I definitely consider myself a "success story" thus far. I am down about 115 pounds in 7 months. I look and feel better than I have in my entire adult life. I have no regrets and I know that having the VSG was the right decision for me at the right time in my life.

Here's the thing -- there are moments when I have guilt over taking the "easy way out" by having this surgery. Intellectually, I know that it was not really easy at all and I know that if I didn't do it I was headed for disaster in terms of my health, but there is some part of me that wonders if I could/should have done it the old fashioned way with diet and exercise (even though I know that was pretty unrealistic for me).

Again, I really have no regrets, but I am just wondering if any other sleevers out there have had these feelings. I guess my biggest concern is that feeling like I cheated or took the easy way out will cause me to sabotage my weight loss maintenance.

Thanks for any input you can provide.

Brian

I definitely don't think this is the easy way out although I still sometimes feel guilty when I talk to someone and they mention that I've lost weight, ask how I've done it (usually because they want to lose some) and I tell them I've had surgery. Often the response is "oh...." and nothing else. I have fought for every pound I have lost and I have radically changed my eating and exercise routines. I know that I have to watch everything I eat to make sure that I don't fall back into bad habits. I agree with those who've said that if you have trouble with something find a better way to do it. This was a better way for me!

I don't know how anyone could call having the majority of your stomach cut out as easy. No, way! I haven't had the sleeve (yet) but am seriously considering it.

This is where I laugh all the time. I could have died or ended up with some serious complications. Other than that, for me, this was absolutely the easy way out and thankfully this way existed. I mean why would you want to do it the hard way when there is an easier way. Losing weight is a full time job for us fatties and losing weight is not the kind of job I want. I am certain that in the next 5 months I will have to put some effort into losing the remaining weight until goal, but anything that will get me to where I need to be easier and faster...I will take it. I struggled long enough with the weight gain and losses - I was over it! So I paid for a scary, but excellent tool which makes it easier for me to lose weight. I don't really see this surgery as hard, but if anyone says to me...why did you take the easy way out...I would say to them...why wouldn't I? Struggling is overrated!

I don't know how anyone could call having the majority of your stomach cut out as easy. No, way! I haven't had the sleeve (yet) but am seriously considering it.

Wait till you see. It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It was less invasive or hard to recover from than my c-section, vaginal birth, ankle surgery, or ankle revision. Piece O' Cake ( or bite now rather Mind you I had no complications.

Wait till you see. It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. It was less invasive or hard to recover from than my c-section, vaginal birth, ankle surgery, or ankle revision. Piece O' Cake ( or bite now rather Mind you I had no complications.

I agree! When I stood up for the first time I was expecting lots of pain. When I finally stood I was like, Whoa, a c-section hurts worse than this. Yes, I still had some pain but it was manageable.

I would like to congratulate all the happy mothers via C-Section. This was no easy way out. You needed/wanted your baby to come and see this world being healthy - speaking for people that are overweight, we need/want our lives to see this world being healthy.

Hello fellow sleevers,

I am only 3 weeks post op but.......

there is no question about it, WLS is not an easy way out. People that never had a problem with food or weight loss might say such a statement, but they don't know what they are speaking about.. I'm confused why anyone who has had WLS, whether it be the lapband, gasticbypass, or sleeve would think having WLS is the easy way out.

When i told my mother about my surgery - she was so excited- she was going to see me in 2 wks and said, "my 90 lbs of weight would be all be gone" - like I took a magic pill to have it just disappear. i really think thats what she thought, along w/millions of other people. They are totally unaware of all the difficulties that begin to face us.

WLS It is not magic, you put on in 10,20, 30lbs+ over many years, it won't come off with a snap of your fingers. We have to work hard for this to happen,continually for the rest of our lives, thats why its our journey.

When i was in the hospital after my sleeve, the women next to me asked what kind of procedure i had? I told her I had WLS. She looked at me and said "you must have felt quite desperate". She was very nice. And, yes thats the right word. I was very desperate, but there is no easy way out by having the surgery.

I am confused to why anyone that had the surgery would say "yes this is the easy way out"? what are they thinking?

Do people think we go to bed overweight, and waking up the next morning with weight gone!!! Yes, that would be easy. We unfortunately can not do this, there is nothing like that possible - who knows about the future 1,000 yrs from now.

working the sleeve

kathy

WLS 12/15/11