Question:
Post-Ops - Would this

As with probably all pre-ops, I am anxious about being able to keep the weight off permanently, because I've failed so many times in the past. Everyone says (as well as research) that this is a "tool". I had this thought come to me and wonder if this analogy kinda sums it up. "Being able to lose weight from conventional diets and exercise is like trying to break up a pad of concrete with a hammer. It will be nearly impossible, but there is a 5% chance that you could do it. On the other hand, the WLS is like breaking up that same piece of concrete with a jackhammer. It is hard work, but the job can be done because the tool is strong enough and is the correct tool to do the job." Am I hitting the nail on the head or am I way off?    — Denise B. (posted on June 26, 2003)

June 26, 2003
Actually I'd have to say you missed the nail a bit :>) Most of us have proven that we can diet and even lose significant amounts of weight. The problem is that most of us can't keep it off long-term (or sometimes even short-term) just by dieting. So I guess I'd compare it more to removing dandelions. A diet is like pulling dandelions. You can make your yard look really pretty by pulling them out (dieting), but there's a 90% chance that the dandelions are going to grow back that summer. With poison (WLS) there's only a 5-10% chance that their going to grow back, but one must still be dilligent for new seeds taking growth.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 26, 2003
Or...... morbid obesity is a fatal physical disorder. About 10% of us are actually eating disordered (same as the thin pubic, but we wear ours). We've always treated it as a mental illness before, hence using all he wrong tools. Since it's a physical disorder, we need to respect that and do sometimes odd things to make the wt loss work. I can only keep my disease in remission. The WLS kicks it off, but I have to participate in mny treatment to keep going. If I revert back to the treatments that failed before, I'll get the same result I always got before.
   — vitalady

June 26, 2003
I like it!
   — Kristen S.

June 26, 2003
To continue the analogy, you hit the nail on the head LOL!! I like your analogy by the way!
   — mellyhudel