I have noticed some saying weight loss surgery is a tool.

jimennis

I guess I don't understand that logic. I find MFP and exercise programs to be tools. I find surgery as a last ditch effort for someone who cannot get their mind and body in sync. I have nothing against it if its your choice, but for all the people that have busted their butts doing it the healthy lifestyle way I consider surgery an easy out. You thoughts?

blabrecque_xo

I also consider it the easy way out. The lazy way to lose weight.

yo_andi

I have nothing against it if its your choice, but for all the people that have busted their butts doing it the healthy lifestyle way I consider surgery an easy out

Contradictory statement is contradictory.

chubby_checkers

If you don't modify your eating habits, you're going to regain the weight, even with the surgery. While it's not the route I chose to take, I think it's unfair to say those people don't work just as hard as someone that hasn't had it. Maybe harder since they have to be extra careful so they don't make themselves sick. Different strokes and all that.

maz504

Why do you care? Not even trying to be rude, legitimately curious.

jimennis

You are correct I did do that and I stand corrected. Do you have an opinion?

Hornsby

There is no possible way that I would say electing to have a major surgery is an easy way out compared to not having the surgery.

CupcakeCrusoe

After reading another thread on here about WLS, I can tell you it's sometimes painful, and you can never eat the same way. Not to mention they still have to count and track like we do. Not the "easy way" by any means.

k8blujay2

Tell that to someone who is 350 pounds or more, that can barely get out of their chair let alone walk 15 minutes and there numbers are all way too high?

Eating right and exercising is a tool... Weight loss surgery is also a tool... WLS isn't going to keep the weight off, it only helps someone get to a point where they can do a better job of managing the weight. They will still have to use the other tools as well if they want to keep it off.

climbing_trees

Eh, I think it is a waste of money and I'd never do it. (However, I've never been in the position to consider it as an option)
But it is a personal choice. I would not look down on someone who had weight loss surgery.

If they can have the procedure and stick with their after-programs and maintain the loss, more power to them!

jimennis

Easy enough I care because I know state insurances that are funded by tax payers that pay for theses surgeries. I have seen 3 people in my area have them and fail at keeping the weight off. How much did that cost us?

jimennis

Tell that to someone who is 350 pounds or more, that can barely get out of their chair let alone walk 15 minutes and there numbers are all way too high?

Eating right and exercising is a tool... Weight loss surgery is also a tool... WLS isn't going to keep the weight off, it only helps someone get to a point where they can do a better job of managing the weight. They will still have to use the other tools as well if they want to keep it off.

They couldn't manage it before what changes it after surgery? Its the mind that needs changing>

365andstillalive

I suppose for me, it depends on why the surgery is happening and what type of surgery you're referring to.

People who have gastric bypass surgeries to lose weight are still busting their butts to do it; they still have to control what they eat, learn new healthy habits etc, but for some it's an option to help them begin what is likely to be a long journey.

There are also lots of people who require weight loss surgeries because of the health risks of being the size they are outweigh the benefits of I suppose what you would refer to as a "natural weight loss".

I think it's a tool; it's just not a tool for you. It doesn't fit your situation or what you deem necessary.

But if someone is provided that tool by a weight loss center, specifically by someone with a medical degree, I certainly wouldn't judge them for using that option to begin a better, healthier life, nor would I shame them for it the way your post seems to.

You can have an opinion, but to say that it's an "easy way out" or "lazy" or that they haven't had to "bust their butts" like you have is just being cruel. I guarantee you the people who have these surgeries don't come to the decision lightly; they aren't looking for a quick fix nor do they have the impression that it's going to take them from 300lbs to 130 in no time flat. They're just using the tools that are available to them to begin a healthier life; what would you rather they did, had a heart attack attempting to perform the type of exercise that "busting your butt" might entail before their body is physically able to do so?

Editing to add that the majority of surgeries, such as gastric bypass, are actually done along with counselling and meetings with nutritionists/dietitians or wellness centers to aid people in changing their mindset, learning healthier habits and so on. Just because you've seen three people fail doesn't mean that there aren't thousands of success stories out there.

kimnsc

I have known a couple people that had WLS and I can assure you it isn't "The easy way out". They were very morbidly obsese and struggled to even do the simplest of things, for example walking to check the mail or to clean their homes. They used this as a tool to lose some of the weight but they have to work everyday with weight management by staying active and closely monitoring their food intake. I'm not going to judge someone on their weight loss methods, it's a personal thing.

cwolfman13

For many...and I would say most who elect to have this kind of surgery, it's pretty much a do or die kind of thing...they don't have 5 years or whatever to work off 300+ Lbs. You're making this sound as if there are loads of people with some vanity weight they need to lose just saying **** it and electing surgery rather than exercise and diet and I just don't see that being the case.

