Inspiration or Agitation

[newnatalie 20]

I have always been a leader. Growing up, I could get people to do what I would NEVER even try! Influence is an amazing that gift. If channeled correctly, it is powerful. Well as the pounds fall off, I am realizing that all my skinny friends seem a little scared! They claim I have inspired them to lose weight, but I think the thought of me being smaller than them is frightening! Now, in the back of my mind, I want to believe that I am an inspiration, but I must admit I am slightly agitated.

Let me explain … By no means do I think I have cornered the market on weight loss, but I have been the fattest one in my circle of friends FOREVER! Now, when I start losing weight everyone wants to get smaller! Are you really wanting to lose weight or can you simply not imagine me thinner than you? This is the questions I will not allow to part my lips! This would be rude, wouldn’t it?

So, today my agitation was challenged. My childhood friend calls to see how I am doing. Mind you, this is the same friend who claimed she would never speak to me again if I had weight loss surgery. I guess she got over it huh? Anyway, I explain I have lost 40 pounds in 6 weeks and can’t eat very much.

She has always been much smaller than me, but has recently gained some weight. Even at her heaviest, she has never been as big as I was. She goes on this tangent about how she needs to loose weight and can’t believe she is 241 pounds. I say “Girl. I am down to 242.” There is silence on the other end of the phone. I can hear her heart stop beating. She finally says “You and I weigh the same now?” I reply, “I guess so.” She frantically says, “Give me your doctor’s number. I gotta do something about this fat!”

Now, allow me to pause for a moment. I am not selfish. I don’t mind my friend getting healthy, but why does it have to be because you realized that you and I weigh the same? It scared the pooh out of her to realize that in a few days, we would switch roles. She would be the fat friend and I would be the “not so fat friend”! Needless to say, I was agitated!

Then, I calmed down and realized that part of why I had this surgery was to inspire others to take control of their health (and so I could wear a swimsuit in public). I was reminded of how I have always been able to motivate others to strive for greatness (or foolishness-depending on the occasion). This is no different. I gave my friend my doctor’s number and even offered to go with her to her first visit. My agitation had now turned into inspiration.

So to my friends I say, thank you for your support! I am elated that I could be the wind beneath your wings, the flame that ignites your fire, the catalyst for change you so badly needed.

I AM AN INSPIRATION!

[thinoneday 445]

Interesting post! I agree, the same thing happened at my work. . . I was the fattest overall person in the entire building at 350 lbs. . . i had the surgery and wham everyone wanted to lose weight too. . .some of course couldn't do it so they accused me of "cheating" and getting the surgery which makes everything so much easier. . . screw them is all i can say. . . at this time at 6' tall and 205 lbs with a body shaped like a body builder, I think i look pretty damn good. . .i'm a lean, mean, fighting machine. . . (with a lot of loose skin to swing around ) but hey I still look darn good in clothes!

Just flick it off and consider the sources. . . that should make you feel a whole lot better!

[Eureka-C 20]

Thnks. That inspired me as well. Great positive outlook.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

@ natalie, that was a very good post! Thank you for opening this up to us, because I think there may be a lot more like us out there. The initial desire to want to help, but aggravation toward those that scoffed the surgery and then to make an about face simply because they don't want to be "fatter".

Namaste!!

@ thin - I too am going through this. I'm losing weight very rapidly and I don't think there is one person that knows me now that hasn't commented. They've all been kind, but they also seem to pat their bellies and say - "yeah I need to lose a few myself". I know of a few gals here who are taking action, but I just encourage them. I of course know what the outcome will be, but I don't say anything. Only 3 people here know I'm even sleeved.

[coops 1,790]

Hey,

this struck a chord with me too... I have ALWAYS been the biggest in my circle of friends, at work and at home... now things are changing! A really good friend of mine has already started to diet and get fit! She 'reckons' she has lost 23lb since Oct... now this might sound really bad... but I think she is telling lil porkies (lies) because I am nearer her weight than she wants me to be... there is only one dress size between us now and I don't think she likes it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey ho... I don't give one to be honest, I suppose it is sort of a compliment... !!

[lisaenidok 2]

Know what you're talking about. The snotty gals at my last job...when they saw me loosing weight, they jumped into dieting. They would act huffy at lunch when I ate very little. One drinking diet shakes just glared at me at lunch times. Yeah I was having my lunch of 1.5 oz fish. Wooo! They acted like it was my fault that they chose to be on diets! Oh well. Bunch of shallow people anyway. Sure glad I don't have their shallow selves to be around anymore! On to better health!