Question:
why can't people understand it's my life not there's

I'm going to have a RNY just as soon as I get my date. I'm at goal weight. I'm sure that there is alot of you out there that has delt with this problem. I love compliments on how good I look since I lost 23lbs. I found out I was a boarder line dietetic two days before Christmas Eve. After New years I started to lose weight. I also started to follow the diet that my nut gave me, and take the vitamins ect. Now that people can see I have lost 23lbs, and I share with them about my plans on haveing my RNY they say. "Oh you don't need to do that". "Look you have lost 23 already you can do it on your own". I get a little upset at their reaction when I say 'I'm going to have the operation". the first thing said is "Well your going to gain it back any way so why do it". I don't plan to do all this just to come to where I started. People don't understand not all of us can do Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. I know I'm one of those people that would end up gaining weight. The old sayin been there done that. I just don't like having to explainb why and get funny faces about what I    — treeeza (posted on May 5, 2009)


May 5, 2009
There are some people who are just busy-bodies and will always meddle, there are others who say that out of concern for you and a lack of understanding of the problems we face with losing weight. It is true that any of us can gain the weight back which is why we must commit ourselves to the lifestyle changes in both diet and exercise. My surgeon wanted to see weight loss prior to surgery to help get me in the habit of exercise and eating healthy pre-op and to make surgery technically easier. I lost 22 pounds pre-op. I got some of the same comments as to why go ahead with the surgery. They can't understand that we still have to be careful with our diet and exercise after surgery. The surgery is not a miracle cure but a powerful tool. You are doing what you need to do to get your mind and body on the path of long term success. Don't let other peoples comments (no matter how well meaning) sabotage your thoughts on how to proceed with surgery and after surgery planning. Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

May 5, 2009
I actually had a co-worker tell me that I took the easy way out by having Lap-Band. I've worked with her for 17 years. She's seen my struggles with my weight, so I just don't get it. She's even a recovering bulimic. I recently found out that she tried to get qualified for the surgery herself but, because of her history, several doctors said "no way". The rest of my co-workers say she's just jealous so she's trying to be mean. She's actually started humming loudly while I was talking to her and trying to explain that it's just a tool, and I still have to diet and exercise. She's 60 yrs old and it was like talking to a child that had plugged their ears and started screaming, but she definitely heard me when I said, "You're just ignorant!", and walked away.
   — soon2Bfine

May 5, 2009
Hey Theresa we have the first same name,and i get the same feedback from my friends too. I'm doing this for myself and nobody else and nobody else and I'm the one who has to live with myself nobody has to carry my weight around but me,so I say to you, if you have made up your mind to have the RNY then you do what you have to do,because I have made up my mind and i plan on having the RNY if my ins. is approved, Theresa Parker
   — tmparker

May 5, 2009
Theresa, People like us understand each other. The other people? Either they are jealous of us because we're doing something positive, clueless- they are out of touch with weight issues, they're mad that they can't try and manipulate and control us because we're standing up for ourselves. We're doing what is best for us. Amen Keep up the good work.
   — Kathleen W.

May 5, 2009
Congrats on YOUR choice! Everyone has an opinion...just like we all have a #** hole! but it doesnt mean we have to show it. Let people talk and do as you know to be right for YOU! Remember if they are talking about you they are leaving someone else alone. Best of luck to you..enjoy your new ways of life!
   — tootsie52

May 5, 2009
I think some of what people say is the jealousy and the fear that when you lose the weight you will not only look better than they do, but you will be getting a lot of attention surrounding your success. Some people can't deal with anything that is competitive and they think that someone else will be better than them. Just don't let they negative people dissuade you!
   — Libby R.

May 6, 2009
This is why I did not tell people what I planned to do othr than family. I still 9 months post surgery am reluctant to discuss it with people who have not gone through the process. They have no idea how hard it is emotionally to adjust with out dealing with sparing the feelings of others. I just say I have been working with my doctor. It has been life changing and I know you will be happy with the results.
   — trible

May 6, 2009
My husband is the one giving me a hard time. He has never had a wht problem. Ever!! He does not want me to have the surgery. He keeps saying if I was just more disciplined, I can do it on my own. Ive been battling my wht since I was 18 and I just keep getting bigger and bigger. Just ignore your coworker, you have to do what is best for you.
   — suzette N.

May 6, 2009
People who have not struggled just don't get it. And how long it could take to get off 100 plus lbs.. This is a tool and should be used correctly. By doing that you can be moresuccessful. I'm 5 days post op and just walked 1/2 a block. I've had no problems. Listen to your doctors and your heart. You will find support out here for what you want. Bless you and good luck.
   — Donna C.

