losing weight "on your own"

I just read a post in which someone said something about "losing weight on your own," and I've heard people say that before.  Typically what they mean is losing weight without surgery as opposed to losing weight with surgery.  But for some reason this morning that phrase made me think.  (I know, it's scary, huh?)

Now, when we lose weight by having surgery, you could say that we don't do it on our own.  I mean, we aren't operating on ourselves.  And surgery gives us a tool that many people don't have.

But don't most people that lose weight without having surgery still have tools that help them?  If I did not have surgery but hired a personal trainer, would I still be doing it on my own?  If I went to Weigh****chers, would I still be doing it on my own?  If I joined a gym, or used meal replacement shakes like Slim Fast, or took appetite supressants, would that be doing it on my own?  And if so, how is surgery different?

Also, we all know that success with this surgery is not just about the actual operation.  It's also about following a meal plan, making good food choices, all that stuff.  So if I am not doing it on my own, who is making those food choices for me?  Who was it that turned down the honey mustard and onion pretzels yesterday and insisted my mother take them home with her even though they are super yummy?  I thought I was the one that did that.  Was it one of my other personalities?  It sure wasn't my surgeon!  He wasn't here.

That's a good point you make!  It sure isn't my surgeon that (literally) walks my ass off each week!    People should just say "losing weight without surgery" rather than "losing weight on your own" if that's what they mean.  I don't think people who haven't had the surgery realize how hard we have to work to loose weight.  When someone asks me how I lost the weight and I tell them about the surgery, I make sure to emphasize that I also count calories (~1000 a day), food log, and exercise religiously (up to 2 hours a day).

I've thought the exact same thing.  Thanks for putting it down in words.

Kelly, I am so glad you said this. Before I started looking into surgery as a tool, I had that mindset of "WLS is for those who can't do it on their own">  but when a good friend started her journey and I started to really look into it, I realized that all WW, TOPS, South Beach--all those are all tools as well, just like this. I am losing the weight for me, no one else is losing it for me!! All one has to do, unfortunately, is see how many people have revisions to see that some of us do not use this tool as successfully as others-for whatever reason!

Some people have asked, "don't you wish you did this earlier?" and my answer is truthfully, no. for one thing, my mind wasn't there. for another, my life in general did not have the people in it to help me along. and third, who knows if I would have gotten my wonderful surgeon and his staff? I did it when I was ready to do it. and I am NOT looking back!

Shannon

I know some people do wish they'd done it sooner, but yeah, some of us weren't ready sooner.  No one should be having surgery if they aren't ready, no matter what the reason they aren't ready is.  I think we do need to have our minds in the right place.

 Kelly,

I tired to lose weight "On my own" for many years, and failed repeatedly!!! Which is one of the reasons that I had my surgery in the first place.

So, the question to me would be just how long we should continue to do this "On our own?" Should it be right up until we die from all the crap we develop from being obese for so long, or just until we can no longer breath well, or walk well unable to enjoy little things that others are able to enjoy because they were dealt a much better metabolism. 

It's a nice thought, but I just  couldn't keep waiting for this to happen. I wanna live during whatever time that I have left on this earth, and could not care less what some highly opinionated unaware person has to say about me taking "The easy way out!"

You tried to lose weight "on your own" for many years.

You're not losing weight "on your own" now?  Who is doing the work for you now?  I really hate to exercise so it would be great if someone else could do it for me!  How do you find someone else to do the work for you?

 If you find out, let me know....LOL

I was hoping you could tell me!

Not scary at all Kelly!  I love it when you think like this.  It helps all of us.  I certainly would never have thought of it in that way, but you are so right.

Thanks for the great insight.