When the lights go out

[Ceradad 10]

Ok, this isn't necessarily a rant or a rave, but I just need to get this out before it becomes one.

Not too much can annoy me more than when someone comes up to me and says that I look so much better. That isn't the problem. The problem comes when they ask how I have been able to lose the weight I have. I hate it when I answer that I had the lapband last August and I can just see them click off the lights in their heads. They are no longer listening and don't ever hear about all the hard work I've put in in the gym over the past 10 mos.

I am not one to shy away and cop out saying I am exercising and watching what I eat. (Not to put down those that do, just saying I don't). While I do, for the most part watch what I eat and lord knows I exercise ALOT, I believe in trying to educate the masses on how well this tool can and will work for you by using it properly. However, more than a few people hear the words "Lapband" or "gastric", they just shut down there listening nodes in their minds and assume I took "the easy way out".

They don't listen to how in the past 10 mos, I've probably spent more time in the gym than they have in the past 5 yrs. Or, how I've worked my ass off (literally :thumbup:) by doing HOURS and HOURS of cardio. Or, how I have only ran in one 5k in my previous 37 yrs and am about to run in my 5th one this summer. Or, how in the past 10 mos I've cut my body fat % in half from 31% to 15% in that time period due to all that hard work. That is something you can't do simply by not eating as much food.

I have no problem educating people. I feel it is my duty to make people understand that obesity is a huge problem and that there are tools that can help out with it. Like a pacemaker does for a heart patient.

I just hate it when people refuse to be educated. And, I'm a big enough man (not so much as before:biggrin:) to admit that I held the same beliefs that it is the "easy way out" before becoming educated. I just thank God for letting my blinders and my ear muffs drop away and let me finally get the help I needed.

Ok, this turned out a little more than anticipated. I'm done for now. But, I reserve the right to come back and vent some more later on.:biggrin2:

[sistasassy 6]

Awesome awesome awesome words!

I, too, have seen the switch flip in people's eyes when I talk about the fact that I am going to get banded. They do not understand the road ahead of me. They think the weight is going to melt off by magic. They do not realize that I am still going to have to deal with pain in my ankles as I begin my walking routine, or that I will still have cravings (head hunger) to overcome, or that I will possibly have limits and no longer be able to handle a few of the foods that I love, or that I will have to be in and out of the doctors office for fills (and maybe unfills), or deal with being "stuck" or "sliming" or "pbing".

I have just basically quit telling people unless they ask, which means that someone gossip has passed the word along.

[juliegeraci 7]

You are doing great. I totally understand where you are coming from. My family thought I could do it on Weight Watchers without the right restriction. Talk about starving! Good luck with the rest of your weight loss. You can do it!

[BJean 16]

This is exactly why I haven't told anyone but some, not all, family members and a couple of friends.

Everyone sees articles and ads for WTS and lately a lot about the band. People have preconceived ideas about what it all means. The most important thing they think is that it is a revision that will keep us from getting hungry and it will keep us from eating the wrong foods.

That's understandable. Many of us thought the LB would do just that. Even though we were told that it is a tool, just a tool, not a miracle, it has taken a surprising amount of work. We have to really work at not eating the wrong things. We have to work at keeping exercise in our daily routine. We have to do almost as much to lose the weight as we did before WLS.

But you'd never convince them of that so we really shouldn't be surprised that their eyes glaze over and they lose interest when we don't respond, "Jenny Craig" or "Weight Watchers."