Easy way out?

Ugh...I don't know why I let things get to me. A friend of mine on facebook said that having risky weight loss surgery is cheating. I let him know how hard it truly is and this was his response....

"It's not a jab at you, I'm not going to sit here and justify my statement to you. I'm sure it is hard, so is exercising 1-2 hours a day and not having guaranteed results. Sorry if I feel like getting a procedure done that forces you to change your lifestyle is easier than having the self discipline that if I had in the first place wouldn't have to be having this conversation with you."

I replied......

"No need to justify. I forget that not everyone is as open minded in this world. I'm grateful to have been able to do what I have done. I feel like I have been dieting and exercising my whole adult life and no actual results in the end. This seems to go for most people who I know who are overweight also. Forcing self discipline? Not so much unfortunately. I could eat burgers and fries every day of my life. I just push myself to eat a high protein low carb/fat diet. No one is holding a gun to my head. Would I love a sandwich for lunch today? Oh hell ******g yes...but I'm eating greek yogurt instead. Trust me. There's no difference in will power what so ever. Keep up what your doing. You will lose those 10lbs in no time."

Ugh. I wish I had the personality that let thing roll off my shoulder. Unfortunately that's not me. For some reason this really bothered me. I guess because this is the first time someone has been negative about my surgery. I would LOVE to see him go through what we all have been through. I guess no one knows how hard this is until your going through it. Any opinions???

time to use the unfriend option

Hahaha I almost did actually. I figued that would elevate the situation so I just got off facebook lol.

 Some people are just insensitive in general and that sounds like his personality.  Try to not let it get to you.   

I always mention Oprah when I talk about *easy way vs hard way*,..If Oprah, with her private chef and private trainer..and all her money can't make the hardway weight loss thing stick, then what is the secret? Plenty of people who have the surgery also gain back a substantial amount of their weight..neither way is the magic ticket..It's work.

You'll just have to let it go cuz obviously, this person is not going to be swayed by what you say at all. I suggest you click the little "Unfollow Post" and leave this person to their small minded theories..

 I don't know if you have a family (husband/kids, etc) at this point, but for some reason I had been thinking about this "easy way out" response from some people and this response occurred to me.

"I'd like you to look at each of my 5 kids and really ask yourself if it matters how I lost the weight?"

I think it takes a huge amount of courage to go through with WLS, and the self-knowledge to know what we need to do for ourselves.  What's wrong with forcing yourself to change your lifestyle with a physical tool that will make it harder to slip up?  And why does anyone feel the need to offer their opinion just on a basis of them deeming we must somehow earn some weight loss badge under their own criteria?

At 2 years out I still have to make healthy food choices.  I still have to exercise.  Those rules haven't changed.  Some of us need help in other ways to get the weight off to give us a jump-start and a fighting chance at keeping our weight off.  

No one's ever said anything even remotely sounding like that comment to me - and I've told everyone, including strangers. It's been 100% positive reaction. I think your "friend" owes you an apology- and you should be hitting the "un-friend" button and keep that negative **** out of your life... just sayin'...

Tim T.

Cheating?  Um, who is it cheating?  You get healthy and it doesn't have anything to do with anyone else, so I don't understand how it would be cheating.

Losing weight has been easier for me after surgery than it was before surgery.  If it was easier to lose weight without having surgery, I would have done so.  WLS isn't easy, but it is easier for some people.  And so what?  Is it somehow better to do things the hardest way possible?  Does your friend walk to work?  Because driving is the easy way to get somewhere.  Does he use the microwave?  Because that's the easy way to cook, he should stop cheating and start cooking over an open fire.

Ha I love that Kelly- you just made my day! What kind of lazy cheating people use cars and microwaves!!! LOL! I'm going to so steal this- thanks. :Danni