 |
|||
| |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
Personal Space: Life After Lap-Band Surgery
Have I become invisible or are people just aiming right at me? It seems to me that in a crowd these days, whether at the grocery store or 5th Avenue in New York City, people will walk right into me if I don't step out of the way. Or they stand so close to me I have to step backward in order to breathe. Now, I have never felt that I have such a small area of personal space. A busy street or mall never bothered me. I could walk through the crowd at a museum or a concert without being trampled. Only since losing 110 pounds have I begun to notice how the shrinking personal space has begun to bother me. When I weighed 277 pounds I always felt emotionally invisible; that no one truly saw me or knew I was there. But while I felt emotionally invisible, I knew I was always physically there. I didn't get bumped into, people didn't stand so close to me that I felt the need to step away in order to maintain personal space. In the mall or on a San Francisco street, people gave me a wide berth. Bus passengers would hesitate before sitting down next to me judging just how much space they would have for their ride home. When a thin person sees a fat person, regardless if the fat person is attractive or not, a bit of uneasiness runs through the thin person; "If I wasn't working out everyday that could be me." "Thank goodness I don't look like that." "Ok, salad again for lunch." According to ABC News, the American public spends $33 billion on the ever elusive quest for non-fatness. The billions are spent on fat-free products, exercise equipment, gym memberships, and weight loss programs. Spent on anything and everything not to become that fat person they see on the bus.So it is no surprise that when the one thing they work so hard to avoid is right in front of them they steer clear of it. As a newly thin person I see the overweight person. I wish I could stop them and tell them how I did it-- that I was once overweight and have broken free. But I can't. So instead I make eye contact. I smile. I sit next to them on the bus without hesitation. But it is a different life I am in now. Today I feel like I am physically invisible when walking those crowded streets, and that people are going to literally walk right into me if I don't step out of the way. I feel like they no longer see me; or maybe they are just no longer ill at ease. Maybe I am now like everyone else and I need to get the hell out of the way if I don't want to get run over. Robin McCoy was banded on February 3, 2004. She has reached her weight loss goal of 110 pounds. Robin is Vice-President and Senior Writer for Lapband Lifestyle, a resource and support group for LapBand patients. http://www.lapbandlifestyle.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Weight-Loss - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Lose Weight and Feel Great Many people search for a pill, a special diet or some other quick fix to lose weight. The key to weight loss and good health is changing bad habits and developing a healthy lifestyle. The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 1 - The INSIDE OUT Mindset WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness differs from that of conventional wisdom. Most programs work on diet and exercise alone. Not One Ounce -- Candy At Your House Here come the candy canes. In our house, Santa always hung Hershey's Kisses on the tree. Can You Attain Weight Loss While Fasting? Fasting, when done properly, can be a basic part of a solid weight loss plan. If done correctly it can be a great start to your new way of living. Break Your Weight Loss Plateau How to Break Your PlateauToday is a typical morning like any other for you. You get up, go for your workout at the gym or go for a nice run, before you start your day. Weight Control: One Day At A Time Most of us are aware of the AA axiom of "One day at a time." It speaks to the secret of any long term goal - concentrate on taking the right step and the journey will take care of itself. Faster Fat Loss Thats Healthy I received a telephone call from a lady last week. Her first word was "heeeelp"! She was on a weight loss program and only losing about one half pound per week. Weight Loss - Sustained Success through Simple Steps Weight Loss - Basic Lessons for Sustained SuccessWeight loss is a goal for many people today, but cutting through all the hype and getting quality information can be difficult. This article will give you information on your metabolism, nutrition, and exercise that you can use to evaluate weight loss programs that you may be considering, or to create your own. The Best Weight Loss Exercise Is * Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes* Its not swimming a lot of laps * And its' definitely not running 5 miles everydayThe best weight loss exercise is?* Something that you like (love) to do* Something that you can do everyday for 30-60 minutes* Something that can at least make you break a little sweatSo that rules out watching TV, reading and sleeping. Just think about something that you enjoy doing that requires you to move. Healthy and Fast Weight Loss: Ephedra - Why the FDA Couldnt Keep Their Ban On It? Why was the FDA trying to hide the facts about Ephedra from YOU?In April 2004 the FDA removed ephedra from the market claiming that it was responsible for dozens of deaths. The legal battle between the FDA and health officials began when the health officials became unhappy with the FDA's decision to ban ephedra. The Best Diet/Way To Lose Weight The diet that worked for meI have had a lot of issues and problems with my weight. It has had a major effect on my life, it knocked my confidence and I had an all round low self-esteem. Weight Loss Motivation: I CAN DO IT! Several months ago I was in desperate need of weight loss motivation. As I was observing my friend's kindergarten classroom I was struck by an idea when I saw her in action. Easy Weight Loss A really easy, fast way to weight loss is walking a lot. If the other things you've tried haven't worked, or if the results aren't quite what you're looking for, try walking twice a day, every day. Heel Pain and Obesity: The Chicken or the Egg? A new survey has found that heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis, a problem affecting almost a third of people who are overweight, often limits exercise and therefore makes it difficult for people to lose weight. The survey of 381 adult Americans, conducted by Heeling Solutions LLC, (www. Best Weight Loss Strategy If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on increasing the amount of exercise you get rather than decreasing your food intake. A recent national study was done using two groups of sedentary men, one group in their 20's and the other over age 65. Mediterranean Diet - Lose Weight Quickly, Easily & Safely If you are looking for a way to lose fifty pounds in two weeks, a high protein diet, a low carb diet, a fruit diet, a no fat diet, a blood type diet, a juice fast, a diet named after a place in Miami, a grapefruit diet, a cactus diet, a coffee and cigarette diet, a diet that includes sweets, a diet based on your body type, a diet based on an ancient religion or a diet based on your hair color, then this article is NOT for you.Fad and crash diets, such as the ones described above are not only unhealthy but they also cause rebound weight gain. Frankie The French Fry Hatches A Plan Frankie saddled up to the bar at the We-Stuff-Em-All Diner, official headquarters of Fat For A New America. He turned to his most portly friend, Bubba the Burger, and launched a tirade. A Personal Trainers...Holidaze Rules of day to day no longer apply as you surrender to the hearts and minds of those closest. Conversation, food and wine are intoxicating. Negative Calorie Effect in Foods Negative Calorie Effect in FoodsWhatever food we eat, our body has to work hard to digest it and absorb. Some foods need more energy than the others in the process of digestion. Catching Yourself In A Binge or Compulsive Eating: Stopping Behaviors Oh, no . .
|
| Arcade Games | site map |
| © copyright NextAge Technologies Ltd @ 2006 |
