Now that you've had success, how do you see overweight people?

I don't know that I think anything. I was overweight from the time my 2nd son was born (2009) until this year. I had a lot going on and my weight was just not a priority. I was in school full-time, working 30ish hours a week, raising two children, one of which has special needs. My 3rd child was born in 2013 and he was prenatally diagnosed with a genetic condition. By then I was working full time. My weight was the least of my concerns. I was hardly making it through every day: It took me finally finding balance, peace and stability in my own life to be able to truly care about my health. I wish it had happened sooner but I know that I was doing the best I could. And now I'm at a healthy weight, living a balanced life and couldn't be happier. I'm sure I was judged for my weight but I didn't care.

Interesting question.....

For me what I noticed was the difference in treatment/attitude others had towards me when I was fat as opposed to slim. Somehow or other I am now deserving of more positive attention ie smiles, positive sales service when clothes shopping, the odd admiring glance especially if I have "dressed up"......

Initially, this behaviour difference really pissed me off.....I was just as deserving, smart, kind etc at 268 lbs as I am at 110 lbs but you would not have thought that by the way I was regularly treated.

Having been both sides of the coin and even though I am not religious the quote of "There but for the Grace of *insert deity* go I", can be helpful if I do feel judgy. I can never know what life experiences the overweight individual is going through, are they ill, medicated or just in a difficult space in their lives OR are they really content and happy with their size and physique...just because I was miserable at a larger size does not mean that it's true for someone else, so I make it my personal mission to NOT judge a person by size alone, ever.....I am not always 100% successful.

The time where I have felt negatively towards someone is when I have intimate knowledge that they are unhappy and really struggling health wise with their weight and moan continuously about how 'easy' it has been for me to lose my excess yet they deny they too can be helped by the same methods I used.

It is hard to swallow the frustration of watching them buy into the latest fad diet or even undergoing surgery......only to watch them waste that 'tool' by deliberately stretching their pouch. This has made me angry.....angry that they short changed themselves and fooled the medicos into giving them the Op. in the first place when they had no intention of being compliant. But you can't make/wish someone to have their Ah Ha moment.....all you may be able to do is hope that they do have one before it is too late for them.

annette_15 wrote: »

I would never judge them as people, but I will admit to judging their food choices on occasion, especially if someone is eating very caloric foods while complaining that they cant lose weight

This I've only lost 20 pounds which isn't a success yet but I have a friend that complains about his weight but he eats fast food everyday I'm like omg shut up.

neil11111 wrote: »

I see them as lost souls who haven't suffered the big wake up call yet. A heart attack or major health catastrophe. They don't realize they can prevent a major health event by simply managing calories and exercizing more. It makes me a little bit sad for their loved ones.

Very much like evangelical Christians, seeing the world full of lost souls who haven't met Jesus yet...lol...I say that partly tongue in cheek but it's also somewhat true about ANYTHING we feel we've had an epiphany over and the rest of the world is lost in darkness! "It's up to us the spread the light, whether it's about Jesus, politics, veganism, or CICO!" LOL ;p

Hrm.

Well I'm not done, and still quite fat, BUT... I find myself analyzing (not judging) EVERYONES food choices. Fat, thin, young, old, it's like I'm the Rainman of calorie counting some days!

Like oh, cup of salad, 4 tomato slices, that's about 30kcal. Oh the Blue cheese dressing costs 200kcal. Sandwich? 400kcal bread, 4oz cheese etc etc etc.

If anyone figures how to turn this off I'd be much obliged!

pariskathryn wrote: »

When I see somebody overweight, I often imagine they've been losing weight and I'm seeing them after they've lost 30 pounds or something and I go "hell yeah, get it" to myself.

Edit, yes, much like xpecta

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I know that one day, there are going to be people who don't know that I used to be big, and they will be shocked when they find out. It seems weird to me. Sometimes I wonder if they're judging me for being fat, or having a treat ice cream. Then I remind myself that they don't know how far I've come.