"The easy way out"

[formykids2 4]

So at the moment I am hot under my collar. I have read a TON of posts on here and other sites, and blogs... I keep seeing this recurring theme of being told that lap band is the easy way out. I know that most if not all of you here know better, but it got me thinking. I have been doing low carb in prep for my liquid diet because I dont want the hell of the hunger and detox and withdraw all at once so for me I knew I needed a step down approach, and damn if even this is hard! I was thinking of all of the things that people say we should do instead- eat less, go to the gym, go on a "diet", etc.... So, I would like to know what makes lap band so damned easy in their eyes. Is going on weight watchers where you can eat but have to be wise about your choices and count your points easy or hard? Is low carb where you have to read every label and keep track of all carbs vs Fiber and fat and cals easy or hard? Is going to the gym (especially for those who are already a decent weight and in good shape) easy or hard? Yes lap band in a way MAKES us do what we are supposed to do as far as eating less, but we still have to watch those lables,make good choices, count the Protein and cals and maybe even carbs. We still have to go to the gym if we want this thing known as a tool to work for us. (I mean seriously.... a hammer doesnt drive nails unless you have a nail, someone to hold it, and to swing the hammer at the right spot right!?) So is it the preop diet that is easy?The months on end for some people to get testing and insurance to pay? The actual surgery? The post op healing? Maybe it is the giving up our favorite things because our band just can not tolerate a bite of that bagel we love so much and will excercise will power in only eating 1/4 instead of the whole thing. I know that most of you second and third what I am saying, and I guess I just needed to vent that here with people who understand. (My husband is one of those who can excercize for hours and smile about it, and also gave me the initial diet and excercize song). So i guess when people ask me what a I am doing I would reply that I am going to the gym, watching what I eat, and if they sincerely need/want to know "MY secret" to making it work I will tell them that I do those things with the help of lapband instead of saying at the beginning that I have it. Sorry for the soap box/ b*@#h session.... just needed to cool off from that steam in a safe place. Here is to us all succeeding with our "easy way out"!

[brenda62 47]

Good post! I work with the public and they are always asking how I am losing weight and I tell them, I go to the gym 5x week, walk 3-5 miles a day, eat healthy and yes it is hard and a lot of work. So you are on the right track with that. Good luck

[vickyd 24]

I'm with Brenda...I've only told a few, select people about my surgery. Obviously, having lost over 100 lbs, people have noticed that I've lost weight but all they see is that I am careful about what I eat and that I exercise 5-6 days a week and if anyone asks that is exactly what I tell them. Some people do think that any WLS is taking the easy way out...some of them are just jealous, others don't have a weight problem so they honestly don't understand how difficult it is. Quite frankly, it isn't any of their business...

[transforming jlaroux 78]

I am pretty open about who knows. I'm proud of my band. I'm proud that I chose to take control over my life. BUT last night I encountered my first negative response. I was told" Oh you took the cheater diet"! Un freeking believable. I felt my bloodpressure rise! So, I can totally relate to EVERYTHING you are saying. So if having a tool makes me a cheater, than so be it! Apparently,. that makes weight watchers a cheater diet too, because there tool is counting points, and Jenny Craig, yup,... another tool. Prepared foods. how about the liquid shake diets, oh yeah, another TOOL! shakes! oh, and going to the gym, yet another f****ing tool! All that equipment. Why is it that everyone thinks this is easy?????????

Oh, and the woman who had the audacity to say this to me, yeah, she was overweight and complaning that she can't lose weight! Ironic.

[FLORIDAYS 3,040]

I have weighed in on this topic before in other threads..... and I have decided people who think this is the easy way out are morons and I dismiss them off my radar....

That said.... the reason I got banded was that I could eat a few bites of regular food, feel full and not get bored with the food I was eating to promote losing weight. Additionally I felt it would help me from putting the weight back on which has not happened with other diets.

10 months into it I can eat regular food and DO feel full after a few bites.... however I choose to eat healthier than I did pre band and count my calories so the weight comes off at a steady pace.

The only thing "easy" or as I prefer to say "helpful" about getting the band is that because I am in the green zone I do feel and stay full after eating a 200-300 meal...something I wasnt able to achieve on other diets.

[Humming Bird 275]

I guess it's all in how you look at it. In my case I think it is the easy way (I must be one of those morons...lol).

It's the easiest 100+ pounds I've ever taken off. It's the easiest weightloss plan/diet I have ever been on (I've done them all). It's the easiest weightloss I've ever maintained for any length of time. I have not worked hard at this weightloss since the day I was banded. I don't lie about how I dropped over 100 pounds. I don't tell people I go to the gym or workout or watch what I eat because I don't do those things and those things only work long-term for 5% of people. I am thrilled it has been so easy. Why would I want to do it the hard way?

I think the hardest part of my journey was the hit to my bank account as I was self-pay, but I have it all paid off now and feel it was money well spent and worth every dollar.

[Dibley Dawn 84]

People are never going to change unless they go through it themselves and that's that.

I was pretty much of the same mindset and that's why I put the surgery off for 6 years. I never told another WLS person that they took the easy way out, but I certainly thought it....until i was banded. No, it's not easy. but for me, it was necessary as I was unable to do it on my own.

you can't change anyone else's mind, you just have to keep doing what you are doing and let people think what they think. in the end, it's all about you and what's best for you and who cares what anyone else thinks?

good for you that you are working hard and doing what you need to do. it's only going to get harder and harder, not easier. hopefully people who care about you will see what hard work it is and not pass judgement.

[Ro-Jae327 4]

Amazing!!!!! It's funny because someone at work told me lat week that "you have to work to hard with the Lap Band, I thought it was gonna be easier". Not a clue!!!!!

[steelerfan1 4]

I dont think its a easy way out either. I still have to fight the head hunger, I still have to drink my Water every day, and the lap band dont make me get up and go to the gym every day or work out . That is still something I have to do to lose the weight.

Like I always tell the newbies that are thinking of getting the band. The lap band to me is exactly what we did before , we have to diet, we have to exercise, we have to drink our Water, we have to watch what foods we eat , the band dont do them things for you , the ONLY thing the band does is help you stay fuller for a little bit longer, and help with your portion sizes that is it . Nothing more nothing less.

It dont matter how well you get in the green zone you can and will eat around the band if you want to , it dont stop me from eating a bag of chips , it dont stop me from eating a gallon of ice cream that is things we have to change ourselves the band once again dont do that for you .

[down in the dumps 5]

I won't care what ignorant people say when I'm skinny!!!! I won't care less!!! I'l just smile! Pisses them off more! Lol