May 6, 2009
First and foremost..congrats...you are about to change your life.. by losing the 23 lbs, you have proven that you can do this.. The RNY is not an easy way out, it's a tool, and with that tool will change your life.. I have lost 160 lbs and it's been over 4.5 years since my surgery. I had everyone being negative about the surgery, and I made it. The only ones that had been negative thought of it as cheating..what the heck is that? Anyway, my sister wouldn't even talk to me when I had it done.. she said I was going to kill our Mother with worry, because I could die.. Well I would have died either way, I was unhealthy, and unhappy. Today I am happy, free, and never have regrets.. Your life will never be the same! Just always remember the first year is your honeymoon...I lost almost all my weight in the first year and you can gain back something if you aren't careful after that... but I know you won't, cause you have the right idea..It's a TOOL, and you know how to use it... As for the ppl in your life who say you can do it on your own..tell them the surgery is another tool helping me, I will keep it off! Smile... and walk away! Best of Luck, Hugs, Rae Smith
   — Rae

May 6, 2009
Theresa -- first of all, congrats on the 23-pound weight loss and on making the decision to change your life. Don't you just love it how the people who were always harping at us, "Do you REALLY think you should be eating that bag of cookies/box of donuts/bucket of fried chicken/insert favourite food here)?" when we were enormous are the same Negative Nellies who accuse us of "taking the easy way out" when we do something about it? Before I had my surgery nine years ago, I heard it all -- "My hairdresser's car mechanic's second wife's third cousin's husband's niece by marriage had that surgery and she NEVER LOST AN OUNCE ... and then she died." Well, good for her, whoever she is -- I figure I was going to die from being fat, so what was the difference? As practically everyone who's crossed to the other side will tell you, if this is the easy way out, I'd like to see the hard way. While I don't regret this choice for a moment -- I lived to see my sons grow up, and that's more than I figured I would do in pre-surgery in 2000 -- there have been times along the way that haven't been a day at the all-you-can-eat dessert buffet, if you know what I mean. The bottom line is, this is 100% a personal choice, and whatever reasons you're doing it for are the right ones because they're yours. I've always remembered what my surgeon told me the first time I met him: If you took 100 randomly-selected morbidly obese (not "OMG, I'm such a cow, I wear a size 10!") people and put them on a supervised diet and exercise program, ALL of them would lose the weight they needed to lose. HOWEVER (and this is the mother of all howevers), within a year only THREE of the 100 would have maintained their weight loss. The moral of this story -- diet and exercise has a NINETY SEVEN PERCENT FAILURE RATE for the morbidly obese, so we can go to Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers until the cows come home and all we'll be is continuous repeat business. For example, I found it interesting that Kirstie Alley has gained back not only the 75 pounds she lost a couple of years ago on Jenny Craig, but also another 10 or 20. Sound familiar? In other words, Theresa, just smile and walk away, as an earlier poster suggested. Best of luck!
   — Cheryl Denomy

May 6, 2009
Thank You so much for your answers. They are up lifting and I'm going to keep on keepin on. Again Thank you when I get my date I will ley uoi know Theresa L
   — treeeza

May 7, 2009
Congrats on the current weight loss! I would not even worry about what other people say. They are not living your life so they have no right to judge. I have a friend who keeps telling me not to do it and I should just do weight watchers. Well I've been on weight watchers off and on for 10 years and the most I've lost is 20 lbs. I will say before I looked into the lap-band, I myself, thought it was the easy way out. After researching it, I've realized it is harder than any diet you will ever go through. Now when she makes comments my response to her is "Well I guess you better be glad you're not me then!" She did weight watchers herself and lost it and gained it all back and is back on it now and can't lose the weight. Each person has to do what's right for them. And don't feel like you have to explain it to anyone. If it's what you want to do then that's all that should matter. Good luck!
   — nerlinger

May 7, 2009
Like Nicole, I too have been on and off weight watchers but for 20 years and NEVER lost more than 20 pounds. If I have one more thin person who only had 10 to 20 pounds tell me that weight watchers works - well I won't do anything but you guys know how I feel. I'm sick of people telling me oh you're not THAT fat, you don't need to lose THAT much weight - well they should be telling my knees, ankles and and hips cause they're not getting the message - they say I AM that fat!. Look, It's taken me 5 years to finally get this far. My surgery is in 13 days and one minute I'm excited, the next I'm scared out of my mind. But I'm doing this for me - not my friends, not my boss and certainly not for the people who have never had a problem who say just exercise more. Well, I've done that too and after 18 months working with a personal trainer 4x a week and only losing 30 pounds and several thousands of dollars - I need some additional help. Will I go back to the trainer - you bet! I eventually want to become one. So I say koodos to everyone - it's not an easy out and it's our choice. So either support us or get our of our way. We're on a mission to save our lives - we're finally doing this for us.
   — harleygirlohio




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