steps as a child (maybe 8years old) with my

friend and I heard someone say, " Angel if you just

stay the same weight you are now, when you're 16

you'll be just right " Until that point I had no idea

there was anything wrong with me! Then sometime later

I can remember looking in the mirror (still the same

age) and thinking to myself " I know I'm gonna be

pretty when I grow up because I can't get any uglier "

It's amazing the damage a " well meaning " remark can

do! From that time to this day I struggle with self

esteem issues. It's a bit better today than when I was

younger, I think I reflect the mentality that one

middle aged lady in the movie " Fried Green Tomatoes "

has. After 2 young " pretty " things rudely hurry to

take her spot in a parking lot and then laugh at her,

she snaps from the abuse she's suffered all her life

and rams their car. When they look dumbfounded that

she did that, she calmly and smugly looks at them and

says " Yeah? Well I'm older and have more insurance! "

And I guess that's more the way I feel today whenever

I encounter rudeness about my weight!

Well insured, Angel

--- julieann85234@... wrote:

> I can remember knowing that I was fat at age 6. Just

> like my older

> sister I was signed up for the sweet 6 contest. I

> can remember knowing

> that I would not win because I was fat. Although I

> knew that I was

> pretty I knew that I would not win. After that I

> think I just rebelled

> against anything being wrong with being fat. I

> resisted all attempts

> by my mother to diet and exercise.... I lived with

> being fat so

> long...that I have no problem saying it. It is still

> harder for me to

> admit I am obese or worse yet morbidly obese....

>

> Ann

>

> (sorry about the poor spelling!)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > Dear All,

> > I posted this earlier today on OSSG - and

> there has been a

> > tremendous response! We all have a story, and

> many of us feel

> better

> > sharing them. So I've decided to repost here.

> >

> > Dear All,

> > Sometimes we argue, and get hung up on

> differences, but the

> real

> > reason we're all here is because we're all

> overweight and are

> looking

> > at surgical options.

> > In an effort to foster further understanding,

> I have a question

> > to ask: at what point did you realize that you

> were fat, and it

> > wasn't just going to go away? Example: For years

> as the weight

> crept

> > up, I made many excuses, " I'm big boned " , " I'm

> actually just very

> > muscular " , " I have 'thick skin' " , " It's 'baby-fat'

> from my

> > pregnancy " , etc... Yet I never would diet. I

> realize now that I

> was

> > afraid I'd fail, and then I'd have to admit that I

> was fat, and I

> was

> > going to stay that way.

> > Then one morning I woke up very upset,

> because during the night

> > I'd had a dream, and in that dream I was fat.

> Before, in my dreams

> I

> > was still a thinner, energetic me, like in my

> teens. But that

> > morning I woke up and knew I'd never escape from

> being fat. Thus

> > started the diets, failures, tears, depression.

> That morning was

> > probably 15 years ago, but now there is hope on

> the horizon, and

> > thanks to you all, I've stopped wishing I'd lose

> weight, and am

> doing

> > something about it. Would anyone else like to

> share a story?

> >

> > BMI 60

>

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

It's funny the flood of memories that come back to you

when you asked that question (at what point did you

realize you were fat). I remember sitting on my front

porch steps as a child (maybe 8years old) with my

friend and I heard someone say, " Angel if you just

stay the same weight you are now, when you're 16

you'll be just right " Until that point I had no idea

there was anything wrong with me! Then sometime later

I can remember looking in the mirror (still the same

age) and thinking to myself " I know I'm gonna be

pretty when I grow up because I can't get any uglier "

It's amazing the damage a " well meaning " remark can

do! From that time to this day I struggle with self

esteem issues. It's a bit better today than when I was

younger, I think I reflect the mentality that one

middle aged lady in the movie " Fried Green Tomatoes "

has. After 2 young " pretty " things rudely hurry to

take her spot in a parking lot and then laugh at her,

she snaps from the abuse she's suffered all her life

and rams their car. When they look dumbfounded that

she did that, she calmly and smugly looks at them and

says " Yeah? Well I'm older and have more insurance! "

And I guess that's more the way I feel today whenever

I encounter rudeness about my weight!

Well insured, Angel

--- julieann85234@... wrote:

> I can remember knowing that I was fat at age 6. Just

> like my older

> sister I was signed up for the sweet 6 contest. I

> can remember knowing

> that I would not win because I was fat. Although I

> knew that I was

> pretty I knew that I would not win. After that I

> think I just rebelled

> against anything being wrong with being fat. I

> resisted all attempts

> by my mother to diet and exercise.... I lived with

> being fat so

> long...that I have no problem saying it. It is still

> harder for me to

> admit I am obese or worse yet morbidly obese....

>

> Ann

>

> (sorry about the poor spelling!)

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > Dear All,

> > I posted this earlier today on OSSG - and

> there has been a

> > tremendous response! We all have a story, and

> many of us feel

> better

> > sharing them. So I've decided to repost here.

> >

> > Dear All,

> > Sometimes we argue, and get hung up on

> differences, but the

> real

> > reason we're all here is because we're all

> overweight and are

> looking

> > at surgical options.

