Let your voices be heard!

[amponder 396]

@@IcanMakeit while I appreciate your POV, I feel I am protesting for myself, I matter and my choice of surgery matters and being shamed on a public show matters and if enough bariatric patients respond, not just us, it might get noticed and it might not, but we tried. Every stand starts with something, from this may seem minor, but I see what he done as a way of fat shaming, we were too lazy so we chose surgery and since a large part of their audience is obese and may have had surgery or are considering surgery I think it does matter.

[IcanMakeit 1,318]

@@amponder You state my feelings precisely.

[Folly 308]

Everyone who has posted on this topic, even those I don't happen to agree with just ROCKS!

[B-52 7,113]

Who cares if it is the easy way out?

I am now skinny, health, and fit....and living every minute of everyday...that's all that matters to me.

[Lynzee43 28]

I'm not sure where this has been the easy way out...but really it's a "tool" to help those who have struggled to lose weight on their own even when eating healthy and exercise.

I tell people all the time, I didn't gain the weight overnight and I didn't expect to lose it overnight even after surgery.

2+ yrs(since sleeve) later I am still busting my ass to lose those last few lbs and maintain my success.

1/21/15 I had a Tummy Tuck to remove excess skin. I told myself prior to scheduling that surgery I needed to be no more than 15lbs from my goal weight, knowing I would have time prior to lose yet. Day of surgery I was 8lbs from my goal.

None of this journey has been a picnic in the park! Sure, some days are better than others and I don't regret doing it one bit.

[Sharpie 3,306]

I love B52's response.. When I am wearing my skinny jeans to my doctor's office and they tell me all of my tests are perfect, I guess I shouldn't care either. I'm concerned that statements like the Doctor made on TV will discourage people who otherwise might consider getting weight loss surgery.

[Packerfan61964 293]

Talk is cheap!! If everyone wants to think that having WLS is the easy way out....let them think that. It's no skin off my nose. They are only showing their ignorance. WLS is a permanent tool HOWEVER, it CAN FAIL just like every other diet does!! I read a thread earlier and I'd like to repeat one line........." THEY OPERATE ON YOUR STOMACH....NOT YOUR BRAIN!!" Overcoming our bad mental habits is just as hard with or without the surgery. I used to watch the show regularly but then I read somewhere that over 60% of the contestants regain the weight that they lost. I really wonder who the biggest loser is

[Folly 308]

I recently had a long talk with a very close friend I never see in person about my struggles with obesity and weight loss. Just before I was going to tell him about WLS he told me how proud he was that I didn't go the "lazy-loser" route of having surgery... this from one of the kindest, most open-minded people I have ever known. The misinformation and prejudice that people still carry re: WLS is disheartening.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I recently had a long talk with a very close friend I never see in person about my struggles with obesity and weight loss. Just before I was going to tell him about WLS he told me how proud he was that I didn't go the "lazy-loser" route of having surgery... this from one of the kindest, most open-minded people I have ever known. The misinformation and prejudice that people still carry re: WLS is disheartening.

And this^^^, once again, is why I have told only two of the hundreds of my smart, mostly normal-sized friends about my WLS.

I literally do not have the time, energy or interest to educate my friends who are totally ignorant or misinformed about WLS.

After all, just recall how much time and energy WE have invested in learning about our respective WLS surgeries and tools and their use. We didn't know much about this to start with either.

[Elizabeth21 176]

How sad and arrogant of this doctor. I suppose Lasik surgery is the easy way out for eyesight so no one should do that either? There is simply no point to disparaging a weight loss tool just because it is not his preference. Maintaining weight loss is a lot like dating...you just have to keep trying until you find the relationship that works.