For me speaking out about my weight loss is easy. I don't think twice about it. Some of the "vetts" who have had this surgery far longer than I taught me that speaking out and paying it forward is the best thing I can do. Because of them I've even gone as far as print up full color business cards as my "before" picture for moments just like the ones below. As soon as I can snap a good picture of them I'll post them on my Facebook Fan Page for you to see.
My first trip yesterday was to the insurance company to give them a copy of the title for my new car so I could head to DMV and get it registered. I love my insurance company. They are sweet, always remember who I am and probably the chattiest bunch of kind women I have ever met. One of them in particular always remembers who I am and it never fails to make me feel special. She always remembers who I was until yesterday that is. I haven't seen them since August, and even then I think she had off for the day, so I haven't seen her in probably a year. Yesterday she had a full conversation with me and had no clue who I was until she heard my name and her jaw dropped to the floor. I spent the next half hour with some of the women from the insurance company crowded around to hear all about my surgery and I even passed on my "before and during" card. I don't know that I made a difference with any of them per say but even if in passing they mention it to a friend who contemplates it or what I had to say simply lowered the stigma of WLS in general than I did my job. Not to mention the flattery that comes along with someone being so shocked to see the new you. I absolutely love it and I'm finally starting to get used to the compliments.
Next, I stopped by my dads house to grab him so he could keep me company on my all day adventure and while I was there he had an old family friend there who hasn't seen me in ages although has been following my updates on Facebook. The look on her face when I walked in is what I live for! I wanted to squeeze her and never let go. My favorite comment? "You look like you're already at 150lbs" Bless her heart! Thank you "S" for making my day!
My last and final trip of amazement believe it or not was the Department of Motor Vehicles. They wanted to confiscate my license because I was over due for a new picture! This of course led to a whole conversation with the picture ladies who I also ended up passing my card onto. I love when I leave a place such as a store or office and as I'm leaving, after the conversation of my weightloss is over I still here on the way out "Keep it up girl!" and "Congratulations!". By the time I made it home last night I was on cloud 9.
My lesson in all of this is, don't be afraid to be open about you're surgery. You never could imagine the way a few compliments from a stranger or a conversation with an old friend will make you feel but better yet how great it will make them feel. You don't have to take it to the lengths I have by blogging. Sometimes just a little info for someone who has never heard of your surgery or met someone with WLS can be the encouragement someone needs to start taking control of their own life. I wish I would of met someone who had WLS years ago, maybe I wouldn't of waited so long.
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