OOOOOoooo Makes me so mad!

So you guy's know Im a member of the nbc forums for The Biggest Loser. I have been for a couple years. I get SO fired up whenever WLS is mentioned there is two or three IGNORANT people that are BIG and bitter because their weight loss methods having worked and their DOZENS of attempts at getting on the show and FIALING has yet to show them that they need to make efforts on their own and not wait around for another season to try AGAIN for a show that isnt going to save them. You know the ones who believe everything the media feed's them about "How risky WLS is" how it doesnt fix the mental problems ( even though good surgeons require some evaluation's before operating on you " and calling it " An easy way out " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant stand people who buy into BS from the media outlet's who ONLY report on negitives. Not looking at this surgery as the life saver and changer it is nad be respectful and SUPPORTIVE to those who have decided to change THIER lives instead of sitting around being fat, unhealthy and unhappy!!!! If you get angered easy...dont ever go to that place...they are ridiculous!

Well...hate to admit this but I was one of the people who thought wls was the easy way out. That is, until I had it done. I am here to tell you. This is soooo life changing. I sometimes wonder if I would do this over again. Then, I noticed in the shower the other night that I suddenly had ankles again. I do not see the swelling anymore. My legs do not look swollen and do not ache right now. I know that if I had not had this life-changing and life-saving surgery that I would not be 25 lbs lighter thus far. I did this as a final option. I have dieted ever since I was 9 years old and this year on my bday I said....well, you can't do it alone anymore. You need a tool, you need some medical help. I think this has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. I was soooo wrong to think it was the easy way out. I know I will have to change my behavior to go along with the tool of smaller stomach. I saw one of those tell all magazines the other day and poor Kristie Alley has gained most of her weight back. It was just a year ago that she was in the news for losing the weight with Jenny Craig. I feel so bad for her. I know what that is like! When I thought about this surgery I said.....if you had a heart problem and there was a surgery to correct this, you would have the surgery,so....you have a weight problem and there is a surgery developed to have this so that is what I did. Never let the ignorance of others anger you...we simply have so much more to work on. I am happy for your upcoming surgery and I do wish you all the health and happiness in the world. Remember my dear, sucess is the best revenge of all!  Your friend, Crystal

I'm starting to get a taste of this. I told my brother tonight about the surgery. Of course he thinks I'm crazy. He said he would never let his wife do this and told me to just quit eating. I don't like this part of it. I'm only going to tell a few people before I have the surgery. I don't think I can handle the judgements of others.

You are absolutely right about that. I was pretty selective about who I told because I got tired of hearing what a big mistake I was making. Good luck on your surgery. Are you near Lexington Va??

Not really close to Lexington, about 2 hours away. I live 45 mins south of Roanoke, near Martinsville.

I have seen this too. Just remember you are doing this for you and no one else. They don't have to deal with the looks for the people, the discomfort of carrying the weight, all the problems that go with it. If they don't like it I say they can kiss my foot. When people say that overweight people should just eat less it really bugs me too. Fat people are the only people for whom very few feel pity. It's not like you'd tell someone who was an alcoholic to just drink a little less. With most addictions, the solution is to ultimately go cols turkey. But not with food. We have to re-learn everything how we eat and who we are. I have lost weight before through diet and exercise and put it right back on when I started eating crap again. If someone can do it on their own, then bully for them. This is how I am beating the cycle though. Not to get all meta, but when I was in Europe recently the one thing I noticed were I saw no fat people. Now I am sure they were there, but there is something culturally different in the U.S. My first thought was that there are real cities, where people walk from place to place and take public transportation. I know I am a slave to my car and the car was a prime eating place for me going about my day. The other thing is the cheap food policy in our country. Our government drives down the price of food in order to make it more affordable here. The net-net is that we pay far less for food here than in other parts of the world and end up eating more. Plus, the stuff that is the worst for you is also the cheapest. That is why we are one of the few places in the world where you see people on public assistance who are also overweight. Finally, everyone is different. I was a fairly high functional fat guy. I worked, traveled, even coached my son's soccer team. I was pretty high energy and had a fair amount of success. I also weighed 400 lbs. It really was for my health that I had WLS. But there are others that end up how they are because of other demons: clinical depression, social anxiety, histories of abuse. When we look at those people as just fat it is one of the most cruel things that we do as a society. So, in sum, if they don't it that you're a WLS person...to hell with 'em.   

