Daily Post--3/11/08

Hmmm...interesting question. Sometimes I feel as if I'm "cheating" but by no means would I say this was "easy." Bottom line is I don't care even a little bit about what other people say about it. So there, neeener neener.

OMG, no way is this the easy way out!! I have had to work so hard to make my band work for me. What people don't understand whether it's the band or RNY, this is a tool to help us lose weight. If we don't use that tool, we're not going to lose the weight or keep it off!! I have been lucky in that no one, at least to my face, has told me that I took the easy way out. If someone ever did, I would so let them know all the hard work I have put into this and will have to continue to for the rest of my life. Michele

Well, I think that it is not the easy way out, what with all the appts we have to go to, and the testing we have to have. The pain of surgery, and recovery. But that said, I find this the easiest weight loss I have ever acheived. I dont get cravings, I cant really cheat, I am afraid to try candy, cookies, or sugary snacks. I am not ever hungry, and if I didnt make myself eat, I probrably would only eat 1 or 2 times a day. As for anyone outside my family, I havent really told anyone, so I dont know what they think and dont care. Vivienne

Most people don't know I had RNY. Only a couple close friends. So, this does not really apply. I've had to work just as hard with workouts five times per week. no fat, simple carbs or sugar. I'm a slow loser, so my 166lb loss wasn't as noticeable over a year+ than some who drop 100lbs in four months... It's not the easy way out, although I agree 100% it is a tool. It has aided me in my pursuit to thin-dome. The physical hunger is gone, therefore the anxiety of a traditional diet is less. This works for me.

I too sometimes feel this was the easy way out. Especially when I see the people in my TOPS group that have/and do work so hard to lose weight and keep it off. But I am SO VERY THANKFUL that this EASY WAY OUT was there for me. It has saved my life. So let them and me think what ever we will. I really don't care. It is the best choice I have ever made in my life. Alice

I agree with the comments already given - I don't feel it is the easy way out - my family and close friends see that it isn't - at work, I have heard others say it is the easy way out only because they don't know me and don't know I have had surgery - once I hear them comment that so and so took the easy way out with surgery (I work at a different company since I've had surgery) I don't volunteer that I had surgery, but I comment that how could it be easy having your insides rearranged and limit what you can and can't eat?? I think the people who comment are jealous of the weight loss and don't want to have to do what is needed in order to lose the weight - it's easier to complain than to do something about it. Just my .02 worth.

I absolutely HATE IT when people say that. What is easy about having any type of surgery and then having to make sure you take your vitamins and eat the right types of food or you have to suffer through dumping, losing your hair, other health complications!?! It's completely lifechanging and nothing that is completely lifechanging is easy!! If it were easy then nobody would ever try to diet, everyone would just have surgery because it's so "easy". I think it's ridiculous that people would even suggest that it's the easy way out!!

Nope, it certainly isn't the "easy way out", but I don't care if they say it or not, obviously they don't know what they're talking about and it doesn't mean anything to me. I have had a person say that to me about someone else and I just said that I had the surgery and it is just a tool. There is still a lot of hard work that goes into losing the weight. Jules

you know what? With the surgery I had I tell people I took the easy way. I was always one who exercised and tried and tried to diet all to no avail. With the VSG you just can't eat as much. I have no other issues so that makes it easy for me. Carla

I don't agree with the easy way out. It may seem like it as in the beginning all we have to do is breathe and we lose weight...however, the mental preparation and the daily challenges of food choices, exercising and maintenance is just the same as those who chose not to have surgery and lost it on their own. This only helped us along and somewhat forces you into the healthy life. If that makes sense. I think we work just as hard if not more at our new life.