Losing the EZ Way?
Well, I don't know who you're talking about (don't think it was me, LOL), but I certainly don't think wls was the easy way for me either. It gave me a fantastic opportunity at a quick jump start to weightloss in the first year~I am very thankful for that! I had Open RNY~was throwing up for 8wks straight, in major pain, felt weak and tired, etc~definitley not easy things to go thru. Now, coming up on my 3yr anniversary I am so happy that I did it, but will always carry my struggles around with me. I did recently have the experience for the first time ever of having someone say to me "oh you lost it the EASY way. I didnt, I did Weigh****chers". I was floored, angry, upset but due to the situation I couldn't really say anything to the woman~it just wasn't the time or the place to get into that discussion. It really hurt my feelings and made me think "why can't we all just be happy for each other no matter how we lose the weight?" Is it jealousy, envy, ignorance???? I don't know~I guess that depends on the person and their own experiences in life and with weightloss. Having wls was something that was VERY serious to me and I didn't/don't take it lightly. Yes, now I am healthy, have a normal BMI, happy with my weight, but it was no easy road to get here and there are days when its still a struggle. I feel like its a battle I will fight forever. that's what the outsiders looking in at us don't see~the daily struggle, the work that it takes to maintain, the mindset that you need to have~ITS NOT EASY!!!! Never has been, never will be.
~*~Tracy B~*~
328/160 *** 5'9"
start/current
No, I totally agree that this is not the easy way, and I love your list. Having said that, I'll say what I've said before, unless one is living in a log cabin one built oneself, lighted by candles one made oneself, keeping the stuff that has to stay cold in a cold stream (obviously this person lives in the mountains and uses llamas or some kind of mountain animal to get up and down the mountain), digs a hole for a latrine, and grows his/her own food, hunts for game (killing them by throwing rocks at them - no guns allowed), and, of course, has no running water or electricity, that person can NOT turn his or her nose up at doing something the "easy way". Puh-lease!!! I am wearing bifocals because Ben Franklin didn't want to look for his reading glasses. I heat stuff up in a microwave oven. I use a car to get around. Is there anybody alive (in the United States or Canada at any rate) who does not take the "easy way" in life? So what's wrong with doing something the easy way anyway? Geez. It doesn't make you more noble to lose weight by diet and exercise (if you can lose weight that way...I have my doubts), and it sure isn't as likely to last as long.
It's possible it was my post. I've stated this before in the main forum. But keep in mind I do NOT think this was the "easy way".
Marcia
I try to be a nice person. But if someone would come up and tell me to my face that this is easy. I would hit them right in the face. I am one of those who did not do very well. Lost the weight but sick. And it feels like it was hell. Nothing easy about hell. 
That makes me so mad........................if they only knew.......
That makes me so mad........................if they only knew....... Okay, I am going to jump in here and write about this from another perspective.
First off, I don't think this was an "easy" way for me. It was the ONLY way. I had tried everything else many, many times, and was unsuccessful at maintaining a weight loss. Therefore, it was the only way for me. And, I believe it is the only way for most morbidly obese people to get to a healthy weight and stay there. But some people DO manage to accomplish the same struggles that we have been through without surgery. Their numbers are very small, and what percentage of their weight loss will be permanent over time, remains to be seen. But those of us with WLS still have those regain issues, too. WLS is no guarentee for permanent weight loss.
I am not being very articulate here, but what Karen said,
"Having the courage to completely change your life?
Finding the strength to achieve the unthinkable?
Making a journey that is solely based on commitment?
Living in fear of failure?
Replacing the negative but familiar voices in your head with positive new voices?
Recognizing that not only do you have great power, but you deserve greatness?"
These questions pertain to *anyone* who is struggling with morbid obesity, and trying to change their life through weight loss, regardless of the method they are using to achieve that goal. There are a few people who do this without surgery, and to them, we are taking the "easy way". Why is it percieved as easy to them?, because the size of our pouches and the length of our rerouted intestines gives us an advantage over their struggles to do the same thing. I am reiterating what I said before, I could not have done this without the surgery, could not. But I can understand their belief that it is easier for me than them.
I have been thinking about this alot lately, because my best friend is morbidly obese and trying desparately to lose weight. She does not want to have the surgery, for her own reasons. Yet, she is having to make the same food choices I do, exercise like I do, and change her life, like I did. I could never live on the smaller number of calories that I consume without a small pouch that tells me I am full. I would feel like I was going crazy from hunger. So I do understand the critcism we sometimes get from people calling this the easy way.
If they only knew it was the only way for me.
I pray for my friend to be able to achieve her health goals, under her own terms. And, no, she has never told me she thought I took the easy way.
Sorry to be so wordy, but this is an important philosophical topic for all of us.
Debra M.
351/132
.. IGNORANCE IS BLISS...
HUGS MARGE 
250lbs gone! 410/160... Life's sweet! 
Most Active
Recent Topics