My big issue with this particular group of people is that they infact are going through the struggles of being obese and still choose to be ANTI wls because of their media related education on wls and because although Im not ever going to be a person who advocates wls ( because I think it's a personal decision ) I find it irratating that obese people can be so heartless and UN supportive of other obese people trying to make a change.

Sweetie such is life. Ignorance is such a stinker. I honestly pay these people no mind. They are entitled to their opinions but we certainly KNOW the truth & honestly the media does what sells. Its sad & unfortunate because if obesity affected them personally along with someone prominent in their life having this life saving surgery they might better understand. Then again, for some folks attention, money & greed take over & they wear rose colored glasses. No matter your frustration stand up for what you believe in & who you are. Trust me this only has made me stronger. One of the most important lessons I've learned in life is there is just no pleasing everyone and honestly they'll have to get over themselves at some point. It takes a LOT to make me angry these days. I learned a lot from experiences ESPECIALLY in the last couple years. When you're in you're in and when you're out trust me you're out. Its important to remember that YOU can make a difference in someone else's life by sharing your story. The naysayers are unfortunately always going to be there & some even like to see you fail but prayers, determination and that we try everyday will make a difference. You cannot let ignorance get you down. Let it make you stronger and remember that NOTHING worth having is easy.  Hugs to you..............

It's a tough position....I, too, was one of those that thought that WLS was taking the easy way out - that's what I had seen.  People who did not exercise, get in their protein, etc.  They just limited how much they ate. Then....I became educated.  MUCH more than they were and decided that maybe it wasn't the easy way out. I had the surgery and found out that heck no....it's not the easy way out. Here it is...over 2 years later, and they are gaining some of their weight back, while I run, dance, and live this life every day.  Do I struggle - heck yes...each and every day.  But...I made the conscience decision that I was NOT going to be 265 pounds ever again!   Jackie and I chatted about this during dinner the other night...since starting dance classes I have gone up 3 pounds and have flipped out...BUT...I spoke to a friend of mine who is a yoga instructor who told me that I was fine...I'm working muscles that I do not work while running.  PLUS...some of the classes I take at the studio are weight training type classes (either using actual weights, or lifting my own body weight), which definately means that I'm working muscles. SO...it was easier to do Weigh****chers and cheat like hell, then what this surgery has been.  So...you have every right to be angry, but always remember that people are just not educated when it comes to this surgery - it scares the hell out of them to think that they may have to go to the drastic measures we have had to go to.

I, too, have decided to just tell immediate family and best friend because of the stereo-typical attitude towards obese people.  It infuriates me as well.   Even though, in the beginning, I never thought of WLS to be the easy way out, I definitely didn't think it was something that I could do...  Me, have will power like that?  NEVER!!  Then I remembered that 3 yrs ago, March 12, I gave up another addiction, smoking.  I was diagnosed with Emphysema at 32 yrs old and went from smoking 3 packs a day to nothing...  COLD TURKEY!  I figured if I could to that then WLS should be something I at least considered.   But what infuriates me more then those that think WLS is the easy way out are the ones that say, "Stop eating" or "Exercise".  Well DUH!  Don't you think that if I didn't have 3 lung diseases and Congestive Heart Failure that maybe I would exercise?  Even though I know exercise is a big YES after surgery.  And as far as eating?  I eat less then my 7 yr old son.   This surgery or the discussion of this surgery really does show the bigotry and the judging against the obese.  It's such a sad thing.  If only every one just realized that it is a personal decision.  Sorry for my rambling Hugs,  Theresa