Anyone I've ever known or seen have this type of surgery has been severely overweight to the point of it basically being a medical emergency.

bajoyba

If you don't modify your eating habits, you're going to regain the weight, even with the surgery. While it's not the route I chose to take, I think it's unfair to say those people don't work just as hard as someone that hasn't had it. Maybe harder since they have to be extra careful so they don't make themselves sick. Different strokes and all that.

That's my take on it as well.
Weight loss surgery is not something I ever would have considered, but I definitely don't consider it an "easy" way to lose weight. I think some people might be interested in surgery because they think it might be easier than doing it the good old fashioned way, but many people who actually undergo surgery for weight loss are facing immediate medical issues. I'm under the impression that losing weight through surgery can be physically uncomfortable (or even painful or dangerous) and difficult. Regardless of which method you choose to lose weight, the only way to keep it off is to change your lifestyle permanently. Some people aren't as good as others at learning to moderate their intake and appetite, so weight loss surgery may be a tool to help them get from point A to point B.

And for the record, I actually feel like losing 81 pounds through diet and exercise was relatively easy for me. The thought of doing it through surgery, recovery, and such a major lifestyle overhaul sounds much harder.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I don't think there's anything easy about the surgery, the recovery, or the post-surgical lifestyle.

snowflake930

Even though I have lost 160# by eating at a calorie deficit and moving more, I do not understand the thinking behind this. It comes up here quite often, and I really do not understand why some think it is "the easy way".

You still have to eat at a calorie deficit to lose weight, plus any surgery has risk, so you are adding risk to the equation.

I am too cheap to have even considered this option, but I say kudos to however you achieve getting healthier.

The odds are stacked against all of us. Many more fail in the long run that have a very long term success keeping the weight off.

Best of luck to all of us, no matter how we get there, and this is an awesome site for helping us along the way!

martinel2099

Actually from what I've heard surgery isn't even the easy way out. There are people who almost die from the procedures, have multiple serious post surgery infections and more. I wouldn't wish Gastric bypass surgery to my worst enemy based on what I've been hearing.

Calorie counting is the best way to lose weight because you are using your mind and your will power to make a healthy life style change. You can lose weight by creating a small calorie deficit and by just being mindful of what you are putting into your body, and you don't have to be a saint either, just log everything and do your best to get to your goals.

Slow and steady wins the race and I'd like to stay out of the hospital and be healthy the rest of my life. Losing weight also isnt' the end game for me, I'm heavy lifting weights now to preserve muscle mass but once I reach my goal weight I plan to work hard to put on muscle mass. I'm calorie counting for life.

Unknown

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CupcakeCrusoe

Easy enough I care because I know state insurances that are funded by tax payers that pay for theses surgeries. I have seen 3 people in my area have them and fail at keeping the weight off. How much did that cost us?

I've known people to have needed open-heart surgeries and then they eat triple bacon cheeseburgers afterward. How much did -that- cost? These surgeries are not for vanity. These people have to prove to their insurance that they have a life-threatening condition or complications from their weight in order for insurance to cover it.

jimennis

I suppose for me, it depends on why the surgery is happening and what type of surgery you're referring to.

People who have gastric bypass surgeries to lose weight are still busting their butts to do it; they still have to control what they eat, learn new healthy habits etc, but for some it's an option to help them begin what is likely to be a long journey.

There are also lots of people who require weight loss surgeries because of the health risks of being the size they are outweigh the benefits of I suppose what you would refer to as a "natural weight loss".

I think it's a tool; it's just not a tool for you. It doesn't fit your situation or what you deem necessary.

But if someone is provided that tool by a weight loss center, specifically by someone with a medical degree, I certainly wouldn't judge them for using that option to begin a better, healthier life, nor would I shame them for it the way your post seems to.

You can have an opinion, but to say that it's an "easy way out" or "lazy" or that they haven't had to "bust their butts" like you have is just being cruel. I guarantee you the people who have these surgeries don't come to the decision lightly; they aren't looking for a quick fix nor do they have the impression that it's going to take them from 300lbs to 130 in no time flat. They're just using the tools that are available to them to begin a healthier life; what would you rather they did, had a heart attack attempting to perform the type of exercise that "busting your butt" might entail before their body is physically able to do so?

Understand, but what keeps them from eating 1900 calories and starting an exercise program? If they are large, they got that way from eating unhealthy and to much and no exercise (most of them). Since they have to follow a strict program with surgery why can't they start that without the surgery? Many on here do and are successful.

maz504

I suppose for me, it depends on why the surgery is happening and what type of surgery you're referring to.

