Those diet commercials?!?

I was just wondering...????..... I was wondering what post-op reactions are to the constant barrage of diet commercials, articles, news features, etc. I've gone on just about every diet known. I had many successes, always gained it back and then some. Early after my surgery, I felt so relieved that the commercial wasn't talking to me anymore. I still feel that, but lately, I am really struck with how constant the harping and pressure to diet is out there. I guess the strategies and help is good for some people, but I think there are so many people that are stuck like I was. All of those strategies just couldn't do it for me. I realize that WLS is not appropriate for everyone. Still, when I watch and listen to what Dr. Phil is telling guests (O.K. yeah I watch him sometimes), I think back to my plight before my surgery, and know it would not have been the thing that finally worked for me. I actually do apply many of the weight loss strategies of various plans post-op, but know that without the help of the surgery, I would still be way up there above 300 pounds. I'm not even sure what I think of Kirstie Alley-Fat Actress, and the Jenny Craig ads. In some ways, it's better for someone to take a bit of humor and reject the shame aspect. On the other hand, I really have my doubts about anyone's long term success on Jenny Craig. I was really annoyed with the cover of People magazine a few weeks ago. "Half Their Size! No Gimmicks! No Surgery! Just Real People, Real Diets, Real Secrets" A parent at my kids school has lost a lot of weight this year. She makes sure to make it clear that she "did it herself, no surgery". I guess the above has made me more inclined to reveal my surgery to people. Not my husband's relatives, but anyone who might be helped by the idea that someone they know had WLS. Just wondering what any of you have been feeling when you see the ads? Patty

Patty - I feel very much like you do. I read that same article in People and was offended somewhat. I mean I know it is more of a struggle when you diet to get down, but to say it like that discounts the validity of using bariatric surgery when you feel you just can't do it yet again. What I feel it does is reinforce that you are "less than" for choosing surgery over yet another diet. What keeps coming into my mind is that it is great that these women were able to lose the weight on their own, but I fear - really FEAR for them gaining it back. Because after having been so public about it, the pressure to keep it off is even greater than for those of us who have lost it and gained it back. My brother did it on his own, but here he is a couple years later struggling like nobody's business to keep it off. And he hasn't - he has gained probably 40 lbs back already. And he fights every single day...every single day. And I hurt for him. I really hurt for him because he is diabetic and a truck driver. Keeping his weight down is imperative because when he was over 300 lbs he was about to be put on insulin. When that happens, he can no longer drive truck. And he just got hired on a sweet deal that he can't afford to mess up. So I want him to be able to do it on his own, but I fear he won't. He was discharged from the Air Force over his weight (when he was 210 lbs) and that was his dream was to be career AF. He lost that dream and I don't want him to lose this one. Anyway, I got off track here, but that is where my mind goes. I don't have ill will toward those who want to lose weight on their own. I don't think any of us do. I just think that we have a view of having been there and done that and just a genuine concern that we know that the majority of these folks won't be able to keep it off. Dina

Geez, Patty, I wish I could have lost it on my own, but failure at over 20 different diets showed me I couldn't. I did what I had to do for me and my health. I don't really care that anyone may think they're superior to me because they "Did it with diet and exercise." Good for them--anyway you can do it, then do it. But it isn't very wise for anyone to say to me--well of course, you did it the easy way. Well, that again shows ignorance because this wasn't even something that occurred to me until utter failure at every diet and worsening of my health problems made me look into something that MIGHT work for me. And it has---so, I don't care what people think, I don't care if people think they're superior because they did it the "hard" way and I took the "easy" way out, as a matter of fact, when I was FAT they had things to sat too!!! So, in my mind, back to the second sentence of this diabtribe, I did what I had to do for me and my health! and I don't really care about anything else. By the way, I feel great, I'm down 66 pounds and January 28th I turned 53. The only regret I have is not knowing about this a lot sooner than I did. You look terrific too! See you at the post op meeting on the 23rd? I know a lot of groups have people who go out to dinner before and then to the meeting. Want to do that? Let me know. Pam WHO IS NOW--OFF HER SOAPBOX!