People say the funniest things about WLS

I can't believe anyone was that rude!  I'm not sure what I would say if anyone said that to me.  I'm the type that whatever I would have said I'd think of something later and wish I'd have said it instead.  LOL.  I think she definitely deserved a smartassed remark!

You're right about this being a lifestyle change.  If I gain my weight back it won't be because of my surgery, it will be because of me being a stupid idiot who allowed it to happen.  We could all figure out a way to eat around our sleeves.

Happy Monday!

LOL id hunt her down in a few years just to shove it in her face LOL  so many think that way really...they just dont understand that it's you that has done all the hard work...and you sleeve just is the tool to help keep you there... shocking the ignorance...but too...like you said...it's her own weight issues at play here.

Misery really loves company, doesn't it?  I'm so proud of you for keeping your cool and I really am sad for her that she felt she had to strike out at you like that.  I remember how it felt in my old skin (of course it's all still there, just hanging around now) and how jealous I was of others success, no matter how it was achieved.  I would never have voiced those rude comments to you, but I may have thought them - due to ignorance.  All I can hope is that she went home, thought about your achievement and decided to do some research.  This week, I'm thankful for the opportunity to have had this life changing surgery and my new OH family.  Thanks for sharing Elina and helping us not to forget to keep our heads in the game...

Deb

In fairness, and not excusing the blatantly rude behavior which is inexusable in itself 

1) If her experience is with RNY and Lapband patients, is she really that far off the mark? The regain/failure statistics are pretty sad.

2) She has probably been talked out of WLS by someone (husband, doctor, parents) using exactly that rationale.  If she doesn't force herself to believe it, how can she live with the decision?

3) If she has researched VSG, the 'statistical' data would suggests that patients only lose (and maintain) a 60% EWL on AVERAGE.   We all know that's old data, largely, based on DS sized sleeves; however, that's what the published data says.  It also discounts the fact that a 'compliant' sleever can be at 100% EWL while one that is not can be at lest than 50%. 

Just as an aside, I am always astonished at the lack of manners people display.  Last season on America's Next Top Model (Tyra is one of my personal hero's btw -- she is a remarkable success story), Tyra Banks  made a really inciteful comment to one of the girls who had behaved horridly on-set at a shoot.  It was something to this effect, "Keeping it real is not the same as a license to be rude.  Being civil is not 'fake' it's simply polite"  Her point was you have to balance 'telling it like it is' with tact or else you're just a douchebag.  I think that's lost on a lot of folks these days particularly when they are safe behind their keyboards. 

I suggest you get her address and be sure to send her yearly holiday cards ! 

It really is a shame that she couldn't be happy with the fact that you are happy and healthy. I would have pulled out the statistics that show that even those that use diet and exercise to lose - the majority will indeed gain back the weight and then some. Not so with bariatrics.
People just do not seem to have much in the way of manners these days do they? I think you look wonderful and would follow you around with rapt attention if I was that woman - maybe some wisdom would trickle down

*****that's all

it's funny, because if you would have just said, that, for the last 2.5 years, you had really changed your eating habits and been religious at exercising (which I bet both are true), she probably would have wanted to sign you up as her trainer. The idea that surgery was employed as a tool - I'm not sure if people are just so naive to think that we can eat the same or what makes it easy, but it does blow me away.

Elina
Amazing how rude and ridiculous some people seem to think its ok to be in situations like this - people who would never say such unkind things in other contexts. But I am not surprised you responded in your usual classy and gracious manner which was the right thing to do to not spoil someone's dinner party with an argument.

I can think of a million snotty retorts to this. But one response that works well for any rude remark is " Gee, thanks for pointing that out".

Of course you could also say "Actually my surgeon's research shows that 90% of his patients have maintained weight loss after five years (or whatever the figure is) so I think I will be fine, thank you".

But you are right that this person was bristling due to her own unresolved weight issues and I guaranty she has considered wls or been told by doctors or others to have it.

Chalk up another interesting experience in this journey. Hope you run into this person in 2.5 years but not before.

Diane

OK, I *think* these things a lot (like, when people have lots 100 pounds on HMR or whatever), but at least I come with some sort of filter that stops me from saying it out loud.  I guess some people are born without filters.