Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group

Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.

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Being on display

nal
nal
I don't know if any of you ever feel like this, but I have noticed, that every time I try to eat anything everyone is looking out of the corner of their eye to see what I have. Now I know how Oprah felt when she lost the weight and they would snap her picture eating a piece of pancake.
I know people are just curious, but geez I bought an unsweetnened ice tea at Dunkin' Donuts for work and at the same time I bought a couple of donuts for my kids it was 2 for 99 cents. Well I went into work with the bag because I didn't want to leave them in the car and I notice everyone gawking at the donut bag. So I feel I have to explain myself and that stinks. Every time I take a bite of anything everyone looks at you. I just wondered if anyone else has ever experienced this. Oh and forget a cookout the minute you approach the table of food all eyes are on you. The funny part is I'm not trying to sound conceited, but I weigh less than most of them now, so I guess that is my revenge. I just wish I felt good, I think I have a lowered immunity system now. Blood work comes back Monday, wish me luck.
NAL
NAL
deleted_user
deleted_user
i'm not a that point yet but it is really funny that you mentioned it. ignore them and don't explain anything they are going to think your lying anyway.
deleted_user
deleted_user
ah yes the food police are everywhere...i dont just get looks i have all my "helpful" family and friends always asking..."are you allowed to eat that?" or something to that nature...grrr...i am 43 years old, yes i am allowed to eat this...i am "allowed" to eat anything i want but i chose to make healthy choices for myself most of the time but if i chose to have one tiny taste of my friends carmel cheesecake birthday cake i CAN there are recommended eating guides but you can eat whatever you want. i say ignore them, this is all about YOU. YOU dont have to explain yourself, you dont have to feel anything but proud of yourself and if you are in fact smaller than most of them maybe they are JEALOUS!!! get used to it hun. learn to feel GOOD about the stares. its a whole new world we are living in. We have become accostomed to people staring and talking about us after years/lives with obesity. and just as we have to adjust to our new bodies we must adjust our minds also. just hold you head up high and strut your stuff.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Nal- I hear you, loud and clear. It really is hard. Then your right, you have to justify why you are eating the way you are, then explain that its OK for me to do this. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I get it girl.
so you got us last night, time to face Carmona!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm pre-surgery and I feel like that NOW! I hadn't really thought about how people might watch and judge my eating after surgery.

I think how I will choose to respond to "are you allowed" is to say something like a friendly, "I have a professional nutrition counselor who is helping (or helped) me understand my nutritional needs" or in other words "amateur advice is not needed, thank you very much!"
deleted_user
deleted_user
Kgirl.. that is a great comeback.. i will have to remember that for after surgery!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Nal hon, I can sooooooo identify with you! I stopped at a taco truck with a friend of mine for lunch. Not sure if you are familiar with those or not. They're almost on every corner in Calif. Love their food! Their tacos are very small. They use 2 corn tortillas. I ordered 1 taco and took 1 of the corn tortillas off. I ate it. My friend says, "wow I'm surprised you were able to eat that whole taco." I looked at him like, "are you serious??" It wasn't even the size of my fist balled up! He ate 4 of them! He made another comment about a bowl of soup I ate one day at lunch. OMG I wanted to tell him off so bad but I didn't. I've lost 85lbs since june 28 when I had my surgery and I think I've done pretty darn good considering the mental & emotional hell I've had to go through to lose it! (mourning the loss of my food I used to eat...lol). I also usually never snack between meals but sometimes i dont eat breakfast so i wait til morning break to have a little something...my coworkers dont say anything but i sure get the looks...lol.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Like Kgirl said I feel like that now. If I go to a reteraunt I have seen some rude people looking and talking. I am not stupid. A couple of years ago I was out to lunch with my friend and overherd the guy in the next booth"she really does not need to eat that" Yes I cried when I got home and ate some more.I also think this is why I haven't told most people about the decision I made to get GBS. I am afraid of the commets. It is really none of there busniss.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know this is an old post, but I had to reply.

I get this every day!

I told my boss I was going to go thru GBS. He's not supportive at all.

Anyway, last week I ate a box of candy, bad I know, but I did. I threw the container away and the next day it's back on my desk with question marks written all over it.

It makes me so darn mad!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I went to a get together a couple of weeks ago, and I pulled out a hershey bar to eat. My friend looked at me in shock. She said I didn't know you could eat that. I responded by saying yes I can eat this and look this good. It shut her up pretty quick. I thikn people are pretty curious. I find people watch me eat just to see what and how much I can eat. I like it when I am asked questions, that way I can inform people.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know what you are saying girl! I feel people are always judging me. I try to let it go when my grandmother does it , well because she is my grandmother and set in her ways. As long as you are still lossing or at your goal then try not to let those people bother you. Tell them something witty like "why is it poison? or oh is this your's" they will get the point. One of the things that come with this new like is graining our self esteem . That may not happen as fast as the weight come off. Stick in there and heep your high. You are doing great
Diana
deleted_user
deleted_user
I totally get that too. I get watched by everyone that knows which is everyone at work and all the relatives. It really annoys me but on the other hand it keeps me more honest cause I know that they will give me crap if I eat a dorito or anything basically. I think they think I am not supposed to eat any food at all. I am soo serious. They think I cant eat anything but drinks. Still really annoyiong when I just want to dip my finger in the avacado dip to try it and they attack me with are you supposed to be eating that...I just say a taste of almost anything is okay. Its not like I am dipping chips or spoons in it, I just wanted to taste it.
Estelle64
Estelle64
WOW I deal with this every day with my mother n law who lives with us. My hubby he just thinks that I have too much on my plate and laughs when I can't fnish. Also it seems that everyone is asking well how much mt loss this week or what is your total to date.
deleted_user
deleted_user
This so common. That is why I have really only told those close to me about the surgery. Too many just feel like they have the right to judge what you are doing, eating etc.
butterflyxlife
butterflyxlife
So.. I guess my question is.. are they REALLY looking.. or do you just FEEL as though they are looking? Is it really happening, or is it just our insecurity?

Those are the questions I had to ask myself. Because I always felt like I was on display... but then it was pointed out to me.. that as much as I might feel I am.. I am not the center of most people's universe.. imagine my shock! *chuckle* And that even though I do feel like everyone's watching me, in reality, most people could really care less.

Of course there are those who are nosy and will stick their nose in my business-- I get the "are you supposed to eat that?" "You don't need that." Etc. comments every day-- but not to the extent that my brain makes it to be.

And realizing that it was mroe my own insecurity than others in actuality, helped me a LOT in dealing with those feelings of being on display!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think it is really in your mind. Before, you probably weren't paying attention. Now that you think they have a reason to look at you odd, you pay a lot more attention to it and it gets magnified into something it's not.