Diet and Exercise vs. Surgery. Thoughts?

Stirring the pot a little.

My cousin had the surgery, lost a ton of weight, and posted his before and after pics. immediately, the "Congrats", "Well Done" and "Great Work" comments started rolling in.

Congrats and Great Work for what?!?!? Going to your doctor and letting him force you into losing weight because you couldn't do it yourself? Granted, he needed to lose the weight, and he looks great now. But now he's like a recovering drug addict with his constant updates about eating right.

I'm thinking: "Who are you to preach about weight loss?"

I'm not opposed to surgery if needed, and again, I'm not judging anyone who has had it. I agree with multiple points made here already. But it seems you don't have the same bragging rights and the "great work" comments are not earned.

Alright...take it away.
[/quote

Yea what he said. :explode:

Personally its got to be diet and exercise, yes surgery might work but the person isnt going to learn to eat better and exercise so whats to stop all that weight coming back on. Hard work and determination never killed anyone (well it probably has but oh well).

I have several friends/family who have had weight loss surgery and continually go one and on about how well they've done. You know, constant FB updates etc. I personally lost my weight without surgery.

I was wondering everyone's thoughts on this issue. Before you start blasting me (or each other) please note that this is intended to be a poll on what people think of weight loss surgery. Does surgery allow bragging rights?

Furthermore, I'm not putting down surgery as a viable medical alternative for those who may need it. Personally, I think it's over prescribed by the medical community/Insurance companies. However, thats my PERSONAL opinion, and I don't think less of anyone who may have that surgery.

Anyway, now that we've gotten that out of the way. Tell me what you think.

you've asked if people having surgery are "allowed" bragging rights..

honestly I think you've made your judgements pretty clear.

I had gastric bypass just over a year ago and didn't use it as a cop-out in any way. I love to workout and do so almost daily. I had other issues and ended up on steroids and struggled to get the weight off. Before steriods I had lost 90+ pounds without any assistance just diet and exercise. After 3 years of struggling to get the weight back off I had the surgery.

I've shared with my doctor several times if I had to do it over again I wouldn't do the surgery. Believe me its no quick fix for some. I still have to work just as hard to loose weight with surgery due to meds. So I think it really depends on the person. I sit in support groups and see people who had surgery years ago and have yet to reach their goal weight due to lack of exercise and learning how to intake large amounts of sugar.

Once again it depends on the person in my opinion. The surgery is only going to help so much anyway. I don't brag because I've always been FINE!!! :-) big or smaller!!!

^absolutley agree that it doesnt always work. But like the fellows wife above, sometimes it is a life saver.

It's a long term vs short term solution. Surgery will remove the unwanted pounds, but if you haven't changed your activity level or your eating habits, chances are great that you'll just end up gaining that weight all over again, whereas learning to eat well and be active are much more likely to lead to a lifetime of a better physique and the ability to do the things you want to do without impairment.

If someone does not have the mental ability to save themselves, then surgery is probably the only option left for those people. We've no rite to judge anyone. No one is perfect.

I agree, I'm doing it the natural way but I'm sure not everyone is able to do it, especially when you have more than 100 lbs to lose. It's certainly an extreme solution and I hope everyone thinks long and hard before permanently changing their insides.

I have had surgery - but it takes a whole lot more than one might think. I had to deal with my psychological relationship with food, and to be honest it is just a TOOL - it will not "cure" anything. Those who gain it back - didnt change something in their life or their relationship with food, or thought surgery would fix it and they would not have to work at it. . I work my butt off exercising, and I eat in moderation and log everything I do. It is all about the mindset of the person who does choose to have surgery.

I do agree some make it an easy way out which annoys the heck out of me which leads many to the misconception that it is a cop out. And some docs use it as a quick fix as do some patients and that surgery will cure it by itself, but it really is not as easy as one might think.

It is not a cop out - I still have to work for what I have achieved, it did not come easy.

ETA: How many "regular" dieters have lost their weight to have it come back. It is the same thing as having surgery, changing your lifestyle and your relationship with food. I see many posts - lost the weight , gained it back and here I am on MFP again. So really one can not say it just happens to surgical patients

There is no "vs". You still have to diet and exercise after having surgery. The surgery is just another tool.

Just for those that keep repeating that "my friends had the surgery and have gained all the weight back" I hate to tell you but so do a lot of "natural" dieters gain all the weight back. I say if it gets you to where you need to be, go for it. I think the benefits from carrying around less weight out weigh the so called "cop out" factor.
By the way I'm doing it naturally, if I could have afforded it, I'd have done it. I do half marathons and am a very active person, but I can tell you that it would be much easier to be active if I didn't weight this much!
Cut people some slack, you don't know what they've gone through or what their battle is like. Support people, and if you see someone slipping back, don't rag on them, ask them to go for a walk, it will do you both some good!