Do you view someone's success differently if......

I don't know much about surgery to be honest, but from reading on here it seems that it's just a kick start and people who have it still have to work hard to lose the weight. It's not like they have the op and 100lbs magically disappear.

I also think it's brave as it seems like a scary procedure - I wouldn't willingly be operated on!

As far as the ones that have surgery, I don't really see it being different except they have to be really conscious about what they put in and I know I could never do it.

The only ones I really think are "lazy" are the ones that do the fad diets in order to lose weight and then come on here and yell about how they haven't lost it. But that is just me (I get frustrated with my cousin who is doing body by vi and knows that the weight will come back on because he has already had it happen but refuses to acknowledge it and then wants to try and get everyone on the green earth to buy it).

If someone loses weight and they are happy with the loss and the method, what business is it of mine?

If there were a simple way for me to lose my weight without exercise or diet and I could afford it, I would have already done it. And I wouldn't care at all what anyone else's opinion was.

All I know is my personal experience, and the one friend I have who did it was completely unwilling to try other methods that would take more time, and even afterwards was unwilling to be educated to change her eating habits. She also spent over a year in the hospital due to complications.

So, it is hard for me to view it as a good option, but I don't know anything except what she went through, so don't know enough to make a judgment across the board.

I think a lot of it for me, is that I had 3 family members have it done, and it was an option that my doctor initially gave me. My thought process was, I am (at the time) only 22 years old, I want to try on my own first, and I did well, but the family members that had it done, had battled their whole lives. It is not the same way I did it, but, it was their way and I am proud of them for doing it, and now, 5 years later, still having it all off and being dilligent with the gym and health.

Why do you care about other people's business?

If everyone used this as their guiding principle, then there would be very little activity in the forums. Like it or not, discussing topics that affect other people is kind of what goes on here.

I admire anyone who has taken control of an element of their life this way. It is NOT an easy way out and no way on earth would I do that to myself. With a normal stomach I can just eat a little less of everything I like and lose weight; post surgery stomachs just don't work that way, especially not to begin with.

To me, surgery does not show a lack of will power, rather it shows a burst of will power, a decision to alter your body and then suffer not being able to eat normally for months or years on end! I could not do that to myself. All the hard work does not take place on the operating table, not by a long chalk.

I'm not here for you.

I'm here for me.

This. :flowerforyou:

I also view someone's success differently if they lost 200 pounds to get to their GW vs losing 20 pounds to get to their GW...(I see losing 200 pounds more impressive than losing 20 pounds)...but really, big picture, should it really be seen differently? In fact, would it not be appropriate to commend the person who never let their weight get more out of control?

yes 100%.

I dont think of them as lesser than those who did it the hard way - but I do think that they missed out on what those who did it through hard work- gained.

getting fit the old fashioned way makes you mentally stronger, emotionally better able to cope with obstacles, you learn yourself better because you face fears head on and are constantly proving to yourself (without anyone on the outside being in your head with you) that you can tackle anything if you try hard enough - that you can evolve your body on your own, your life, your path, the direction you want to move forward in., making these things actually happen for yourself through hard work, to me, brings with it a strong sense of self that you just cant get without the patience and sweat of spending years cultivating a relationship with yourself.

my brain cant wrap itself around how you can gain all those same things while you're unconscious in surgery.

As someone who had the gastric sleeve, I must respond to this by reminding everyone there is a difference between losing weight, however you do it and getting in shape as this writer discusses. Getting in shape requires exercise. We all know this. Weight loss may result from getting in shape, but weight loss alone isn't getting in shape.

My surgery made it possible to me to lose enough weight that I can now safely exercise. So now, I can start getting in shape. And no, despite what you all may think, I was not able to lose weight any other way. For some people, that's just the reality.

Also, the surgery will help you lose a certain amount of your excess weight, but at a certain point, and the point is different for each person, the surgery no longer causes weight loss. The surgical patient has to add exercise to keep the weight coming off, we have to count calories too. And for some of us, we have to make sure to get enough protein as well. Keeping the weight off works the same for us as people who don't have the surgery. We must watch our diet and continue to exercise or the weight will come right back.

Unless a person is losing weight through an eating disorder, the other ways are all good. Each person is different and what works for me might not work for you. So don't judge each other here!

PS - one point made that is very valid, for those of us who have had surgery, we need to preface all advice with that information. Because what works for us may not work well for someone who hasn't had the surgery. We need to be careful to put that disclaimer in there for people reading what we are suggesting.

No, it's the hard way and I admire all those brave persons. I almost got a sleeve done at 324 lbs but I backed off when I lost 5% of my body weight by my own.

Yes, I would, not that the person should care what I think.

yes 100%.

I dont think of them as lesser than those who did it the hard way - but I do think that they missed out on what those who did it through hard work- gained.

getting fit the old fashioned way makes you mentally stronger, emotionally better able to cope with obstacles, you learn yourself better because you face fears head on and are constantly proving to yourself (without anyone on the outside being in your head with you) that you can tackle anything if you try hard enough - that you can evolve your body on your own, your life, your path, the direction you want to move forward in., making these things actually happen for yourself through hard work, to me, brings with it a strong sense of self that you just cant get without the patience and sweat of spending years cultivating a relationship with yourself.

my brain cant wrap itself around how you can gain all those same things while you're unconscious in surgery.

That's the thing, gastric patients whether its, RNY, Sleeve or lap band have to work just as hard as everyone that hasn't had it done. It's not like you just have the surgery, keep eating the way you did, sit around on the couch and lose the weight. You have to work just as hard and work out just as hard. The psychological challenges that come with it, I think sometimes are harder because you're body does change so quickly that you're mind a lot of the time hasn't caught up. The initial quick loss comes in the first few months, and to keep it coming off you have to work just as hard as everyone else. The quick loss comes from the severe calorie deficit you're eating at.

If you don't follow the plan, workout, etc....yes you will gain it back just like anyone else. It's not a miracle cure.

I always read that it takes the same will power to lose weight with gastric as it does without...bull. I have a friend who lost over 130 pounds and ate mac n cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and frequently ate fatty fast foods. She had to eat them in small amounts because other wise she would puke it back up,not because she was choosing to eat it in moderation.Now that the weight is off and she has become accustomed to eating bigger meals the weight is coming back because she never changed her eating habits or learned proper nutrition.
So no, it is not always the same process losing with gastric. . Now, keeping it off is a different story....you don't keep it off without having learned a few things.