> > In an effort to foster further understanding,

> I have a question

> > to ask: at what point did you realize that you

> were fat, and it

> > wasn't just going to go away? Example: For years

> as the weight

> crept

> > up, I made many excuses, " I'm big boned " , " I'm

> actually just very

> > muscular " , " I have 'thick skin' " , " It's 'baby-fat'

> from my

> > pregnancy " , etc... Yet I never would diet. I

> realize now that I

> was

> > afraid I'd fail, and then I'd have to admit that I

> was fat, and I

> was

> > going to stay that way.

> > Then one morning I woke up very upset,

> because during the night

> > I'd had a dream, and in that dream I was fat.

> Before, in my dreams

> I

> > was still a thinner, energetic me, like in my

> teens. But that

> > morning I woke up and knew I'd never escape from

> being fat. Thus

> > started the diets, failures, tears, depression.

> That morning was

> > probably 15 years ago, but now there is hope on

> the horizon, and

> > thanks to you all, I've stopped wishing I'd lose

> weight, and am

> doing

> > something about it. Would anyone else like to

> share a story?

> >

> > BMI 60

>

>

>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I realized I was overweight when I was about 5 years old. I had been

thin until I reached 4 years old and then I gained a lot of weight.

I have no idea why. I don't remember anyone making fun of me in

Kindergarten, but when I was 6, I was really chunky. In the 2nd

grade, I weighted 82 pounds. That's a lot of weight for a 7 year

old. I don't remember anyone making fun of me until I came to

California when I was 8 years old and in the 3rd grade, and then the

teasing never stopped.

My mom was very svelt and was always trying to get me to stop

eating. I was never full! My whole family used to make comments

about my weight.

I had gone on several diets, and then when I was 16 years old, I

decided I didn't want to be " fat " any longer. I just decided to quit

eating, well almost. I lost 60 pounds in just a matter of a couple

of months. I ate yogurt for lunch or a frozen fruit bar for lunch

and ate very little at dinner. Tons of hair fell out. But I still

felt fat, because the girls were still thinner than me in high

school. I could even wear normal sized clothes from the " junior-

sized " racks, but they were still a size 13.

10 years later, I reached the 200-range, and haven't seen below that

number since I was 26 years old.

After my mom died (I was 26 years old), my dad remarried. His wife

was petite, but kind of chunky. But in her eyes, someone that looked

like me was a giant. She kept telling my youngest daughter, " If you

don't quit eating, you're going to end up looking like your mother. "

She used to say that right in front of me. Gosh, how those words

hurt!

I recently had the DS surgery done, 7 weeks ago, and now I'm on my

way down the scale. I have a long ways to go (125 pounds more) but

those people will eat their words someday!

Debbie Jamil

Dr. Anthone

Surgery Date: March 7, 2001

Weight pre-op: 308

as of 4-23-01: 270

[Guest guest]

They will eat their words Debbie! Your doing great!

Brigid

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

Congrats on your surgery,and when you do lose all of the weight, do not give

the time of day to all of those who felt it was ok to ridicule you in front

of others. I am pre-op waiting for insurance approval for surgery with Dr.

Anthone as well. How long did it take for you from consultation to surgery?

Jenn

>From: djamil@...

>Reply-To: duodenalswitch

>To: duodenalswitch

>Subject: Re: When did you first realize you were fat?

>Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 15:21:23 -0000

>

>Hi everyone,

>

>I realized I was overweight when I was about 5 years old. I had been

>thin until I reached 4 years old and then I gained a lot of weight.

>I have no idea why. I don't remember anyone making fun of me in

>Kindergarten, but when I was 6, I was really chunky. In the 2nd

>grade, I weighted 82 pounds. That's a lot of weight for a 7 year

>old. I don't remember anyone making fun of me until I came to

>California when I was 8 years old and in the 3rd grade, and then the

>teasing never stopped.

>

>My mom was very svelt and was always trying to get me to stop

>eating. I was never full! My whole family used to make comments

>about my weight.

>

>I had gone on several diets, and then when I was 16 years old, I

>decided I didn't want to be " fat " any longer. I just decided to quit

>eating, well almost. I lost 60 pounds in just a matter of a couple

>of months. I ate yogurt for lunch or a frozen fruit bar for lunch

>and ate very little at dinner. Tons of hair fell out. But I still

>felt fat, because the girls were still thinner than me in high

>school. I could even wear normal sized clothes from the " junior-

>sized " racks, but they were still a size 13.

>

>10 years later, I reached the 200-range, and haven't seen below that

>number since I was 26 years old.

>

>After my mom died (I was 26 years old), my dad remarried. His wife

>was petite, but kind of chunky. But in her eyes, someone that looked

>like me was a giant. She kept telling my youngest daughter, " If you

>don't quit eating, you're going to end up looking like your mother. "

>She used to say that right in front of me. Gosh, how those words

>hurt!

>

>I recently had the DS surgery done, 7 weeks ago, and now I'm on my

>way down the scale. I have a long ways to go (125 pounds more) but

>those people will eat their words someday!

>

>Debbie Jamil

>Dr. Anthone

>Surgery Date: March 7, 2001

>Weight pre-op: 308

>as of 4-23-01: 270

>

>

>

>----------------------------------------------------------------------

>