Oh OPRAH!!??

Maybe we should all write Oprah and tell her our own personal stories and invite her to come on and read. Maybe she will see the GOOD side of WLS. Too many people focus on that small percentage of people that die from it. Isn't it like 1-2 % ??

 I've been writing for years.  I even printed out large posters.  That's why I came up with this picture.  I'm sure she gets tons of mail about it.  It used to be all over the forum but now they've sort of cleverly arranged it so that it's a little more difficult to discuss WLS on her forum.

Home: Obesity Surgery Program: University of Iowa Health Care

Statistically, the risk of death during these procedures is less than one percent.

I am watching Oprah right now.  I know she is having a hard time with her weight just like the rest of us.  I wish I had a chef and a trainer.  I would love to have someone to cook my foods.  I love to eat but I hate to cook anymore..lol.....You can't make a person do it unless they want to.  Have a great evening everyone.  hugs

Yvonne, that first post was to you my friend....of course I am sure you knew that..lol

 I heard she had the 1/2 Ton Mom on her show today, the lady who died right AFTER her RNY surgery ..      (figures Oprah would pick a WLS story with the most unhappy ending, if she was going to feature a WLS guest on her show        )

Does anyone know if you can watch Oprah online anywhere?

 Yes, go to her site.  I know you can somewhere.

I'm not intrested in starting a fight about this topic but I wanted to state my opinion.  Going thru weight issues is hard no matter who you are.  Can you imagine being as famous as Oprah and going thru the ups and downs of weight loss?  Someone mentioned her chef and dietitian's...do you really think having those would have stopped you from eating poorly or over eating?  I had weight loss surgery because it was the right choice for me but I am one of those people who have kept it to myself.  It's a very personal choice.  You can fail at it just like you can fail at a diet.  Not to mention if you can loose the weight without surgery why wouldn't you do that?  Oprah has proven she can control her weight in the past - she has been thru a lot with her thyroid.  Give her some time to catch up.  Also - does she really weigh enough to have surgery!?  Why are people on this board judging any ones weight issues?!

I felt like she was really open to the idea of weight loss surgery today.  There is nothing wrong with loosing weight the old fashioned way also.  Why should we, as surgery patients, judge anyone on their approach to weight loss?  Haven't we ourselves been judged enough?  Why can't you be supportive of someones decision either way?

Just my two cents.

I didn't see the show so my comments are general.

It must be very hard to have every ounce you gain/loose be headline news for the tabloids. And certainly having a personal chef and dietitian is no guarantee of success. If that was so, no one with the financial means to afford these things would be heavy.

You wrote "Oprah has proven she can control her weight in the past". I see it in a slightly different way--she has shown that she can loose weight. Many times. But she gains it back. I am not sure that she can control her weight long term. As someone with a major metabolic issue being a main reason I was obese, I am very sympathetic to how hard it can be to loose and maintain.

I think that this is one of the reasons that WLSers may become frustrated with her is that O is very influential in terms of forming public opinions. For me, it isn't just about whether she has WLS herself, (I don't care one way or the other, my hope for her is the same as for anyone else who struggles w/weight--that is, that they find *some* way to healthily loose/maintain) but as a super influential person, her attitude about it helps shape the opinions of millions of others--regardless of whether she ever has WLS herself. I speculate that this is one of the reasons why reactions to her here are what they are.

I don'****ch her show so I can only rely on what I hear from those who do watch regarding her attitide towards WLS. I am glad to hear you felt that she seemed somewhat positive about WLS as an option.