People who have gastric bypass surgeries to lose weight are still busting their butts to do it; they still have to control what they eat, learn new healthy habits etc, but for some it's an option to help them begin what is likely to be a long journey.

There are also lots of people who require weight loss surgeries because of the health risks of being the size they are outweigh the benefits of I suppose what you would refer to as a "natural weight loss".

I think it's a tool; it's just not a tool for you. It doesn't fit your situation or what you deem necessary.

But if someone is provided that tool by a weight loss center, specifically by someone with a medical degree, I certainly wouldn't judge them for using that option to begin a better, healthier life, nor would I shame them for it the way your post seems to.

You can have an opinion, but to say that it's an "easy way out" or "lazy" or that they haven't had to "bust their butts" like you have is just being cruel. I guarantee you the people who have these surgeries don't come to the decision lightly; they aren't looking for a quick fix nor do they have the impression that it's going to take them from 300lbs to 130 in no time flat. They're just using the tools that are available to them to begin a healthier life; what would you rather they did, had a heart attack attempting to perform the type of exercise that "busting your butt" might entail before their body is physically able to do so?

Understand, but what keeps them from eating 1900 calories and starting an exercise program? If they are large, they got that way from eating unhealthy and to much and no exercise (most of them). Since they have to follow a strict program with surgery why can't they start that without the surgery? Many on here do and are successful.

Maybe they didnt eat 1900 calories for the same reason that got you to a place where you had 117 lbs to lose.

jimennis

I guess I don't understand that logic. I find MFP and exercise programs to be tools. I find surgery as a last ditch effort for someone who cannot get their mind and body in sync. I have nothing against it if its your choice, but for all the people that have busted their butts doing it the healthy lifestyle way I consider surgery an easy out. You thoughts?

People enjoy feeling superior to other people and will grasp at reasons to do so.

No that would only you be feeling inferior and have nothing to add to the subject.

Hornsby

I suppose for me, it depends on why the surgery is happening and what type of surgery you're referring to.

People who have gastric bypass surgeries to lose weight are still busting their butts to do it; they still have to control what they eat, learn new healthy habits etc, but for some it's an option to help them begin what is likely to be a long journey.

There are also lots of people who require weight loss surgeries because of the health risks of being the size they are outweigh the benefits of I suppose what you would refer to as a "natural weight loss".

I think it's a tool; it's just not a tool for you. It doesn't fit your situation or what you deem necessary.

But if someone is provided that tool by a weight loss center, specifically by someone with a medical degree, I certainly wouldn't judge them for using that option to begin a better, healthier life, nor would I shame them for it the way your post seems to.

You can have an opinion, but to say that it's an "easy way out" or "lazy" or that they haven't had to "bust their butts" like you have is just being cruel. I guarantee you the people who have these surgeries don't come to the decision lightly; they aren't looking for a quick fix nor do they have the impression that it's going to take them from 300lbs to 130 in no time flat. They're just using the tools that are available to them to begin a healthier life; what would you rather they did, had a heart attack attempting to perform the type of exercise that "busting your butt" might entail before their body is physically able to do so?

Understand, but what keeps them from eating 1900 calories and starting an exercise program? If they are large, they got that way from eating unhealthy and to much and no exercise (most of them). Since they have to follow a strict program with surgery why can't they start that without the surgery? Many on here do and are successful.

And many of them have to as well. There are limits on how much one can way and often times the people who are getting the surgery have to lose weight to be eligible for surgery.

cincysweetheart

My OPINION ... and only for me personally.... Weight loss Surgery would only be an option if I got some medical diagnosis where I NEEDED to lose a great deal of weight and FAST in order to stay alive. And honestly, I can't imagine what that diagnosis might be. Because usually a change in diet (the general meaning of what you eat) and activity level will be sufficient for most of the common weight-related problems. I try to reserve judgement on those who choose the surgery route because I don't know their history or their medical problems. But for me... It would be a last resort and only done out of a life or death necessity.

SyntonicGarden

Not sure if this is a legit question or if I need to buy an extra bag of Troll Chow. I've had friends who've had the surgery and wouldn't want a post like this to dissuade someone who might be considering the surgery not to get it...

Here's how I see it. It's a tool for people who haven't been able to otherwise get the job done, either because they don't know how, they've tried and failed, or they don't think they can on their own.

Gyms and fitness equipment are tools. Technically, in a perfect utopian world, gyms wouldn't exist because we'd all be able to be fit with our day-to-day activities. It's 2014. We've got access to junk food. We've got access to really depressing stuff, thanks to the 24-hour news cycle. We've got desk jobs and long commutes. We're not out hunting our food and running from things hunting for us. So, we use tools like fitness equipment to compensate.

