So I have been thinking about this for a while now. Prior to accepting the fact that I need bariatric surgery, I was of the mindset that surgery was the "easy way out". Yes, a 140 pounds overweight person thought this - a traitor in your midst!! JK. As I started this process, during orientation I had thoughts like "I can lose weight, I've done it before and I can do it again, so why am I here" and "I don't have any serious co-morbities so why am I here?" Then, after more thought I came to the conclusion that I have been overweight for most of my life, so if I could have/would have done it, I wouldn't be even contemplating such things. If I stay the way I am I WILL develop serious co-morbidities - it's not a question of "IF" it's a question of "WHEN".

Now that I have accepted this to be fact, I am starting to look around at other people who have lost weight, whether they are a celebrity or just someone I know or someone who has put themselves out there on the internet. I came to the revelation that no one I know that had significant weight to lose has (1) lost all of their weight or (2) kept it off. The results of those people on the web are mixed, but I admit, I have not done a thorough search for really obese people that have chronicled their weight lose through a blog. Back in 2007-2008 I became familiar with David Smith (through his BodySpace blog) on Bodybuildingdotcom before he was famous for losing like 400 pounds with the help of Chris Powell (from Extreme Weight Loss fame). In fact, that is how Chris became famous, because of David. A few years after his tremendous success, David eventually gained about 300-350 pounds back and is now trying to get back to his lowest weight. I sincerely wish him the best of luck - I had a chance to PM him a few times through his BodySpace blog and he seems like a really nice guy. Check out his facebook page if you are curious - it's David Ellmore Smith.

My former gynecologist is overweight and has been for the entire time I have known her, which is about 14 years. A few years ago, she went on a liquid diet and lost like 100 or so pounds. I gave her a nickname "skinny" and we'd joke about it whenever I came in for an appointment. Unfortunately, she has gained back almost all she has lost and is morbidly obese again. She was always down on bariatric surgery - she felt it was too invasive. When I saw that she had gained back the weight, I felt sad for her and then thought, "if my own doctor can't keep it off with her advanced knowledge of the body and how it works, what hope is there for me?"

Yesterday, I got wind of the whole Star Jones/Mo'nique controversy where supposedly Star said that there was no way that Mo'nique lost weight without surgery..bla..bla...bla. Turns out Star never said that but you know how the media loves controversy. What surprised me was Mo'nique's response that she had lost it through hard work and sweat and sent a message to other big women that they didn't have to resort to surgery. She said during an interview:

"I tweet every morning about my workouts because I want women to see – especially us big women – that you don’t have to let them cut you and suck it out, you don’t have to let them staple you up, you don’t have to let them give you a pill, you don’t have to let them put a band around your organs,” Mo’Nique said in an interview."

I thought it was interesting that she framed the issue in terms of women being "made" to have surgery, or take pills, as if they don't have a choice whether or not to have a bariatric procedure. Her comment appear to propogate a victim mentality to make it seem like what she is doing is so much more fabulous than merely losing weight - she is this extraordinary woman fighting against some invisible villian by losing the weight through traditional methods. In approaching the issue this way she demonizes bariatric surgery at the same time. So that got me thinking - why do we see bariatric surgery as the "unnatural" or the "bad" way to lose weight? It's really not true at all.

Losing weight can be done by anyone - everyone on this site and other sites like it have lost weight. The issue is KEEPING IT OFF and changing to behaviors that support healthy habits and a healthy body weight.

Why does it matter HOW someone loses weight? I would argue that it DOESN'T.

1. The person that loses weight through diet and exercises uses the diet and exercise as a TOOL to be healthy and achieve their goal

2. The person that uses the surgery and diet uses these as a TOOL to be healthy and achieve their goal

3. BOTH types of people have to STRUGGLE each and every day to keep the weight off and maintain healthy habits

The difference between the two (at least from what I understand since I have not yet had the surgery) is that having surgery makes it EASIER to be successful. Two of my relatives have had bariatric surgery have both said that the surgery "levels the playing field", meaning that it is so much easier for them to be successful, post surgery, at maintaining healthy habits and keeping the weight off.

Maybe that is where this comes from, the idea that it is easier for people than before their surgery is a huge cop-out. Maybe it's jealousy on many different levels. I however, don't think that way. However someone can lose weight is great - surgery or not. It's never a cake-walk.

When I told my mom I was going to get surgery she just looked at me and said "your crazy, all you have to do is diet and exercise", really, wow problem solved, and an alcoholic should just stop drinking and a smoker just stop smoking. If only it were all that easy! Lets see, in my 53 years of life all but a few have been spent dieting and exercising and obsessing over my weight (0-10 were okay).

LOL - if only we were as smart as those who give us critical advice.

I have so much respect for all of you that have already undergone surgery and those of you that will be moving forward to have surgery in the months to come.

We'll said! I've been sleeved since 2011 and although I haven't gained my weight back, I work hard at maintaining my weight.

I've heard many opinions from others, recently someone told me weight loss surgery was for lazy people. I was like really? Cause I Crossfit twice a week, swim twice a week, run two to three times a week and when I have time throw in a bike ride. So if that's lazy then I guess I'm lazy!

I can't tell you how awesome I think that is. From overweight to what I consider a superstar!

I don't know if "thank you" are strong enough words for how much I appreciate what you have wrote. As I read everyones comments on this blog, I see myself, my question, and my thoughts.. How many times in a life time can one actually gain and loose weight before your body just says, "I've had enough". Thank you for your words, your thoughts and your insight!

Aw, thanks.

Thanks for your post. I've had all those same thoughts and it was that kind of thinking, that I was "weak" for not being able to succeed in losing and maintaining the "natural way ", that kept me from going ahead with WLS. I had almost done it twice before, but convinced myself that I could do it on my own. Not only did I not, I managed to gain 80 more pounds. I could kick myself for wasting all of this time! But, maybe I needed to go through this in order to finally take the plunge. Tentative surgery date for VSG is Sept.16th!