People Magazine's "Half Their Size" Stories

Okay so I am SICK of their obvious underlying bias against WLS- they only feature people who lost weight "the regular way" "without surgery or pills " The underlying message is that WLS is a cop out. SO I wrote a letter to People Magazine- here is a copy- lets see if they print it I am extremely tired of your continued obvious bias again weight loss surgery. Your features of people who lost a significant amount of weight "without surgery or pills" amounts to saying that those of us who opted for surgical intervention are weak willed cop outs. After being overweight since childhood, and morbidly obese most of my adult life, I chose gastric bypass surgery a year ago. I have gone from 311 pounds down to 175. I felt that this was my best option to lose, and maintain that weight loss in the long run. Statistically speaking, I am much more likely to maintain my weight loss over the next 10-20 years than any of the people you featured who opted for non-surgical weight loss interventions. The underlying message you put across that surgical intervention is an easy way out of morbid obesity is untrue. I have had to undergo counseling, see a nutritionist, attend support group meetings, and entirely change my relationship with food. That was before I got to undergo major surgery and spend three days in a hospital, and come home with a five in*****ision in my abdomen. I will never eat the way I did before surgery again. I will never eat a bowl of rich sugary fat filled ice cream, never down a double cheeseburger and a side of fries, or finish a 5 course meal at a dinner party again in my life. My new life requires me to eat differently, think differently and act differently. To view it as anything less a story of triumph and courage is irresponsible of a publication such as yours that many people look to for role models.

Well said and I agree with you completely!!!

Ok, so a friend of mine pointed something out to me earlier today. These people in the magazine were able to do the "impossible." They did lose their weight the "old fashioned way" and for that I give them ALL the credit in the world simply because I was unable to do it the same way they did. I did resort to wls and that is what I needed to do for me. Either way, when a person loses weight it's a REALLY big accomplishment no matter how they lost it. So congrats to "them" and congrats to "us"- we are all doing what we need to do in order to live a long and healthy life. Ahhh...I feel better now. I guess it must be that passive/aggressive side of me coming out right Ms. Z? hahahahaha Be well and happy new year to all of us "losers." Christine

Great letter MoMo... You chose your words very well. Would want you on my team any old day. That's what I love... passion... expressed. While I do agree with your sentiments, I also agree with Christine's. I say we all join together and say bravo to all of us. the nonops and the WLS folks. either way we are regaining our health. It doesn not have to be them or us mentality that (forgive me) the U.S. is so famous for. How about WE... can do it. More of that collective energy I believe in.