Maybe a little jealous

Hi All, Do any of you get a little jealous of the people who have had WLS? I am at work today, and as you know I am totally struggling with keeping to my weight loss plan. A coworker just told me that her daughter has lost 100 pounds since mid December. 100 pounds!! in 3 and a half months. It took me 6 months to lose 95 pounds. Please don't get me wrong, I totally support anyone who wants WLS and believe they are very brave. I guess I just get a little jealous at times, especially since I've been struggling so much lately. I know that it is still a struggle whether you've had WLS or not, but sometimes I feel like other people at work are comparing me to people who have had surgery and that I seem to be lacking somehow. Stupid I know, thanks for listening. Ann

Hi Ann, You are doing fabulous. I think WLS helps people in the initial months loose faster, but farther out their weight loss tends to slow. It may take a couple of more months for us to get to our goal, but I think the extra time is worth it. I'm happy for people that loose weight whatever method they have to use, but I am glad I didn't have surgery. Lynette

Ann, You know what? No, I am not jealous of people who have WLS, not at all. Let me tell you why. First of all, like me you were quick in your weight loss. 95 pounds in 6 months. Repeat that a few times, Ann, and do that math. That's almost 5 pounds a week. FIVE POUNDS A WEEK!!!!! The second reason why I am not jealous of people who have WLS is because I can say I don't have any of those problems that some of them have. Read a few of the posts on the regrets board and you will see exactly what I am talking about. My heart goes out to those people, it truly does. They don't know 20 years down the road what the malabsorption issues are going to do to them. The surgery is still fairly new, and with the rise of people getting it I can guarantee down the road there will be some issues. In the end, Ann, if you do that math you will see that many end up having lost perhaps 2-3 pounds a week. There is the rapid weight loss in the beggining, then some stalls, then some more loss. In the end it is all the same. They have a tool that allows them to support their weight loss. You just have to find your own tool, that is how I look at it. My tool is the control I am finally gaining over food. The WLS people have to diet, it's plain and simple. But they are forced and wow some of their issues I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The only person you have to worry about is you. If they are comparing you, so be it. In the end you are going to be at the same place in the road as someone who has had WLS. We all end up with the same saggy skin don't we??? You have done amazingly well Ann. Don't let negativity step in the way now. Donna

I know what you mean about being a little jealous. I think I am a little jealous of having some of the work taken away - of physically not being able to eat as much and of loosing a lot of weight very quickly. I fight every day to make good food choices. It would be nice not to have that battle every day. In the end, I think we get to the same place and I don't know if, in the end, the WLS battle is any easier than mine. I think probably not. If I could loose 95 pounds in 9 months or even a year, I would be thrilled. I'm trying to just concentrate on 10 pounds at a time and not really look down the road that far. Karen

I know just how you feel. A nurse that I know had wls and has lost over 85 pounds in just three months! My husband has lost 12 pounds in that time, and I am jealous of him! Yet I know if I continue with OA and stick to my food plan one day at a time, I will lose weight, too. If it comes off slower, so what! All my life, I have "been in a hurry". Everything has to be fast, and now. I feel one thing God is trying to teach me is patience. My newest insurance company won't pay for wls. The only advantage it had for me was that the weight just flies off of you! But when I think of everything else you go through just to have it, maybe I'm better off not having it. Denise Phares

Good Morning Ann I think its great that people who have had WLS can lose weight so quickly, that is the payoff for doing something so drastic. Some of those same people would be dead today had they not have had the surgery. I understand why they did it, it was a life or death decision. As far as me being jealous? NO Way! I'm so proud of myself for the accomplishments that I make on my own every day, with no medical intervetion. I agree with Donna on the fact that there is such a big influx currently with WLS, but nobody knows the long term ill effects this could have on WLS patients. Sure there have been studies on WLS in the past, but the surgery is being done now in nearly record numbers. I think that within the next 15 years, we will be hearing more about the long term health problems of those that chose that option due to more medical data that will come along with it. Our society is much like "fast food," we want it NOW, that gets us into trouble in the end. I will take the slower approach, taking my lumps and bumps along the way, but making solid lifestyle changes and learning from my past mistakes. WLS or not, it is all about dietary and lifestyle changes to become and remain successful. Stepping off my soapbox now 95 pounds YOU GO GIRL!

Ann, sometimes I am a little envious, especially because I started out fully intending to have WLS. I met with the surgeon and had all the preop tests and got insurance clearance and arranged for time off from work and home health care and the whole nine yards. When I read on the main board about ops who have lost 100, 150, 200 pounds or more without doing a minute of exercise, sure, I get a little envious. But like you and Donna, I lost weight very fast -- 100 pounds in seven months. Just hang around on the main board -- you'll find plenty who have had WLS and don't lose that much that fast. Once I realized that I was doing as well as I expected to do with surgery, I felt mush less envious. And keep in mind that there are some ops who are jealous of us. Kasey 365/210 (nonop)

Hi Everyone, Thanks for your comments! They were very interesting. Today is a much better day for me. I was in control and feel confident that this will be a better week Ann 306/222/130 Non op

Hi, Ann Ya know, at first I did feel a little bit jealous. I was denied WLS from my insurance company. I was jealous that I couldn't begin that quick road to skinnydom. Now, I actually feel relieved that I didn't get it. Aside from the many complications that I am now open enough to read about, (When I was about to get the surgery, I convinced myself how safe it was.) I am willing to admit, it WAS a Cop Out. I knew deep down, that I was capable of regaining control of my eating habits...I just thought faster might be easier. The "tool" might be comparable to an electric saw vs. a hand saw. BUT, when the sawing is done, you still have to work with that piece of wood...just because you cut it quicker, it doesn't mean you're going to become a carpenter overnight. We still have to have control for the long haul. I'm losing slowly, only 47 lbs in 4 months. I have a long road ahead, but I'm in a vehicle that is getting more comfortable by the day. I'm putting better fuel into it. I'm taking it out for daily drives and it's running better. No head on collissions and no backfiring; no parts falling out and no back and forth into the hospital, oops, I mean shop. I am learning control on my own. There is absolutely no way, 20 years from now, it will be found that losing weight by eating normal amounts of healthy food and doing lots of exercise was the unfortunate and unhealthy choice. I attended a WLS support meeting when I was waiting for approval. A very intelligent and well spoken woman who had the surgery said to me. "I lost over 200 pounds with WLS. I only wish I found the control to do it without the surgery." She went on to say, "If you can do it any other way, THEN DO IT. If not, get the surgery and take your chances on a variety of side effects that gets stranger and longer by the year." She was not complaining. She was giving me the true picture. She knows more about WLS than I'll ever know. She was honest enough to tell me the real deal. She looked amazing and kept her weight off. I am not jealous, I'm thankful; Thankful that I found the courage to go the non-op route and thankful that I ran into an honest person that wasn't affiliated with the surgeon's office...the hospital....the protien shake co. etc.....who wasn't pushing the surgery for a profit. I know and agree...that WLS has saved lives. It's not the only way and it definitely is not the safest way. So I guess, no, not a little jealous....just a little relieved. Sorry for the long vent..... Laurel

I feel like jumping up and down with my pom poms. We are amazing!! I am glad that I never seriously considered surgery. I watched a friend of mine years ago have her stomach stapled. She lost a lot of weight and put it back on plus a whole bunch more. It was very sad and hard on her and her friends watching her put it back on. She didn't make any life style changes.... that is the key! Go us!! Mary 180 lbs lost (more than I weigh!) 1 1/2+ years at goal 1 amazing tummy tuck in Nov. 2005 arms and boobs hopefully in Sept. of this year!