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Thursday, April 4, 2013

WLS is NOT easy and is NOT the easy way out.

So I read a facebook post today from a few girls I follow blogs on.  I will say it made me really sad.  The girl was actually quite mad that her friend was getting WLS when clearly all she was doing was eating garbage and not moving enough.  This is the exact type of attitude from someone who does not know what they are talking about.  Yes I did get that large from not eating right and not exercising enough but it wasn't for lack of trying for about 30 years....I could drop 100lbs but I could not maintain that loss.  Losing the weight was not the problem..sustaining the loss was the problem.  I was a yo-yo dieter and that is not healthy.  I truly believe that this is not an issue for some as it is others.  I also believe when you have been overweight your whole life it is hard to keep that weight off.  I guess I don't think of WLS as the easy way...and I don't think anyone who has had it..think that.  In fact I don't know a single WLS person who believes it was easy.  The only people who think its easy are those people who don't know much about it.  Yes, there are those that gain weight back after WLS...thats because it is a tool...its not easy and requires lots of work on your part.   I spent a lot of time making the decision I did to have WLS and it hurts me when someone can be so flippant about someone elses decision....fine if you don't want to do it don't, but don't SHIT on someone elses day forcing your beliefs on them!
I am not sure why she really felt the need to rant on FB about something she really doesn't understand..it hurt my feelings.  Mainly because I LOVE her blog, she is hilarious and funny and I followed her religously...I don't think I can do that anymore.

On a side note, I am giving my buddy Elizabeth from InsidevsOutside a shout out...she is still recuperating from her surgery(got her port replaced) and the poor girl can't take pain meds..only tylenol...I heart you girl and hope you feel better soon!!!!

8 comments:

Run, Chelle, Run! said...

I've commented on this elsewhere, but I think jealously plays a big part in these sorts of feelings. But tough - I did what was right for ME.

Sarah said...

Wait. I know this post is about me. And I'm sorry you feel that way. But that IS NOT what I wrote---or meant at least. My issue was not the surgery. At all. EVER! My issue was that this woman called it the EASY EASY OUT. It is never, ever an easy way out. WLS has it's own set of challenges and hardships. For her to call it easy was spitting in the face of EVERYONE who had ever been banded or had bariatric surgery---in my mind at least.

I'm sorry you won't be following me anymore. And even sorrier that I hurt your feelings. It was not my intention. I thought I was defending the people who took WLS seriously.

Sarah

Jen said...

Here's the deal. As you know, I saw this post as well. What got me so heated was all of completely IGNORANT comments by those that responded on the post. The words "Cheat" and "Easy" were flying everywhere. I wish it was easy. I would not still be struggling almost 4 years later to lose the 1/2 I still have to lose. i really wish the young woman who posted (who by the way, had the most ignorant things to say) who has 114-120lbs to lose the best of luck with that. There was no way I could do it on my own. I tried for 15 years and then I guess I just gave up and took the easy way out. and now, I'm 125 and super svelte..

Lap Band Gal said...

My favorite emails and comments that I get from people who read my blog are when they something like this: "I was researching getting the lap band and after reading your blog/facebook/etc, I now realize the HUGE amount of work is involved to be successful and lose weight with WLS."

They finally realize that it's NOT EASY, no matter the method of weight loss (WW, Atkins, Jenny Craig, WLS, etc)

Having a Lap-Band may be a lot of work for me - but worth every ounce of dedication!

Onwards! :)

Unknown said...

It was the comments that got me on this too. One of the comments flat out said it was taking the easy way out. I think the post was indiciating there was someone she worked with saying she was having surgery to make it easier. But some of the comments were rediculous. I understand how you feel about this as you already know. But it is a reality. Just like LBG said about the emails she gets. I beleive in what we are doing! And we will prevail!

Connie O said...

I'm glad I didn't see any of this discussion! It would probably upset me too. But I admit I used to think this way until some people I actually knew and cared about had WLS and helped educate me about it. I never thought I would ever consider it myself ... but I did. So people's opinions can change--and if they are not willing to be open-minded, then they're just ignorant.

MBFL said...

My trainer was the same way when I decided to have surgery and he is eating his words now when he sees me working out at the gym....without him.

It is not in anyway easy and even with the band and at my goal weight I will struggle everyday.

My favorite quote...."If you've ever been fat, you will either be fat for the rest of your life or you will worry about being fat the rest of your life."

It is a never ending battle.

RockBand Barbie said...

I feel like I'm "out of the loop" since I have no idea what/who you are talking about. Even if I had read it I don't think I would have been really too upset about it. I could care less if people think I took the easy way out. I know that it has NOT been easy. I know that I have worked my ass off (literally) and I am very proud of myself for doing the work and knowing what I have to do to maintain. Although it feels good when other people recognize the work I have put into this, it won't make me or break me if they think it was easy for me. And even if it was easy....why would you not want to do things the easy way...work smarter, not harder :)