Did anyone see the second segment of the Today Show today? They interviewed this lady that lost over 200 lbs. She looked amazing! My problem is, they made it a point to say that they were looking for weight loss stories about people who lost it the "old fashioned" way.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is amazing when someone can lose it on their own. Why does everyone assume we are taking the "easy way out"? I never had a problem losing weight, my problem was that I couldn't keep it off. That's why I think the band is going to work for me. Yes, we have this amazing tool to help us, but we still have to make good food choices and exercise. It just makes me so mad when people think that just because we had WLS, we aren't making as good of an effort as those who do it the "old fashioned" way.

My husband's parents were not supportive of my surgery at all. They haven't asked how I'm doing or anything. They think I should have done it the "old fashioned" way, too. I have a really good support system with my husband and my parents, I just wish people would see it for what is really is.............hard work!

Did anyone see the second segment of the Today Show today? They interviewed this lady that lost over 200 lbs. She looked amazing! My problem is, they made it a point to say that they were looking for weight loss stories about people who lost it the "old fashioned" way.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is amazing when someone can lose it on their own. Why does everyone assume we are taking the "easy way out"? I never had a problem losing weight, my problem was that I couldn't keep it off. That's why I think the band is going to work for me. Yes, we have this amazing tool to help us, but we still have to make good food choices and exercise. It just makes me so mad when people think that just because we had WLS, we aren't making as good of an effort as those who do it the "old fashioned" way.

My husband's parents were not supportive of my surgery at all. They haven't asked how I'm doing or anything. They think I should have done it the "old fashioned" way, too. I have a really good support system with my husband and my parents, I just wish people would see it for what is really is.............hard work!

I think I know the segment you are talking about! Isn't it the "Joy Fit Club," or something? With the requirement that people in it cannot have had surgery. That made me so mad. I'm working my rear off to lose the weight that I have lost. I could easily do so many things to gain weight right now rather than losing it. I don't see why they see it necessary to discriminate against people that have had surgery. :huytsao

I SAY GIVE EM TIME. how many will keep it off. im happy for them and i applaude there efforts. i too worked hard , but i was not successful. im just glad i have my band. i dont care what anyone else thinks......

I think what's driving that is the media's feeble attempt to address the rampant obesity in our culture. They're trying to send a message that "anyone" can do it. But of course, it will take a lot more than a few miracle successes to wean this country off of fast food and mega-portions.

I think I know the segment you are talking about! Isn't it the "Joy Fit Club," or something? With the requirement that people in it cannot have had surgery. That made me so mad. I'm working my rear off to lose the weight that I have lost. I could easily do so many things to gain weight right now rather than losing it. I don't see why they see it necessary to discriminate against people that have had surgery. :huytsao

Yes, I believe it is called the "Joy Fit Club". I actually did gain a couple of pounds in the past few weeks and just now lost them back. We all work really hard, just as hard as anyone else.

My personal trainer gave me the best advice ever last week, when I was a little hesitant about talking about my band. He said, "Don't ever feel embarrassed about your band, and ignore people who ever try to bring you down over choosing surgery. You did what you had to do for yourself, and no one else can understand your decision. You are getting thin; you are looking great, so fuck 'em if they don't like it." Great words, especially coming from a guy who weighs 185 with about 8% body-fat and says he's never had a day in his life where he has worried about his weight.

Yeah, they can kiss my wet yellow snow! First they hate you because you are not a twig boy or a Men's Health cover model. Now they want to hate you because you didn't lose it the way they want you to. Congrats to those who did lose it without sugery as well to those like myself who did get the sugery.

Fact is, the sugery is an assist to losing weight and not going to work without you doing what it takes to get the weight off (diet and excercise). Those who do it without the surgery also have assists in the form of dietary programs, exspensive trainers and gyms, gourmet cooks(ask Janet Jackson)! So thumbs up to any who lose it and keep it off. It is not easy no matter how you do it.

There is absolutely nothing easy about this. I think this whole lap band process is extremely hard. Dealing on a day to day basis with a whole new way of eating is challenging to say the least. While it is an aid in keeping me from overeating, the other aspects of banding are very difficult. Otherwise why would we all be here trying to figure it out everyday?

Taking weight off by any method is hard. Keeping it off without serious intervention is impossible.

If it is the easy way, would someone please tell me why anyone in their right mind would want to make it any harder! There are no guarantees that even surgery will work in the long run. I don't give a dead rat's ass what anyone thinks of my method for "trying" to lose weight. If I could lose it and keep it off I would be pretty stupid to get a device to put a strangle hold on my inards to keep me from stuffing myself. And I am not stupid.

It is a fricking shame that people no longer live natural lifes and have an adulterated crappy food at their disposal. We have to resort to artificial exercise and making choices that are not always easy. Why make it any harder than it already is?

I still don't understand why anyone cares how it was lost. In a judgey way I mean..I have not met anyone who thought that WLS was the 'easy way out' or.. whatever. It's not like a cosmetic surgery, we're getting healthy.. who cares how?! It's just the stories I hear some of you post about how someone looks down on you for the surgery. It baffles me, quite honestly. I told anyone and everyone about my surgery and no one seemed to let on that they judged me for it (maybe I'm naive??). Some customers that only come around Xmas time, they've been coming in and keep saying how much weight I've lost.. I told them I had the lap-band, they ooo and aaahh and say I look fantastic and blah blah, and we all go about our merry way.

Some people just don't "get it." My personal trainer is awesome; the nutritionist at my gym? Not so much. When I told him my nutritional needs, he said, "My girlfriend is overweight and she mentioned getting surgery. I told her if she did, I'd break up with her." A-hole then went into a story about how he has helped her lose 50 pounds in the last year, blah, blah, blah. Whatever. He's a control freak and I never used him for anything past the initial free consultation, nor will I use him in the future.

A weight loss adventure is just like a vacation. Take friends along from the beginning, because few others, including your friends, will understand or care about the path you went on, if you went alone.