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
http://www.lapbandlifestyle.com

Twin Lakes rental limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare
In The News:

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Home inventory and restoration apps help itemize and track every item in your home in the event you have to make an insurance claim after a natural disaster.
The White House launched a new cybersecurity safety label, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark, intended to help consumers make informed decisions on smart device safety.
Today's tech can help make life so much easier — if you know how to use it. Here are a few tips on the quickest and best ways to make your phone, laptop and other devices work for you.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers Windows 11 restart fixes: Update drivers, run system scans and check hardware.
Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 EV launches with advanced tech and entertainment for $89,900. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives his takeaways.
With limited hard drive space, tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers these tips for storing large video files and photos.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the $236,000 Yangwang U9 electric hypercar boasts 1,287 horsepower and can jump obstacles.
Flip phones are harder to block spam calls from, but it's not impossible. Kurt the "CyberGuy" explains how to stop incoming robocalls on your flip phone.
With so many notifications buzzing our phones these days, it's tough to distinguish between legitimate messages and possible scams. Kurt the CyberGuy helps unravel the mystery.
Scammers have a new trick where they pretend to be job recruiters to plant malicious apps on your devices. It all starts with a deceptive email.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Kurt the CyberGuy breaks down why those emails that warn that "Your Apple ID has been disabled" is most likely a scam. Here's how to protect yourself.
Even small mistakes can negatively impact your credit score; here are some of the most common credit report errors and how you can fix them.
Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explores the many different ways you can repurpose that old iPhone of yours rather than trashing it.
A pioneering artificial intelligence and robotics company from China has developed a repository of over 1 million robotic movements to provide robotic training.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals the warning signs and steps to take if you suspect that your personal computer is infected with a virus.
Researchers found in a study that users of a robotic prosthetic hand could successfully grasp and move two objects at once without dropping them.
The James Webb Space Telescope captured photos of one of the earliest supernovas ever seen using infrared technology, and creating a time lapse of the phenomena.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
New Mac malware variant targets browser credentials and personal data, researchers find. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives tips to safeguard your Mac from the latest malware threats.
The Jetson One eVTOL showcases air racing potential, ushering in a new aviation era. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the race for eVTOL supremacy is just beginning.
Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals that hackers stole data from Gravy Analytics, a major seller of smartphone location data to the U.S.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: If you just bought a new iPhone, here’s what to do first when you fire it up.
AC Future and Pininfarina unveil AI Transformer homes, merging sustainability and innovation. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says this could change the way we think about home.

If We Are Eating 99% Fat Free, Why Are We 99% Fat?!

Unfortunately, obesity is reaching epidemic proportions, with over 60% of... Read More

Gastric Bypass Myth ? All Patients Stretch their Stomachs and Regain Weight

Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More

Advice for the Ill = Advice for the Well

All of the things we tell sick people so that... Read More

Results Not Typical

I had 14 weight/health-oriented newsletters in my inbox this morning.... Read More

How to Burn Fat: Doctors Proven Weight Loss Secret #1

Let me ask you a personal question. As you read... Read More

Learn the Truth About Weight Loss and Getting Great Abs

Debunking The Ab MythAb training has been done to death... Read More

Liberate Your Set Esteem and Lose Weight

Are you a 'look-and-lose' dieter? Have you studied every diet... Read More

Heading Off Winter Weight Gain Before it Gets Started

Must We Gain Weight Every WinterIt's that time of year... Read More

Dieting? Upgrading Your Non-Conscious Mind ? Part 2

To upgrade the current software in your brain you can... Read More

How To Find Your Ideal Body Weight

A calorie is the unit used to measure the energy... Read More

Of Super Mice and Supermen- and the Magic Apples of Avalon

Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More

America Health Watch

America loves fast food. Last year, consumers spent billions of... Read More

Beating the Weight Loss Bandits

If you're on a weight loss program you're under constant... Read More

Will I get faster results with a Personal Trainer?

If you pick the right personal trainer?you'll most definitely see... Read More

Pizza, French Fries, Beer and Other Diet Foods

Now this is the real American Dream! I'm here to... Read More

Carbohydrates: Why Size Matters

If I collected a dime for each time I've seen... Read More

Want to Succeed on Your Diet, Find a Diet Buddy

If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More

4 Tips for Fast Fat Loss Part IV

Fat Loss Tip #4) Eat More ProteinYes, it's important to... Read More

Snacking, Fear, Greed and the Gastric Bypass Tool

Do you remember nodding your head with understanding during your... Read More

Weight Loss During Holidays: What to Do With Leftovers?

If I Want to Lose Weight, What Can I Do... Read More

Weight Loss, Exercise, and Bodybuilding Tips ? Keeping Your Body-Fat Low: Part 7 of 10

People usually quit weightloss and exercise programs for one of... Read More

How To Maintain Your Ideal Weight

The main reasons most people have difficulty maintaining their ideal... Read More

Mediterranean Diet - Wonderful & Lousy Reasons for Losing Weight

Lousy Reasons to Lose Weight"I want to be a size... Read More

The Folly of Diet Recipes

Have you ever wondered why diet books always seem to... Read More

The Secret To Permanent Weight Loss

AND SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. The secret is simple... Read More

West Dundee Lincoln Stretch limo rentals ..