Followup: WLS "easyout"

Pixielf~*
on 5/24/07 3:23 pm - in the forest........., MO

Revision on 09/30/13

I wanted to give each and every one of you that responded to my post about the "US" article on Ricki Lake a HUGE HIGH FIVE AND THANK YOU!!! I think that each and every one of us has fought off the stereotypes that have blindsided us throughout our years of dealing with obesity. For those that are postop it is still not always smooth sailing as many times we are now faced with friends and family "passing judgement" on us. Either we are eating too much, eating too little, eating the wrong things, yada yada yada... somehow, some way those around us who wish to pass judgement suddenly believe that they have been given supreme knowledge of all things knowing regarding WLS. Maybe it is just me ....but humor me here. It is like it isn't enough that we have lived lives of being morbidly obese and all the crap that it entails (sorry for the language but lets call a spade a spade) Being obese just sucks dirty gym socks BIGTIME!... But we exist in lives that are so limited in nature. Whether it be from physical infirmity caused by the obesity or even psychological torment from the comments and hurtful remarks from friends, family and strangers. Then when some of us finally achieve that dream and reality of WLS and all the hardwork that it entails... we become "successful" and suddenly we find that we are now lightning rods again... the focus has just shifted slightly. It is enough to make your head spin..... I'm not saying that there aren't folks out there that ARE supportive (genuinely) of us post WLS ...but why are there still those out there that seek to degrade and belittle us? Did they not get their "kicks" in enough while we were obese. Are they that insecure that they still have to attack with the verbal abuse. I guess where I am going at with this rambling post is kinda tying it in with the Ricki Lake article. That headline across the front of the page that screamed WITHOUT SURGERY. Studies have long shown that the obese have suffered discrimination for many years. We have been ridiculed, belittled, been passed over for jobs, etc. etc. Now we are still facing discrimination because we fought the battle and won. How sad is that? Thanks again for all the comments... It was wonderful to see each person's own take on the subject~ Elizabeth~*

MeMe214
on 5/25/07 12:03 pm - Joplin, MO

VBG on 04/24/06

Elizabeth I got the US magazine that you were talking about. While true it does say that she went from xx amount to xx amount with out surgery. But no where in her atricle did it say that she turns her nose up ap people that do have the sugery. Rickki just didnt feel that that was the way that she was wanting to go. Plus she only was at 250lbs. That's not morbit obese to say the least. Now if she was 4oo or better then maybe she would of choose another way to go. Plus on the premade food that she ordered. She didnt start that until she was 15lbs from her goal. At which time she surpassed her goal and lost an additional 10lbs. I just thought I would clear up the misunderstanding. I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opponion. That why we feel so strongly about the WLS is cause it is our opponion also. Surgery isnt for everyone. And I by no means wanna push my beliefs onto someone else. Trust me if I ONLY weighted 250lbs. I myself proabley wouldnt of chossen to have WLS either. But that wasnt the case for me and I would do it over again everyday if I had to. To have the life I do now. Mel

~~God has seen you struggling, God say's its over, A Blessing is coming your way!!~~

Pixielf~*
on 5/25/07 3:52 pm - in the forest........., MO

Revision on 09/30/13

I appreciate your response and understand that you have a right to voice your opinion as well (and I value that). I never said that Ricki turned her nose up against those that had weight loss surgery.

My comment was regarding the sensationalization of the screaming headline of size 24 - 4 without surgery. Lets face it, controversy sells. That is the main purpose behind the sensational headlines.

You mention that 250 lbs. is not morbidly obese. Unfortunately it is. Per our own BMI calculation on this very site it would put her at 42.9 which is EXTREMELY obese. At 50 and above a person is listed as SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE.

I welcome your thoughts on the subject and in fact I encourage folks to sound off regarding it. I also stated that it was my own opinion. The slant of the article would seemingly indicate that she did it by using the food deliver program. But just "how" did she do it? She started at her heaviest which was 250lbs. She is now 123. She lost the "final" 25 lbs. in two months starting in February from what the story indicated. 123+25= 250? Ummmmmmm no it doesn't.

But look closely at the paragraph "How did you do it?"... All it mentions is her food delivery program. Also in the very beginning of the story it states that she sits down with the "US" reporter and "explains exactly how she got thin".... well I guess I just don't see it. How did she get thin?

All the article is really insinuating is the usage of the food delivery program and her ability to not go overboard on breads/etc. All in all, again my own opinion mind you. It is very misleading.

I, by nature, am an intensely private person. I would never push my beliefs on anyone nor would I tout WLS as a "cureall" for what ails the obese person. I do, however know firsthand the pain and suffering that one faces while living life as an obese person. How much we all struggle and vainly try to find that one magical diet or program that will give us a chance to finally be rid of the fat.

Again, I will state my own belief that I find this article very misleading and not supportive of those who seek to remedy their situation by utilizing WLS.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I know that you have achieved much success since your surgery and you have every right to feel proud. You have worked so hard and have come so far.

Peace and blessings...

Elizabeth~*

want2luv2bme
on 5/26/07 12:58 am, edited 5/26/07 1:01 am - Diamond, MO

RNY on 11/29/06

Elizebeth and Mel, I, too, read the story-actually, I went and fished the magazine out of the grocery cart of last weeks magazines getting ready to go back as Mel wanted to see it and I got it for her recovery reading-LOL The original weight Ricki lost was due to her watching solely what she put into her mouth-and changing her "emotional" eating habits-AND hiking 4 times a week~losing 100# plus that way deserves a big huge WAY TO GO.... After reading the article for myself-I wasnt as upset as I was when I posted my response to it-for 2 reasons, the FIRST is-that A LOT Of people her size-have the surgery and so everyone is going to "assume" she did it by having WLS (because of people like Star Jones where all the sudden she was half her size and wouldnt disclose HOW she lost all that weight that quickly.)....I totally didnt take it wrong after reading it-she worked her ass of to get off the initial weight WITHOUT a trainer, WITHOUT a chef-or someone else making her meals-so that, in MY opinion, deserves a huge high five. I believe SHE has the mental mantality to make it stay off because of her determination to get as far as she did, on her own.... I still have my own opinions about Oprah and her always slamming wls and its down fall-but thats not the subject here. Ido not feel "attacked" by anyone about my decision-I have had people supporting me-and people that didnt-and for me, it was an easy choice as to whom I was going to be around-and I chose the people who supported me. I have NEVER had anyone question me on how much I eat, the foods I choose to eat or anything like that-I have had Mel make me accountable for some things-BUT...thats support-if that ever came from a non-supportive person, I would NOT have a problem telling them where to go and how to get there-thats just me. I am not a private person-I am an open book-and the fact that I had weight loss surgery does not make me feel ANY less of a person OR make me feel embarresed or humiliated-it is what it is-I am not damning people who lose-no matter how they have done it and I dont get my feathers ruffled UNLESS people pass judgement on those of us who have and dont have all the "facts"...because its unfair and unjust to label us as taking the easy way out..... Fat is Fat-and I think life is too short to sit in judgement of our brothers and sisters! Mentally, I am now in a way better place and, because of that, I dont "think" the way that I used to~Am I still fat? Yes maam-its a "work in progress", but the difference here is that because of surgical intervention, I was able to get that boost of weight loss to be able to function and walk-which I didnt have before surgery. I, like Ricki-am just happy for people who can lose that weight, keep it off-and feel good about themselves and live a productive life again.....NO matter HOW they did it. Janet

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Followup: WLS "easyout"