I'm opening my big mouth.

OK, I think I need to say this, so here goes. This surgery is a life saver. We are not weak people nor are we second class. I had a friend say to me just 3 day's before my surgery that she would take the hard way to lose weight. If this isn't the hard way, I wish someone would tell me. I was on my way to stay the night in a motel the day before my surgery & I was telling my sister & another friend that as of 12:00 am that morning my life of 47 years no longer existed. The thing's I could eat & the amount's no longer were there for me to fall back on. I had to make a commitment to change my total life style. I can no longer eat the candy, cookies, cakes, chip's, soda I was so use to having. I have been caffeine, sugar free since May 1st. This is not the easy way. I think we should be respected for taking this on in our lives. It is a huge thing to undertake. I give you all a huge hand & tip my hat to you all. I hope this didn't offend anyone. It was not my intention to do so if I did. It has just ate at me to think my friend would say this to me when she has fought the weight thing as much as I have. Well, I guess I have said enough for now. Hope to hear from some of you all soon. Sara.

No offense taken here Sara. I think all of us know that this is far from the "easy way out". We all have the scars to prove that we are in the battle of and for our life. All this surgery does is give us a fighting chance, it's up to each of us to make the right choices that will lead to success. Susan

Hi Sara, feel free to open your mouth anytime. Deciding to have this surgery was not an easy decision to make. Finding the right Dr. and right procedure isn't easy either. Fighting the insurance isn't easy. So where is the easy part? There isn't. This is something that we will be dealing with the rest of our lives. What to eat and what not to eat, plus vitamins, protein, so when your friend says she would rather do it the hard way, ask her about these questions. What part of the surgery isn't hard? There's pain, you are limited on what you can eat, or face dumping sysdrome, or throwing up. Ask her to eat what you have to eat for just two days, plus 64 ozs of water, protein, weighing her food, and then ask her what is the hard way. We are lucky if we get 500 calories in a day, where as hers could be 1800-2000 a day. Give her a menu of what she is allowed to eat that day by measuring it in 2 ozs at a time. I bet she will be very hungry afterwards and cheat, where we can't cheat. Tell her the best way to see how she can lose weight the hard way is to write down every thing that she eats, and everything must be weighed. Plus get in all her water, a complete vitamin, and protein. Tell her to do that for one week, but she has to try yours for 2-3 days first. That will help her stomach to start shrinking, no beef and no pork, no pastas, no breads, nothing fried, and no potatoes. Then see if she lost anything, then ask her which program was the hardest, yours or hers? Curious to find out. Love ya, Kathy

Hello Sara, I was thinking on what you said about this WLS not being easy. I think your friend said that because she is scared and maybe she can not afford the surgery for herself. It could be that she just wanted to see how the surgery turned out for you so she can do it for herself. But I am with you when it comes to this not being easy. I have fought the hardest right now. I am a month off my six month diet and I am having a hard time just keeping the calories off. It is by no way easy. I argue with my brother everyday about WLS decision for me. I think we all need a big hand for the steps we take on our way to wieght loss happiness. You go girl! For your decision on changing your life and having the courage to have weight loss surgery. I hope when I have mine I will do just as well as you did. Your friend, Tina