Is this the easy way?

That depends.  

In the past, I committed myself to working hard to lose weight.  I used Weigh****cher's online to track food/stay within recommended limits, and I exercised frequently (biking, swimming, running, weights).  At one point I lost 50 pounds, and at another I lost 40 pounds.  Each of those times, I reached a point where I felt like there was a bungy cord pulling me back up.  I was trying to grab on to something that would anchor me down, but up up up I went.  I was slightly unusual in that I didn't go all the way back to pre-loss weights.  I had a net loss of about 8 pounds the first time and 14 pounds the 2nd.  It is so awful to gain weight back after losing.  It is paradise lost, for sure.

With my VSG, I committed myself to following nutrition recommendations and to exercise frequently (usually 7 days/week).  The "easy" part is that my sleeve is totally on the portion control, and my body is not sabotaging me.  I'm not craving the highest calorie foods, and my body does not appear to be gearing up to gain the weight back.  I kind of think of the VSG as a bungy-cordectomy.

If you're willing to work, the surgery makes it POSSIBLE.  Is that the same as easy?  Not really.  I don't mind working hard, so this feels easy to me.  Yes!  Easy!!!!   

 

Depends how you look at it.  I would have never lost all this weight without the surgery.  Discipline, bad habits, chastising myself for failing...the list could go on.  

So.  I say the weight loss was EASY.  I did not turn into a gym rat, cut consumption by half by willpower alone.  

However, the things that really drive the weight loss and maintenance part are hard as hell.  2 week liquid pre-op diet. having 85% of your stomach removed, 2 more weeks of liquid diet.  Then mushy food, having to keep a close eye on serving size do you don't get sick, learning to despise the stuff you used to LOVE, getting that discipline and self-control to make more good decisions than bad once you no longer get sick at the though of food.  

That's the HARD part, your body and mind both freak out, you go through physical and mental changes...coping with that is not easy.  

THEN.  When you get somewhere you are happy using those new attitudes and behaviors and adapting them for the rest of your life.  That is not easy.  

Personally I have turned into a 5 to 6 day a week exerciser.  Junk food is no longer a daily habit.  I took the easy way out of losing weight but am working my ass off to be sure I continue to progress physically, skinny or "normal" BMI do not mean healthy.  So yeah, my easy weight loss got me to the point where running is an option, strength training is an option, but I (and support system around me obviously) am pushing instead of being content with almost having a normal BMI.

Sorry for the rant lol.  Someone told me I took the easy way out last week (a MO individual) and I told him to come see what I was doing to try to make sure I don't backpedal.  

If this is supposed to be easy, I'm doing it wrong.

I think this is probably the hardest thing I've ever done. Mentally, physically, emotionally, the whole proverbial enchilada.

Sleevegirl, I totally agree with you!! You took the words right out of my mouth!
Amy

I'm JUST on the pre-op diet and this is already super hard emotionally and mentally and I know the physical part is yet to come.  Maybe after adjusting to my sleeve, settling into an exercise regimen, and after a long, long, long, time it might be easier, but I don't ever expect my relationship with food to be easy and anyone who knows me pretty well would say that I'm an optimist! If you feel this is easy, then count your blessings!

The easy way out - them's fightin' words!

But, I'll say this, dieting and keeping it off on my own was impossible. So maybe this is easy compared to impossible.Yes, I think is kinda is.

However, WLS is a total immersion thing - after having most of my stomach removed there's no going back. It's all or nothing for me. And I have a life time of maintenance to look forward to. I KNOW that won't be easy. 

 I use to try and explain the difficulties to people when they would make that comment.  Now I say, "yep, I took the easy way out and it worked. Sucks to be you." 

If they go for the surgery they will learn it is not easy.  Aftercare is not easy either.  But some people have to learn the hard way.  And I am tired of trying to explain the difference to people that are obviously ignorant or jealous. 

Now, if it is a person that truly wants to know what is going on with the process I am nice and pay it forward.  But, I don't waste my time with "haters".

And you know...

Basking in the success of all your hard work is really easy.    I can do that!

best response i ever heard.

I am on day 3 of the pre-op semi-liquid diet and this is in no way easy.. cooked breakfast for the family this morning and you dont know how much I wanted one of those flaky buttery biscuits.. I finished up the cooking came back to the table continued drinking my protein meal replacement drink and immediately got on the forums for encouragement from others going through the same pre-op liquid diet..  I feel much better now but I know its not going to be easy.  I look forward to when I have lost some and can start on an exercise regime..  Keep up the good work and know its going to pay off in the end..

LOL! A bungy-cordectomy! I love it! I always kind of saw weight loss as climbing a mountain with loose rocks and rubble all around. One wrong step and I slid all the way back to the bottom. And I was one was always gained back more than I lost. 

The easy way? More like the only way for me. I like what the pp said when people say that - that's right, sucks to be you! That's hilarious!