Pre-Op and Biggest Loser

Biggest Loser is on and my wife and I are watching it.  These people are bigger than I am and I feel like a "LOSER" for not being able to do it myself and I am instead going the route of RNY.  This feeling sucks!
 

Kudos to those who "can do it themselves".  The question is. can they KEEP the pounds off.  I have "done it by myself" time after time.  Only to gain the weight back.. and then some more.  For me, the only life saving alternative is RNY.

 Time for a reality check Scott.  I say kudos to those on The Biggest Loser.  They typically do a great job but......do they keep the weight off?  Many do not.  They are isolated on the "Ranch" for like 4 to 6 months with all meals provided, health care, trainers, fully equipped gym, and nothing to do but work out.  I think most of us could do it too if we were given all those perks.  Don't beat yourself up.  Feel proud that you're taking a big step in the right direction for you and your family.  There's no shame in having weight loss surgery.

Duane

You both are right.  I once lost 85 pounds (before kids) and after they were born, I gained it all back.  At that time, I worked in a factory as a computer tech and walked the entire place 12 hours a night.  Leaving there, and stress of 3 kids in the hospital for 11 weeks it wasn't an easy process.  I should just remember that this is an "assist" in the weight loss journey.  It is not a replacement or a quick fix. 

Thanks for the reality check guys.  That is why I am on here. I know you all are great guys and can lift me up when I get down.

Scott, no problem.  Anyone can get a little down or lost every now and then.  You're right about this being an assist and not a quick fix.  It's a tool and you / I / we have to use that tool.  It will only do so much without our help.  WLS is not the easy way out.  You still have to do a lot of work.

I like to watch The Biggest Loser too.  I've watched it from the beginning.  I always said that I'd love to have a chance to be on that ranch.  I'd really like to know what the Trainers have those contestants do for a workout, how much cardio, what kind of intervals, how do they go about their weight training?  It would be interesting.

Duane 

Think of it like this... The money that it cost to get a trainer, the time and do half of what happens on the biggest loser yourself.  Would cost well over 10gs.

I know someone who spent 8000 on a trainer, lost 75lbs and now has gained most of it back..  One she doesn't know how to cook.  Then fell back to old ways, it came back quick too.

Scott- I watched the show also.  As you seen from the show- many of them have serious issues- and I bet some will want to be kicked off just because it's harder then it looks on TV (happens every season).
The shows you ONE hour of 168 in a week- think about- they have to make it look interesting. Yes, they spend a lot of time being medically tested, proper eating classes, some phsyc, and of course- the GYM.    These people are motivated not only to lose weight- but there is money involved- If you are one of the finalists you could be doing speeches  and appearances for cash.
Don't think for a second that we are taking the easy way out-Much like the people on the show- it's harder then it looks.  We are doing this because for us- it's the best option- trying to compare us to them- is like trying to compare cats to dogs.

I am addicted to the Biggest Loser.  It is definitely a different feeling watching the show post-op than it was watching it pre-op.  I will admit that I used cry when watching the show, wishing that I could do what these people are doing, but it is very deceiving.  I have read and head that these contestants literally spend 6-8 hours a day in the gym.  It is totally unrealistic to expect the kind of results at home that these folks have on the ranch.

Another sore subject for me was the contest Ron from last year, who had the bypass and still weighed almost 450 lbs at the start of the show.  Rather than embrace the surgery and acknoweldge how it could help him in the future, he used the excuse that he was trying to take the easy way out.  Don't even get me started!!!

I'll admit that I really do want to start working with a trainer and have someone push me like Bob and Jilian push the contestants on the ranch.  But it's freakin expensive.  I am at Gold's Gym and they told me it is $50 a session to work with a trainer.  I am still considering doing it, as I used to easily spend that amount of money on burgers, cheesesteaks and pizza almost every day...

Phil

lol- I didn't like Ron- I thought he was two faced- he would whine and cry when his neck was on the chopping block- but didn't mind going behind others backs when it suited his wants.

Everyone is right, and if you think about it, you have probably lost a lot of weight at some point in the past and gained it back.  We all have.  Part of the reason to have this surgery is to help us once the weight is gone.  You will get full on very little food, and hence, be able to keep the weight off.  These people on this show will lose the weight while they are there and then go home and still have a very large stomach that is very hard not to fill up.