EASY WAY OUT, MY @$$

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

I went to my class reunion this past Saturday. Saw friends of mine from as early as Kindergarten. Many of these friends I see periodically, others I haven't seen for years. One friend of mine, who is a nutritionist, comes up to me with all kinds of compliments on my weight loss. "Please tell me how you did it, " she asked. So, I start off with what I tell almost everybody that asks.... My husband and I joined a gym a year ago, and we work out six days a week. She didn't accept that, and asked all about the food (Of course she did, she IS a nutritionist). I told her that I eat smaller amounts and cut out eating a lot of the carbs I used to live on. "Oh," she says, "Glad to see that you did it THE NATURAL WAY." I asked what she meant by that...... "Glad to see you didn't take the EASY WAY OUT and have WLS." The next words out of my mouth..... "Oh, and by the way, Sandy," I said, "I HAD WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY TOO." Turned around and walked off...... EASY WAY OUT, MY @$$ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[relief57 53]

Healthynewme,

You go girl. No way is this easy. Nothing works unless you work it.

[Ladybandito 516]

Wow. Just wow. People can be so judgmental sometimes! Easy way, uh, no. Effective, yes. One of the reasons I just don't tell most people about my WLS. :-(

[enjoythetime 1,457]

People just don't understand!! I was one of those people who said I would NEVER have WLS because it was the "easy way out" boy oh boy was that one of the biggest misconceptions I've ever had. This is by no way shape or form the easy way out!!! You put her in her place real quick, good for you for standing up for what you've done, believe in and what obviously works! I'm sure this will make her think twice next time before going there:-)

Great job!

[Bandista 7,466]

Would this be a good time to say that my nutritionist is kind of clueless -- I am so surprised by what she doesn't know about nutrition! Just pointing out that being a nutritionist does not necessarily make for a credential in my book. And this one that you dealt with (beautifully, by the way) seems to be particularly idiotic.

[steph2012 252]

Anyone that says THIS is the easy way out, is definitely uninformed!

There hasn't been anything about this process that has been easy!

[Debbie3sons 1,936]

I am not ashamed I will tell anyone who wants to know that I had wls a few people have asked is it hard and I tell them YES because there are a LOT of foods that I miss , but then again I don't miss not being able to walk or as CG says being able o clean my self or just being able to have energy or move or being able to just things like tying a shoe while standing up and bending over to do it , so for those that think it is the easy way out , they have another thing coming , they need more educated even if it is a nutritionist or what ever medical field if they don't really know and say oh you took the easy way out , I had someone the other day ask me well what can you eat and I had to educate them , so I did just that and they were satisfied and they said I don't think I could do it , I said that's what I thought, however I like being able to do things and and not be tired all the time.

[rigonj 103]

Good for you people have no clue about the struggles we all have to go thru. I wish I had your spunk!!!

[Ariellestarr 53]

I absolutely can't stand that! A lot of the doctors I have seen ask "why are you electing to have WLS? have you tried diet and exercise?" Like no sh*t, I've tried that and everything else! I think it's so rude, especially coming from a doctor. I wish some of them were more educated on WLS and realize it's not at all the easy way out. You still have to work your ass off!!!

You go girl!

[Sharpie 3,306]

We have a nutritionists on staff at my Bariatric Center. She is by no means a snob about the "easy way". She totally understands the issues that chronically obese people face. This gal sounds like she needs a dose of maturity. I tell people about my surgery proudly and if they don't like it or make some asinine comment then I know they are not people I want around me. If everyone could do it on their own without help we would not have a obese nation. food is everywhere and the portions in America are huge. There is no easy way. Not that I have ever found and believe me I've been looking for one for 30 years.

[lisacaron 5,075]

So I don't know why but this post had me thinking about this book I read way back when called American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Long story short when it came to the "food" aspect of it. That most Americans though we have an abundance of food and we are among the fattest of people in the world are actually the most malnourished people out there.

We are overweight, obese, morbidly obese and we are malnourished. So when these "nutritionists" talk to me about food I want to know if I am feeding my body what it needs. I don't just want to hear about how I need to lose weight or eat less. I can do all that and still be malnourished.

