Has anyone seen this month's edition of People Magazine, where they feature people who have lost half of their body weight.
I caught this story on the Today Show yesterday.. and without pause they always throw in the line "AND they did it without any type of weight loss surgery", which to me implies, "they didn't take the easy way out, they did it the hard way".
Alright..I think you know what is going to come next in this post..
gastric band surgery is NOT the easy way out.
The irony that I see in these news stories is that when the people are asked, "How did you lose all of this weight?"..the answers are tied to Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or other WL programs... that teach the patient some basic concepts in food selection, pre packaged calorie monitoring, etc.. these sound like tools and skill sets that are being applied to me..
SO.. how is this different than a gastric band? A tool used for WL.
We all know that we need to use similar types of judgement with the band, including some for of physical exercise.
IT"S A GASTRIC BAND NOT A MAGIC WAND!!
OK.. deep breathe...
have a nice day..
lol Yes deep breathe. Forget the knockers... we did it ourrrr wayyyyy (aka Frank Sinatra baby!)
ReplyDeleteHA! I posted the same thing this time last year, Barb. Anytime someone loses weight and is interviewed, they point out that they did it without surgery. Ah well, what can we do but keep working the tool we chose.
ReplyDeleteYes, because let me tell you it has just been SO easy to lose weight with the Lap band. NOT!!! I guess people don't relaize that with the band, we have to work just as hard as someone on WW, Jenny Craig or Nutrasystem, because we still have to make choices, exercise and work for our losses.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as usual!
Agreed!!! Also - true test for me is how long will they manage to keep the weight off without surgery? Unfortunately the odds are against them.
ReplyDeleteSo right. Even on the Biggest Loser they have strenuous exercise and controlled food with lots of support to keep them going. Who wouldn't want a few hundred thousand dollars. I've discovered that we don't need to defend our choice as there will always be someone with an opposite opinion.
ReplyDeleteBe well my friend. Thoughts with you always. I hope today is a better day. And tomorrow and the day after that.
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteI was banded Aug 24, 2010 and have lost 46 pounds. I could not do this with JC, WW, Nutrisystems, White Crosses etc. Bully for them, but the band has HELPED me, not done the work, since I have no restriction, but HELPED me make the good choices.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it did piss me off the way they said 'without' surgery. A big diservise to alot of folks who need the band.
Bonnie
Jess bought the issue the other day and I felt the same way. I don't understand why they can't showcase all types of healthy weight loss!
ReplyDeleteI think it is the pedastrian/drive perspective. You know, when you are walking through the parking lot, you think cars should look out for you. When you are driving, you think the people walking should get out of your way. God knows, this is not the EASY way. It's the SMART way.
ReplyDeleteI had to buy it!
ReplyDeleteEvery year I do and this year I just skimmed right past it cause it says that they did it with NO SURGERY! Then I doubt how long these people will keep it off!I know..sad but I have been there so many damn times! Great post! Hope you are doing well!
What few seem to question is WHY it is headline news to see someone who's actually lost weight WITHOUT surgery. The fact is that few can lose significant quantities of weight and even fewer will keep it offer without surgery. So few that it truly is newsworthy, like winning the lottery or getting struke by lightening.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather do something that actually offers more than a snowball's chance in hell of success!
I bought it in the airport and teh first thing I looked for was the little disclaimer "They did it without surgery or drugs". It almost feels like a little zing. See, these people could do it. People who use drugs or surgery must just be weak or lazy. Anyway, that's how it feels. But I agree with those above that point out that their long term success has a pretty small chance statistically. I've lost large amounts of weight before (without surgery or drugs) only to regain it. I think they should be looking across the spectrum and give WLS success stories equal weight (so to speak.)
ReplyDeleteDeep breathe... and relax. We haven't taken the 'easy way out'. What we did, was found THE BEST TOOL for the job to help us get to our goals and STAY there :o)
ReplyDeleteYep! This is exactly why I'm in the closet. People don't realize how much work it is and how difficult it can be. It's not necessarily easier, it's just different.
ReplyDeleteI love your rants!
My opinion? All this "without surgery" business is because WW, Jenny Craig, SlimFast, etc. are paying for advertising in the magazine -- they probably handed their successful clients to People Magazine on a silver platter -- and its all a big circle jerk. WW (for instance) comes to people, says "here's a story for ya! And by the way, can you make sure you mention that the person used WW? And can we get a discount on advertising if we promise to buy a year's worth?" I worked in advertising. This is how we do it, people.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I'm also the one who believes the "moon landing" was a big conspiracy too so what do I know? ;-)
Sherry LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I totally hear you...One thing is that I think people need to respect weight loss diversity. I respect anyone who makes a commitment to live a healthier life. To each his own.
I thought the EXACT SAME THING when I read that!!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! Yes people did not have surgery, but the money still invested what? It can be done, but some of us are past doing all what they did and it still didn't work..for me it was my last resort before I just didn't give a rootin tootin... We all have our rock bottoms and for us the way out was surgery for those in people magazine Jenny Craig worked...Lucky for them.
ReplyDelete