Easy way out?

I had a friend too try to tell me the only reason why I was having the surgery was to be skinny.  Not for the health benefits.  This came from a person who had breast reduction surgery to lower her breast cancer risk.  Same freaking theory in my book.  She didn't get it.  Haven't spoken much since.

Sarah

Love it Kelly!!

How about, is rehab the easy way out of drug addiction?

Or

Is chemo the easy way out of cancer?

I mean really.

Yep.  Sure is.  And a flu shot is the easy way out of the flu.  Medical care is usually the easy way out of illness or injury or some sort of unwellness, so I guess the OP's friend never sees doctors or takes medication.

Sounds like a whole lotta jealousy coming from his side! Just brush him off Amber, cuz you have worked hard, and look fabulous- who cares what some judgmental guy thinks....you're a hottie!

How frustrating to be faced with such negative vibes.  I can't say I have personally faced this yet although I know that attitude is out there.  Sometimes I've even had these feelings toward myself!  I am still pre-op (surgery pending Feb 2012) but have had a lot of time to think about this...I have come to realise that I work very hard in my life.  I have worked hard in school, then post secondary education then professional education.  I am a working mom, raising 3 children with minimal help (no full time nanny).  I am organized and disciplined in most spheres of my life.  I remind myself that I am not a lazy or undisciplined person.  For whatever reason I seem unable to keep focussed on an exercise or eating plan such that I can sustain meaningful weightloss.  If someone wants to call me lazy - fine.  But I know that despite years of trying, I have had no success on my own.  So if I chose a tool that, with work, makes my chances of success much better. 

I remind myself of the following analogy:  If we had a pill to help an alcoholic stop drinking, would we deny it to them because it would be the easy way out??  Is using the washing machine the easy way out of doing the laundry?  Why drive a car - it's the easy way out of walking???  Bottom line, no-one has this surgery who hasn't struggled for years with the traditional modes of weight loss.  Even with this surgery there is hard work and failure.  If your "friend" isn't willing to see that, there probably isn't much you can do.  Be proud of how you are working to get yourself as healthy as possible and try ignore the idiots out there.

Andrea.

When I started my journey, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't listen to nor accept ANY negativity from anybody!!!

Amber ... this is YOUR journey.  Your friend doesn't have a nickel in your quarter!  Girl, keep on pressin' on and let him fall along the wayside.  This is the time in your new journey to clean house ... get rid of all negative things and keep only positive things around you ... things that lift you up and NOT tear you down!

Enjoy the ride ...

well... there is  some point to that.. not that I want to make you feel bad.
But - we do need a very strong will to maintain after the losing phase.
I do feel that my surgery is helping me keeping my weight off through negative reinforcements.

if I eat sugar or heavy on carbs: - I get sick.. less or more - but I get sick
if I try to eat too much  - I get sick... really sick
If I try to eat high fat food - I get sick, really sick...
 bread, pasta, rice = pain soon after and bad to reallyyyyyy bad RH (reactive hypoglycemia) 2-3 hrs later...

so yea... my will power has been reinforced with "negative feedback" if, when I eat things I am not suppose to ...
Fun , not really....

You can't fix stupid.

He got us ALL going!! Lets all friend-request him and let him have it!! 

I have a "friend" that feels the same way...and made similar statements to me. Part of my decision to have surgery was accepting that I could not lose the weight on my own....for WHATEVER reason...call it will power, call it determination...or "self discipline". Whatever it is...I didn't have enough of it without RNY.

With RNY....I DO HAVE ENOUGH!! I am doing it...the weight that wouldn't budge is coming off...and its not a gimick, pill or quick fix. Its permanent. I'd say that makes this a pretty smart decision, as I plan on living for a LONG time!! 

 My daughter said something similar to me on Thansgiving.  She had started a new fad diet that had some strict (and weird) eating guidelines.  Some of them were similar to our eating requirements.  I mentioned that and she said "Yeah, but MY diet requires self discipline."  I just looked at her.  I then pointed out that it was Thanksgiving and she was eating turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and lots of bread while I was eating a half of a baked chicken breast and brocolli.  THAT isn't self discipline?!?!  
   Side note:  She lasted all of 5 days on her diet.