So there I was ...330 pounds of exhausted, heavy breathing, high blood pressured, diabetic, sleep apnea laden, shell of his former self humanity. I had taken the "normal" way many times, the slippery slope of hundreds of diets, miracle cures, and sure fire programs only to tumble back down in a heap, more unhealthy than before.

My wife began talking to me about weight loss surgery. She had been up that slope as many times as me and fell down with the same result. I was appalled that she would choose such a drastic step, I volunteered to hold a gun at her head at dinner time... in my mind the same as what she proposed. The batting of her big, beautiful eyes melted me down as it always does and I ended up at an "information" meeting held by the surgeon at our local Center of Excellence bariatric hospital.

My steely resistence melted away when I detected the sound of sound science and saw the many results obtained by the patients there. I came away from the meeting sleeve-minded to the shock and delight of my bride.

Now, a year and a half later, I am free of excess fat, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and all that accompanies them. The only heavy breathing I do is when I run up a steep hill with 2 1/2 pound weights on each foot, carrying a 20 pound kettle bell, full speed, 12 times. Even then I am back to normal breathing before I hit the shower back home. This from a guy that used to compare the steps to the upstairs bedroom with Mt. Everest.

So now I feel guity. It was a lot easier to get the operation than suffer with the effects of obesity. It was easier to make an effective intervention than run down a thousand more dead end streets. It was easier to take a chance on life than taking a dirt nap that odds are would have happened by now.

But, you know, guilt can be earned or slapped on you by ignorant people. The same folks that charge you with the high crime of "taking the easy way out" would take the same route in a heartbeat if they weren't such lilly-livered cowards.

So I will file the guilt of "easiness" away in the same folder with the shock belt I bought some years ago that was supposed to melt away fat but succeeded in just making burn marks on my belly; the folder of dumb ideas.

Well said !

Spoken with truth and experience!! I haven't told anyone because of the very thing you are saying. I don't want to have to answer any questions etc. But if I do I will remember your post!

Love this post! I have been very open about my devision to have weight-loss surgery. Besides marrying my wonderful husband I think it's the best decision I've ever made. I haven't received any criticism or negative comments about my choice, mostly curiosity and some fearful concern for my well-being. Thankful for that! But I read on the forum that many people decide to keep their surgery as private as possible. This is a personal decision of course, but I think there is a big misconception among the uninitiated that having surgery is the "easy" way out and that you don't have to work at it. While my weight-loss thus far has gone much further and faster than I've ever done using any previous diet and exercise program, it was NOT an easy choice. It takes so much courage and determination to see it through and yes, WORK IT, once you're on the other side. Thanks for the continuing inspiration!

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274

EXACTLY... I will NEVER agree with those who insist that WLS is the EASY way. None of this is EASY.... but it DEFINITELY makes things LESS HARD! And LESS HARD is good... Why would I want to keep doing things the MORE HARD way when there is a LESS HARD way?

I don´t think it matters if you call it the easy way out. Let them call it what they want. I am retrieving my health and if people have a problem with that, too bad! I do believe that envy is a big part of it. As long as there are someone fatter than themselves, they don´t address the issue of their own weight.

Yes! Well said and congrats on your success!

I don't understand why some think this is "the easy way". Jenny Craig is easy! Weight Watchers is easy! Having most of your stomach removed is not easy. It is an absolute last resort to be healthy and live a long life. And 7 months out I regularly get the slimes after just one mouthful and diarrhea probably 2 - 3 times a week. I have painful reflux and dizziness from low blood pressure.

I like the way I look now and the compliments I get. I love the clothes and shoes I can wear and the fact that I can play on a playground with my grandchildren. I actually can slide down a slide without my arse getting stuck. I can easily do up my seatbelt on an airplane and don't have to suffer the stares of others when I eat out. I have re-introduced myself to my toes and my sex life has improved dramatically.

But easy it is not. My body is now something I have to plan for and manage. But I am planning and managing........just.

Easy? NO NO NO!

Wonderful post! So inspirational. And congrats on your amazing success

Thank you for wonderful post, I couldn't agree more!

Congrats on your awesome success!

I think my response to anyone who has the unmitigated gall to tell me I'm taking "the easy way out" will be to remind them that for over 30 years, there was NO WAY OUT that worked for me.

If my choice is no escape from obesity or WLS, I'd have to be dumber than a box of rocks to keep doing that which clearly has never worked for me before.

And if the person saying WLS is easy also happens to be overweight, I will probably say, "if it's so easy, why don't you join me--I can give you my surgeon's contact info!"

So poignant and wise. Great expression of fact.

So I will file the guilt of "easiness" away in the same folder with the shock belt I bought some years ago that was supposed to melt away fat but succeeded in just making burn marks on my belly; the folder of dumb ideas.

Haha, that is GREAT!!! Thanks for the laugh, and thanks for sharing.

Very well said!!!

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Great post! I have avoided telling too many people "my secret" as to how I am losing weight. I really think that since its been 9 months and I am still losing...it is making everyone suspicious because I haven't fell off the wagon and started gaining weight back which is what I've done a million times before in my life.

Great post. It's the "Smart" way out not the "easy" way out.

highest weight = 228 DOS = 219 CW = 201 DOS was May 7th 2013