Ok so I went to this party last night and saw a group of women I haven't seen in awhile. One has not seen me at all since my weight loss. She didn't speak to me at first and I was kinda upset b/c we had a falling out when I was considering surgery more than 1 1/2 ago and haven't spoken since. Then she came up to me and said she didn't know who I was until she asked and that I look great. She is a big girl like I was and told me she's jealous and was going to look into the surgery for herself. Lol. But said it in a nice way!! The second girl I saw hates me now!! She's not very big but has put on some weight and I used to be so much bigger than her! She wouldn't talk to me and gave me the fakest smile and laugh I've ever heard. Can't stand people like her!! And the last has seen me as she works at Walmart which I frequent but has never mentioned my weight loss before. She told me I looked good but I took the "easy" way out. I put the biggest smile on my face and said yep I did and 150 lbs later I feel great. Easys awesome!! Lol! She is also obese. Now I know this isn't easy but heck if that's what you want to think go ahead. It was a hell of a lot EASIER than being hungry all the time and doing good for a week before getting so hungry I ate everything in the house. It amazes me how different these womens reactions were!! The first one pleasantly surprised me as I was upset we had fought about the surgery. The woman with the chip on her shoulder pisses me off because she always used to moan about losing weight and how thin she used to be. Can't other people get healthy too?? Or do you have the monoply on that? And the last cracked me up with her ignorance. And how she gave me a compliment and then boom there's the catcher "easy way out" do you walk when u can drive? Do u sew your own clothes when you can go to the store? Do u churn cream into butter??? Didn't think so. I am happy with my weight loss and the sleeve has given me back my life. Actually ya know what?? It has given me a life. I was never thin, never healthy, never happy. And if I can help one person who believes its hopeless like I did I will gladly take the insults!!!

I think the whole "too thin" thing comes from the fact that almost everybody is overweight these days. Normal weight does look really thin next to the 2/3 of the country that is overweight or obese. I get a lot of those comments now - but I could still stand to lose several inches on the waist / hips region. I'm not going to kill myself chasing the last 10 pounds, but I figure my body is going to settle where it wants to - I was surprised to get below 150, my body wanted to go further.

People can be really mean. And, yes, this surgery was the easy way out for me. It was hard emotionally. It was hard during recovery. However, the weight loss was really easy and has been easy to maintain so far. I didn't get the surgery do it WOULDN'T work. I made a decision and I am thrilled that it delivered on its promise. I can't waste time thinking about whether or not I "deserve" what happened to me.

Besides the health benefits, its not much different than getting a new pair of boobs. Are my boobs morally superior to someone with fake boobs? No! Would I consider surgery if I wasn't happy with my boobs? Yes - if it really bothers me, I am going to take care of it. I don't want to live a life of fear and regret because someone is judgmental about surgical procedures. I also had a C-section when I had my daughter. It wasn't medically necessary - I just wanted one. Guess what? I did it the way I wanted to, we are all healthy and happy, and it's no ones business. Just because I took a different path doesn't mean I am less of a mother.

Ok, I'm stepping off my soapbox.

I don't consider it the "easy way" but really the "only way out".

I say this because once you have reached a certain level of overweight, it is pretty much shown that most people can't keep the weight off. Even if they diet and get some off... it eventually comes back on. I have experienced that myself repeatedly so I know it it to be true for me personally.

Weight loss surgery... the only way out, my last chance to get my weight under control.

Then I always follow it up with, and I'll keep it off too and smile. Have a great day!! Now go have your cookie.

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