I want to eat food that makes me feel good mind body and soul. I want to eat what my body needs to function and excel at all things I chose to do in a day a week a month a year a lifetime. If you can't tell me that then what good are you...?

Many of us that have dealt with diets and weight control issues probably know more then the average bear out there. We didn't go to school and hear what the books had to say we learned it the good old fashion way hands on!!

I think the next thing I shall focus my mind toward will be the study of nutrition because I am getting pretty darn sick and tired of those that have no idea what it is to walk in my shoes making these random comments. Stick it in your ear, say I look DAM good and that's enough! How or why I look the way I do....is because I'm simply AWESOME and that's enough of an answer

[gowalking 10,790]

_{So I don't know why but this post had me thinking about this book I read way back when called American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Long story short when it came to the "food" aspect of it. That most Americans though we have an abundance of food and we are among the fattest of people in the world are actually the most malnourished people out there.}

_{We are overweight, obese, morbidly obese and we are malnourished. So when these "nutritionists" talk to me about food I want to know if I am feeding my body what it needs. I don't just want to hear about how I need to lose weight or eat less. I can do all that and still be malnourished.}

_{I want to eat food that makes me feel good mind body and soul. I want to eat what my body needs to function and excel at all things I chose to do in a day a week a month a year a lifetime. If you can't tell me that then what good are you...?}

_{Many of us that have dealt with diets and weight control issues probably know more then the average bear out there. We didn't go to school and hear what the books had to say we learned it the good old fashion way hands on!!}

_{I think the next thing I shall focus my mind toward will be the study of nutrition because I am getting pretty darn sick and tired of those that have no idea what it is to walk in my shoes making these random comments. Stick it in your ear, say I look DAM good and that's enough! How or why I look the way I do....is because I'm simply AWESOME and that's enough of an answer}

_{You are super awesome!!}

[pink dahlia 2,513]

Healthynewme, you rock !!!!!! Way to go ! Id want to yell at that so called Nut. "Did you know that sometimes diet and exercise just dont work because sometimes your body just. doesnt. cooperate...!!!" Geesh, if thats all it took to lose weight then how come I was on WW for 1 year and try as I might only lost a whopping 12 pounds ! And was a slim to average until my early 30's ??? Good for you for kicking that mis informed idiot right in a$$ , so to speak. Way to go ! And lisacaron and all the others........... as usual, you rock too !!!!!!

[B-52 7,113]

I hear this all the time....."So What if it is the easy way" What does it matter to anyone else? Only thing I care about is the end result for me...

Should I suffer because it's too easy?

People drive their cars to the store 6 blocks away...why don't you do it the natural way and walk? No...they'll drive because it's easy...

People do things everyday, all day, because it's easy.....but when it comes to weight loss, Oh no...you're not allowed to take the easy way?

The fact is I did do something to correct a serious medical condition....having surgery to make that correction was not an easy decision, knowing it would permanently make a physical un-natural change to my body, thus changing the way I eat for the rest of my life....

Best decision I ever made...

Yet somehow I am "Cheating"?????.....WHO CARES! And why should others care?

Let others think what they want....I did what was best for me and those around me....easy or not....other people can do what they want...if they want to, and are able to do it the "natural" way, then more power to them....I won't criticize their methods.....it's a free world

I for one, am not afraid to admit I could not do it the "natural" way...tried and failed countless times and my health was suffering because of it....

Surgery was the last resort...I wish I did not have to go through this, but I did...I elected to take the easy way....and I cannot be happier....

It boggles my mind to think others can be against something that can do something so good for someone who really needs it...there's got to be a reason...jealousy? Spite?...or maybe it's something they wish they did but refuse to admit it.....Envy?

So what if it's easy....I don't care! I could not be more happy and pleased with my decision.

[Sharpie 3,306]

B52 couldn't have said it better.. I do not hesitate to tell people I had lapband surgery. No matter what anyone else thinks it's far from being "Easy". I do not agree with a lot of so called diets and I think many people are misinformed about nutrition. I just know like you I had health issues that needed to be taken care of somehow. I am happy I made the decision to take my weight seriously and get it off.