Good Morning. How is having WLS like Star Trek?

One of our DSrs was told she cheated because she had WLS and wasn't losing weight the hard way. lol  Even Captain Kirk cheated the no-win scenario, Kobayshi Maru, to win and not fail. You remember the final Star Fleet exam? Spock designed it to test the character of the student crew when faced with a no-win outcome. Well, Cadet Kirk changed the programming so he would win! WOOT! That's exactly what we've done by having WLS. So, the next time someone accuses you of cheating or taking the easy way out, ask the idiot spouting this garbage if Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise was a cheat too? When you get the deer-in-the-headlights look, roll your eyes like they're the dummy and say, "Kobayshi Maru, I just changed the programming so I would win and not fail." 

What's your comeback when people say you cheated or took the easy way out?

Y'all have a great Thursday!

--gina

I can't believe no one has told me I took the easy way out in the last two and half years.
I think I would tell them to walk in my shoes for a couple of days!! In addition to doing everything a "normal" person has to do to keep the weight off such as watch what you eat and exercise you have to:
Make sure you get your vitamins and watch your labs
Make sure you get your protein
Try to stay on schedule

Don't get me wrong, I would do it again in a heartbeat. It really is hard work and maintaining is tough!!

Travel day for me at work today so I will be riding around the countryside!!

Linda

Yeah, wow, no one has told be that either.  And I did have a pretty textbook recovery, but surgery and having a different internal system for the rest of your life is not "easy".  And although "WE" aren't going to fail, there are plenty who do the surgery, then fail because they aren't willing to do the continued work. 

 Ha! "Kobayashi Maru" indeed!  I love this analogy.  I'll have to remember it to pop it on my father-in-law the next time he looks at me critically.   He's never actually said anything, but as an exercise nut I know he's been thinking it.  The best part is that he is also a Star Trek nut!   

Like Price and Linda, I haven't had anyone tell me I took the "easy way out".  I've gotten the "that's SO dangerous of a surgery". 

I think Tom can attest its NOT the easy way out.  He sees daily what I have to do to maintain my health, along with my "off days" (grouchy pouch, reactive hypoglycemia, constipation, etc). 

On the Dr's yesterday they spotlighted a man that lost from 460 lbs to 155 "by himself, the hard way with no surgery".  Yep, even on TV they spout that surgery is the "easy way out". 

On the local TV news lately there has been some stories about people who have lost weight by having surgery and have been much more positive type of stories. 

I'm wondering though, the people who are saying surgery is the "easy way out" - are they skinny?  Have they EVER had a weight problem?  Have they ever had to walk in our shoes?

I can't remember anyone saying that to me but sometimes I feel that way.  It has been a pretty easy road for me but I think part of the easiness is being a LW.  The short amount of time it took me to get to goal has to be easier than for someone who has 100's and 100's to lose and it takes them years.

Just my opinion.   

I haven't had anyone say that I took the easy way out, but if anyone did say that, I would probably like to punch them in the nose. I had a difficult recovery and spent two weeks in the hospital with complications, so I know that this hasn't been the easy way. I work at this everyday of my life, with taking my vitamins, logging my food, and exercising. What WLS has done has leveled the playing field, so that I work on maintaining, rather than trying to lose, then regaining, and starting that yo-yo again.

Being a LW has certainly helped to reach a lower BMI and I am thankful everyday that I decided to have WLS. It has been a gift of health and a second chance of living a healthier life. It is truly about a change in lifestyle. Many people do not understand this.

Gail

I think "leveling the playing field" is a great phrase.  When "normal" people eat 1100 calories a day and exercise 5 days a week, they lose weight.  When an obese person does this, she might lose a few pounds at first but then it is excruciatingly difficult or not impossible to lose more.  And twice as easy to gain it back.  So the surgery leveled our playing field so that when I eat 1100 calories and exercise, I actually lose weight!! 

Another thought:  yes, WLS may seem like "the easy way out" but easy for whom?  "We tried a million times harder than you to lose weight the "regular" way and now are finally able to work a regular version of HARD -- just like you -- to lose it and keep it off."

I always like to say whats so easy about having your guts rearranged? Maintaining a diligent vitamin and protein schedule? Exercising 5 days a week? Not a thing! I usually am meek and mild mannered, but this will set me right off.

LOVE this comeback!  And yes, Maria--I'm also pretty mild-tempered.  I have only a couple things that set me off, and this is one.  The idea of someone saying something about it being "easier" or making any comment similar is putting judgement on the situation.  How frustrating and unfair!  They haven't walked in our shoes--they don't know what we've tried and what we've gone through.  And believe me, my shoes can still kick them in their heinies!  LOL!  But, I think I like the comeback better!  :D  And it's very true, it's the whole idea of leveling the playing field!!  SO VERY TRUE!!  Here's to us all being on the same field!  YAY!!