Additionally...
1) If you're so incredibly overweight that you ARE a candidate for surgery, chances are pretty good that you have trouble doing something as simple as walking for any lengths - joint pain, difficulty breathing, easily fatigued - because of all of the extra weight on your body. Maybe you've got other health issues, like diabetic ulcers on your legs. Who knows... How discouraging must it be to not be able to walk 1/4 mile, because it hurts or you can't breathe?

2) If you're a candidate for the surgery, chances are good that you already have body esteem issues, so going to the gym, with all of the folks in cut-off t-shirts and form-fitting shorts, could be comparable to having root canal without anesthetic, in all 4 quadrants of your mouth, on the same day.

3) If you're a candidate, HOPEFULLY, you're going to a facility that will provide you with the means to stay healthy post-op. They should teach you how to make better food options. Hopefully, there's therapy thrown in the mix, to help address the issues that caused the relationship with food to go awry. Granted, it's your choice to use the support you receive, but it should be part of any legit program.

4) If you were raised in a household where poor food choices or the availability of better choices is limited, you're bound to develop poor eating habits. If you grew up around stress eaters, you're going to learn bad habits. Not everyone has a network of supportive people, willing to cheer them on with their fitness journey. Searching the boards will yield a plethora of "My spouse/partner/family is sabotaging me!" posts. Some people just need the extra help.


I personally don't see going for invasive surgery, making repeat trips to the ER because something along the digestive route closed or got infected, only being able to enjoy tablespoons of food, dealing with folds of skin that the insurance company won't help you get removed, as an "easy out." I see it as determination for people who want to live better lives and don't know what else to try.

dedflwrs

I know a few people who have had gastric bypass. All but one had great results only to gain most of the weight back. The one that did not have as great results lost some weight and then he put it all back on plus much, much more. They are all on vitamin supplements for like and have surgery related health issues. The one that gained a lot of weight actually makes an effort to eat as much as he can because it is not physically easy for him. He will go to a restaurant, order 3 entrees and spend a couple of hours eating them. He gets stuffed and then waits until he can fit more in him. It's painful to watch and he won't listen to anyone about it.

If you are not mentally ready to do something about a change in lifestyle I don't think it's worth it to go through what is a major surgery that can in fact ruin your life as much as it could help it. I'm not anti-surgery if you are ready to ALSO change the way you will live the rest of your life but the people I know (and I'm sure there are others who are greatly successful) had the surgery and then just went on with their old lives as if nothing had happened.

Ftw37

Some folks have chosen weight loss surgery as their option. That's a decision between them and their physicians.

Personally, I chose to do it without surgery, since that was MY choice.

To each his own.

sofaking6

I think it's a little bit psycho to feel that someone else achieving a goal in a different way than you do is some kind of insult or assault on you to the point where you need to call them out in such a critical way. Honestly. Why so obsessed with competing against others? Nobody gets a cash prize at the end.

Also, I've had only "minor" (ACL) surgery and it was horrible, not easy at all. I can't imagine what such invasive major surgery is like.

365andstillalive

I suppose for me, it depends on why the surgery is happening and what type of surgery you're referring to.

People who have gastric bypass surgeries to lose weight are still busting their butts to do it; they still have to control what they eat, learn new healthy habits etc, but for some it's an option to help them begin what is likely to be a long journey.

There are also lots of people who require weight loss surgeries because of the health risks of being the size they are outweigh the benefits of I suppose what you would refer to as a "natural weight loss".

I think it's a tool; it's just not a tool for you. It doesn't fit your situation or what you deem necessary.

But if someone is provided that tool by a weight loss center, specifically by someone with a medical degree, I certainly wouldn't judge them for using that option to begin a better, healthier life, nor would I shame them for it the way your post seems to.

You can have an opinion, but to say that it's an "easy way out" or "lazy" or that they haven't had to "bust their butts" like you have is just being cruel. I guarantee you the people who have these surgeries don't come to the decision lightly; they aren't looking for a quick fix nor do they have the impression that it's going to take them from 300lbs to 130 in no time flat. They're just using the tools that are available to them to begin a healthier life; what would you rather they did, had a heart attack attempting to perform the type of exercise that "busting your butt" might entail before their body is physically able to do so?

Understand, but what keeps them from eating 1900 calories and starting an exercise program? If they are large, they got that way from eating unhealthy and to much and no exercise (most of them). Since they have to follow a strict program with surgery why can't they start that without the surgery? Many on here do and are successful.

The majority of weight loss surgeries that occur are on people who are in excess of 300lbs. At that point, can you even imagine the pressure that goes through your joints when you try to walk? Many people become bed ridden; so they begin to eat at a caloric deficit (you actually have to prove, at least in Canada, that you can lose weight the "natural" way before you're approved for surgery) but an exercise program might not be doable for that person until 100 lbs have been lost.