just wondering.....

Hi, Siobhan.  RE: doing it on your own, with WLS, there will always be the perception that it's the easy way out.  Is this accurate?  No.  I know friends who have had WLS and it was definitely a challenge--getting through surgery, healing, adapting behaviors, living on little food, having their mind counter their necessary behaviors.  Easy, no. I think when people interpret it as easy, perhaps they're referring to the exertion level of exercise and personal control with diet.  I will say, I have a bias--I am against the proliferation of WLS and believe it should be used only for the rarest of cases.  I think anyone can lose weight with proper diet and exercise.  And I t hink in some ways diet and exercise are even more challenging than WLS.  But that doesn't take away the challenge WLS patients face in their journey. I chose diet and exercise over WLS because of research and a review of personal habits.  I was not willing to accept the risk of surgery nor what it would do to my metabolism in the long run.  That was my choice.  100 lbs can be done, just not as fast as WLS, and can be kept off with greater ease when you've protected your metabolism along the way with proper methods. WLS is a tool, as are pills, commercial diets, exercise and lifestyle changes.  But the best tool is the one that is right fo the job and  that does the job correctly.  You don't want to use a spoon to shovel, nor a phillips head when you need a straight edge to unscrew something.  Bad metaphors aside, knowing the best tool for a stuation, or believing in certain tools equals an opinion.  I wouldn't confuse opinion with judgment.  You chose WLS if I understood your post correctly and felt it was right for you.  One can still have an opinion on WLS as a choice and it not be a judgment on you.  Even if it were, there is nothing wrong with having an opinion.  When I taught college level, I was stunned at students who shied from having an opinion...I think it's a reflection on a politically correct culture.  But have an opinion, back it up, and have passion about your beliefs.  If you don't stand for what you believe in, what do you stand for?