FAQs ♥
These are questions that I’m asked on a regular basis, either through e-mail, tweets, messages on Facebook or MySpace, or in person. Someone had the idea that I should put up a “FAQ’s” page. I’ll update it as frequently as I can as new questions come up.
Q: What made you decide to start this site?
A: A few different reasons, actually. First, accountability. Nothing says that like publish your weights, ups, downs, good days, and bad days to a medium that potentially anyone in the world could look at. Second, I have family and friends that don’t live near me but wanted to be able to keep up with my progress. This is easier than sending forty-leven emails every week with comments, pictures, and all that jazz. And third, and this is the main one, I want to help other people. I’ve struggled with obesity all my life and morbid obesity for the better part of it. If my story, struggles, and successes can help just one person realize they can do it too, it’s all worth it for me.
Q: Where did you come up with the name Follow The Fat Girl?
A: I wanted something catchy, easy to remember, and fitting to what I was trying to accomplish with the site & blog. Follow The Fat Girl has a two-fold meaning. Well, part meaning, part desire. First meaning “follow” as in keep track of how I’m doing. The second “desire” or wish is for other overweight people to “follow” me in building a better lifestyle for themselves.
Q: Why do you call yourself fat? That’s not very nice.
A: Wow, this is the number one thing I have always been reamed for doing. I actually have friends who until I started this blog wouldn’t let me call myself fat. They thought I was being demeaning to myself. Actually, I’m just a realist when it comes to the whole thing.
My belief is you can’t fix a problem you don’t acknowledge you have. Part of my “recovery” is admitting I have a problem. (And no I don’t go to any of the Anonymous meetings even though I know that’s one of their mantras.) If I never saw myself as fat or overweight, I would have never taken the steps to change my lifestyle and would have continued down a very dangerous path.
And just to set the record straight, Webster defines fat in the adjective form as being notable for having an unusual amount of fat; plump, obese. It’s society that has made the word have a negative connotation. I don’t mean it in a negative way. I just mean it realistically — I am obese, therefore, I am fat. It doesn’t define WHO I am, only one of my current characteristics.
Q: How long have you been overweight?
A: For all intents and purposes, all my life. I have been morbid obese for many years of it as well. I think when I was about 18 months to 2 or 3 years I was small for my age. I am going to scan pictures of me at different ages throughout my life soon. I just have to get around to it.
Q: What diets have you tried?
A: It would be easier and take less of your time to just say the diets I haven’t tried. And honestly, I can’t think of any off the top of my head that I haven’t. So the ones I have tried include but aren’t limited to: Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, the grapefruit diet, the cabbage diet, the baby food diet (one of my dumb ideas), liquid diets, Slim-Fast, the Mayo Clinic diet, the Maker’s diet, vegetarian diet, and many others that I can’t think of right now.
Q: Do you think diets work?
A: Of course, but you have to make them work. The main thing is talking to your doctor and finding the plan that is right for you, your body, health, and personal needs. Diabetics especially have to be careful about what diets they go on. Just because Sally loses a million pounds on Atkins doesn’t mean you will or that it’s even a safe eating plan for you. Always talk to your doctor first, but remember, it only works if you MAKE it work. If you stick to the plan, it should work. Yes, there are some people who for health or metabolic reasons just can’t lose weight, but they are the exception and not the rule. I’m not being harsh, just again, realistic, because I lived that life for so long.
Q: Why don’t you just have gastric bypass or lap-band surgery?
A: I believe that gastric bypass, lap-band, and other weight loss surgeries are great tools to aid a person in losing weight. However, I believe that they should be a last resort and only facilitated if the person legitimately can’t lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
I used to be dead set against the idea of surgery and would always tell people who suggested it I thought it was the easy way out. Well, since that time, I’ve had several people in my life actually have the surgery, and I can now see it’s definitely not the easy way. It’s definitely the hardest way.
But for me, if I had it done would be due to my laziness. I know that I can lose weight through diet and exercise, so that’s how I should lose the weight. Sure, it will take longer than if I had the surgery, but that’s OK with me. The people I know who have had it truly needed it and have had great results with it. If you want to talk to someone who’s had it done, email me and I’ll forward your information to her. I know she’d be happy to talk to you.
I actually considered lap-band surgery last year and went so far as to go to the seminar and get my registration papers. Luckily, after much prayer and talking with family and friends, I realized it wasn’t the right decision for me and my life. My mom made me a deal. Give it six months of me working my absolute ass off and if I didn’t lose at least 50 lbs, then I could have the surgery and she’d paid for it for me in full. If I did lose the weight, then I’d proven to myself that I personally didn’t need the surgery and we’d start a bank account and start saving for a body lift. Well, here I am, going on 100 lbs later and getting closer every day to that body lift, which brings me to the next question…
Q: Are you going to have surgery to remove all your loose skin once you’re done?
A: Yes! I’m hoping that by some miracle I don’t have to have any removed because magically my skin will just snap back into place. I’m not being conceited, but I do have healthy, elastic skin, but I’m also not stupid. Carrying an excess of 200 lbs for so many years just does irreparable damage that no amount of lotion, kneading, massaging, and wishing will take care of. I’m nervous at the thought of having it done. I’ve watched it on TV, and it’s horrifying to me because I know it’s a very painful product, but I feel like after that much work, I’ll want the finished product.
Primarily my concern with the loose skin is the folds, which are breeding grounds for infection. So it’s honestly more health than it is vanity, but I’m not going to lie. A little bit of it is vanity. Yes, I’ll probably have scars, but I’ll proudly wear them as “badges of honor”. :)
I’m the biggest vagina you’ll ever meet. I hate having surgery and especially being put to sleep. Anesthesia makes me crazy and I wake up crying for my mother every time without fail, even at 25 years old. But I’ll put on my big girl panties, go in with a smile, and come out yelling for my mommy.
Q: What’s all this talk about you moving to Europe?
A: I’m not at liberty to just spill everything out on the table right now, but I can say this. Yes, it has to do with writing. I’ll be over there for 18 months, traveling, writing, and yes, I’ll still be maintaining this site & blog. My best friend, Dan, will be going with me. We’ll be living in Amsterdam (insert stoner/pothead joke here) but most of our time will be spend on the road seeing 44 of the 50ish European countries. We also plan on visiting Egypt & Russia just for the fun of it.
I’m super excited, nervous, and awestruck all at the time. There is still a lot of planning left to do and legwork to be done, but I’m looking forward to it and when I can give you all the juicy details, believe me, I will post it.