I am a newbie - so please forgive me if this has been ranted about before...
I just need to get this off my (now smaller than it used to be) chest LOL
I AM SO ANGRY WHEN PEOPLE THINK SURGERY IS THE EASY OPTION!!!!
They treat it like surgery is being lazy:
Just don't eat so much...
Exercise more....
Etc...etc...etc
Sigh! It is a tool, i need to work at it. It is not a magic wand.
It hurts even more when it is family.... feels like i am the wee fat one and they dont
want that to change, well piss off that is YOUR problem!
I made the choice for me if you can't support my decision.... well.... tough!
Thank you for saving me from burying my anger in chocolate X

I haven't had surgery yet. Hopefully in the next few weeks. I wanted to add that I was one of those people and I bet most of us were at some point. I mean it is a bit crazy.... I'm going to get most of my stomach cut out of my body! And I can't wait!!! It was sheer desperation, frustration, misery and losing the 'just eat less, workout more' battle that last and final time that I finally decided to look into this option. When people say that, they just don't know. They are uninformed. I was. If asked I would have told you there is no way in hell i would get this done to me. but here i am jumping thru hoops to get this surgery done. I saw someone's response to that was 'really? Show me the medical documentation, the medical studies that backs that up'. I've told 3 people. All three support me. If I tell anyone else and that is their attitude it will simply be one question 'how much time did you look into this to come to that idea?' You can't judge till you walk in some ones shoes. People are silly. You hear people say 'I would NEVER do this' yeah well it's super easy to say you won't until you're in that situation. Then life takes over and you find that person doing that thing they vehemently opposed.

Breaking Red -Thanks for your honesty! It's courageous to say what's so.

This is what I would tell them

‹^› ‹(•¿•)› ‹^›

I educate people when they think it's the easy way out. They usually have no idea how carefully I have to monitor everything I eat and drink and how many Vitamins I have to maintain. And not just for fun or a hobby, either. If I don't do all these things I can get very sick and in some cases cause permanent damage. Once they know about all that, it stops sounding so easy.

It seems like the main reason people think it is easy is because all they see is the success part. They are clueless about the rest of the journey to get to success.

My sister in law said this to me in a roundabout way. I was pissed. (Back story-she is 230lbs and was my weight when I got my Lapband) fast forward 2 & a half yrs, lost 100lbs and I'm at my goal weight. She complimented me on how I looked and said that she didn't think think her husband would want her to have it done "because it was the easy way to do it".

Oh I kind of went off but not too bad, lol. I was literally shocked when she said it and said how in the world would losing 100lbs be easy, ever??" Fuck that, lol! Honestly, I think there is jealousy there. Haters are gonna hate.

Seriously? When did these ignorant people get their medical degree? If they don't have a medical degree why are you listening to them? Never ever has major surgery been considered a trivial option or "easy way out", and this IS Major surgery.

To Aguafria6. Are you really telling me that your brother in law would want your sister to do things the "hard" way? Is this not some sort of spousal abuse? And what century are they living in that he thinks it is up to him? Your sister has a few issues to sort out!

Seriously? When did these ignorant people get their medical degree? If they don't have a medical degree why are you listening to them? Never ever has major surgery been considered a trivial option or "easy way out", and this IS Major surgery.

Oh jenpez

I've even experienced the same bad attitude from medical professionals, and they have their medical degrees!!!!! Of course all we need to do is eat less and move more!!!! So, yeah, I keep my trap shut, and roll with it. But then I think that's their ignorance. I mostly can't be bothered to challenge people. Also it can be unsaid. I went to see a nurse at out surgery and she was all smiles and chatty, until she asked what did you have done? When I told her it looked as though a nasty smell got under her nose, discrimination? So **** to them all, small minded qualified and armchair experts. We are doing something about turning our lives around, and if they don't like it, then it's their problem. I agree 100 percent, major surgery is not an easy option!!!!!

Hi lucky, so sad to hear you have had this experience with professional people. All I can say is that even in the medical profession someone comes at the bottom of the class!

Yep, had that response from medical people too..... fuck um, i did what was right for me!!!

"To Aguafria6. Are you really telling me that your brother in law would want your sister to do things the "hard" way? Is this not some sort of spousal abuse? And what century are they living in that he thinks it is up to him? Your sister has a few issues to sort out!"

It was my sister in law, lol but yes, that was exactly what she was trying to say. Can you believe that?? My BIL does not have a weight problem (he's just 40 yrs old) but just has that old

School personality. Now I don't think he would say that to my face but still. Yes, they have a strange kinda disfunctional relationship.

But it was so awesome to wear my size 4 skinny jeans around her, hehehe. Can't make me feel like shit!

Oh and BIL & SIL are very educated too. He's a chemical engineer and SIL just passed the bar exam . I hope they don't pass on too much weirdness to their 8 yr old daughter. And I'm glad they live 1000 miles away from us, lol

Hi lucky, so sad to hear you have had this experience with professional people. All I can say is that even in the medical profession someone comes at the bottom of the class!

Too true...... Jenpez..... Having passed exams does not always make a wise person...... My grandmother used to say only judge people when you've walked a mile in their shoes.... How wise was she????

Yep, had that response from medical people too..... f**k um, i did what was right for me!!!

Me too, tartan toger

8yrs ago i as 350lbs happy healthy and out preformed guys 1/2 my weight at my physically demanding job. Then 1 day i was up on a ladder and lost feeling in my legs, i spent 2yrs a prisoner to my home. Back surgeons refused to work on me until I lost 100 pounds, naturally being immobile I only gained weight ballooning to 450lbs unemployed & depressed! Fast forward again another 6 months and I have my surgery 8/24/09 @ 425lbs. Now im 215lbs for 4yrs and holding. Well 3yrs ago this B@#*$ says to me "oh you took the easy way out" so I said to her "yeah kinda like your father who took the easy way out and got a liver transplant" that didn't go over too well... lol

Frank, I think that's a perfect response, lol!!!!

I'm in the process of doing research and stuff on whether or not I'm going to get surgery, and I've already noticed this. My healthy weight friends and family are all "if it helps you be healthy, go for it! Get healthy girl!" My overweight friends look at me like I'm a cheating heathen to even consider it. It's so weird to me.

Easier compared to what? Everything is relative... Ignorance of the dedication it takes to be compliant WLS "losers". There are plenty of people on this forum that haven't been successful with their surgeries. I'm not judging, but you have to change your lifestyle. No matter what surgery you have and if you don't it won't work. So, easy... no way!

Oddly enough, my two best friends are gym rats and runners and have been my biggest supporters. The negativity has come from friends and family who are over-weight. Now, I'm just letting my progress speak for itself.

If ppl don't like it, tell them to kiss your shrinking ass!