To all veterans...

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

Just to read on here that someone who has faced obesity would look at another person in a judgmental way makes my heart sink. Did you not suffer enough at the remarks and looks and lack of compassion when you were one of those people who you judge?...I feel like Laura....You can tell when people are suffering but it is not my business to point it out or to make a suggestion as to what they should do because I think it is right.....

I am a completely different person then what I was before the surgery, I think it is because I almost died and very few that I called my friends were there for me or my family..I have no time for those ones anymore... I don't spend my time with people who don't care or didn't care...

I will never look at myself as better then anyone else because I know that what goes around comes around and just when you think you are better then someone else the scales shift...It always happens....I would love a world where we excepted each other no matter who we are, how we look, what color we are or how poor we are...I know that will never happen...but I can dream can't I..

I never want anyone to feel the pain I felt when I was being persecuted because of my size....I will never allow myself to lax into a self confidence that gives me the entitlement of judging anyone...

That is how I feel about it !

[Fiddleman 4,376]

17 months out. Lost 180 lb by month 7. I feel great and have spent the last 9 months or so getting athlete fit. Love it! It has changed my whole approach to exercise and I hope others have the joy of getting more active. I do notice obese people. My wife and I often think we should talk to these people about sleeve, but have not actually followed through. I have the same friends, but have made a lot of new ones through my cross fit box. It brings me joy to socialize with others who are athletic where I would not have had the courage to do this before. So I had a situation on the airplane a couple weeks ago where I was in middle and 450 lb was on one side of me. He made it seriously uncomfortable from being squished the whole flight. However, I did not say anything for 2 reasons. 1. I did not want to embarrass him and 2, I remember where I had come from. While I was never as large as this person, I was quite large on the plane. And probably squished my fair share of people. Just my two cents.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Fiddleman

[Ballermom 803]

10 months out 93lbs down. I get mixed things said about me especially at work. Some skinny folks have said that I lost too much work. But others have been first to notice.

I don't look down on over weight people. I have compassion! I know without the Sleeve I would be heavier by now. And lots of aches and pain. More and more I'm more appreciative of this surgery. I have a ways to before I hit goal but I'm on my way.