Bobbies Diet Story
It is not everyday that friend’s will sit back and open up and share their secrets that they have kept to themselves for so long. Bobbie has helped me on various occassions, she is a wonderful friend and is someone who I believe is a very special person. When I saw her comments on My Personal Diet Story I knew some of her past but I didn’t realise that she too carried with her a secret about her younger days and how being larger than others her age affected her for so long.
It saddens me that many people in the world never accept people for who they are but instead will put them down because they are overweight. Some of the most caring and wonderful people in this world are overweight, some people have medical issues that make people want to put them down without knowing the full extent of those issues. Many people go out of their way to be hurtful.
Once again, you will read stories like mine and now like Bobbies on My Personal Diet Story blog, we are not after sympathy, we don’t want people to feel sorry for us, we want to share our stories and how it is not so easy for everyone. At the same time, on this blog you will read stories from people who have been able to change, they have been able to lose their weight or gain it successfully… Remember we are all individuals… and we are all very different people.
Take a moment and read Bobbie’s Diet Story…
I believe that genetics play a large role when it comes to me and my battle with weight. I was born into a large family. Most everyone in my family has weight issues. Some have successfully lost weight and battle daily to keep it off, others have had stomach stapling, bariatric surgery that has destroyed their bodies and others have tried almost every fad diet there is out there to only gain their weight back.. and then some.
Even though I was very active, not eating my more than a child my own age, I was chubby through my entire childhood. I was the blunt of many jokes from the children at school and aside from peer pressure, doctor visits always brought with them more stresses upon my already stressed out state. Our family doctor always looked down his nose at me, as though I was a glutton, pigging out on candy and junk foods, when in fact, those things were not permitted in our house.
So, at the age of 9 and tagged as *obese* at a weight of 85 lbs, with the doctors orders of 1 hard boiled egg and 1/2 a grapefruit 3 times a day, my diet dilemmas began.
November 25th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
Hi Bobbie,
Thank you for sharing your story with me and the readers of My Personal Diet Story. I can understand the hurt you suffered and sometimes it makes me wonder what makes people so cruel. Not many realise the hurt they dish out because they think that they mean the best when it is obvious that they believe hurting someone in the way they act and the things they say will suddenly create the changes in others·
Unfortunately all they succeed in doing is demoralising, putting people down and causing damage to someone·s emotional and mental state·
It must have been hard sharing your story because I am sure this story is one that has been kept inside you for many years. Being able to share how you were treated, what you did to try and lose weight will be read by many and some may relate to what you have experienced·
Thank you…
Toni
November 25th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
It was difficult opening up about my experiences, but I must admit that I am glad to have shared them with you all, especially if in sharing, I am able to help someone else.
I believe the most important thing to remember is, if you have someone that you care about and are concerned that their weight problems are causing health issues, sit that person down and talk gently with them about it.
As opposed to poking fun, calling a heavy person slim, thinking that degrading or demoralizing the individual will make them change their ways, one could say something like, I really care about you and I’ve noticed that you’ve gained some weight. I worry because excess weight can cause health issues. I want to keep you around for a lifetime, how can I help you to slim down? Talk to the person. Let them know that you care and if you feel so inclined, perhaps suggest that you both could join the gym or take a brisk walk every day.
As opposed to knocking a large person down and leaving scars that most likely will not go away, approaching the problem positively, with compassion and understanding may very well help your friend opt for a change in lifestyle that will improve their quality of life and lower their risk of heart disease.
Bobbie
November 25th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I can imagine how difficult it was opening up to share your experiences. I am sure there are others who have experienced something similar but feel they are alone.
How true - the idea of talking to some one, not talking down to them is the best thing. Showing how much you care rather than putting them down or making them feel that they are worthless because they have a weight problem is a much better way of helping.
Emotional abuse is very high among people who have a weight problem and unfortunately many do not understand or do not take the time to understand those issues.
There are many medical practitioners who should undergo training that will help them understand those issues also· unfortunately many don’t. If those issues aren’t hurting them or they are not suffering then they do not want to know about it and prefer to degrade and demoralise the individual rather than helping them.
Toni