Written Exam— I cannot stop laughing:

[fatgirlsvelte 217]

There is no reading between the lines for question No. 1 in the written exam, and Pacific Bariatric cuts right to the chase.

Yes it's true.

But with a funny bone and a good attitude, you can see the humor and potential in it.

All love,

—K

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[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@fatgirlsvelte - I guess they are the professionals, so they know this to be true. But really? What professional would write that question?

[fatgirlsvelte 217]

The professionals at Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group, in July of 2009.

@@fatgirlsvelte - I guess they are the professionals, so they know this to be true. But really? What professional would write that question?

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[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@fatgirlsvelte - NOTE TO SELF, quit letting the interns write the questions. If you let them, proof their work. That is all.

[DeletedMember 715]

Seriously, the answer to that question is supposed to be "true"?!?!?!

[fatgirlsvelte 217]

Yep, according to the key, "true" is correct.

...

Theoretically though, this isn't wrong on their end. Poorly/crassly worded? Yes. Incorrect? No.

Seriously, the answer to that question is supposed to be "true"?!?!?!

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[DeletedMember 715]

I would disagree with that statement. So would my surgeon. There is so much that goes into becoming morbidly obese. This is the simple view that society likes to think is true.

If your surgeons think this is true, I'm a bit surprised they are willing to do surgery. If they believe it is due to just lack of self control and laziness, how does the surgery help? Surgery doesn't fix those things. So aren't all their patients destined to failure?

If you buy into a pure calorie in/calorie out model the math doesn't even support this.

The average morbidly obese person does not gain 100 lbs in a year or two. The more common scenario is that a person gains 10lbs a year for 10 years and finds themselves 100lbs overweight.

If that's the case, 10lbs a year is an extra 35,000 calories a year. Or 95.89 extra calories a day. Which is slightly less than a medium size banana.

A person who gains an extra 100lbs over 10 years vs a normal size person is separated by less than a banana a day. Hardly what I would attribute to laziness and a lack of self-control.

[DeletedMember 715]

Oh, and one other thing. If people become obese because they fundamentally lack self control and are lazy, how come so many morbidly obese people can be successful in every other aspect of their life - career, marriage, parenting. All things that require quite a bit of self control and energy.

Edited August 5, 2016 by msujester

[fatgirlsvelte 217]

Responding to both posts here—

Have been in counseling for two years prior to pursuing the surgery regarding the food intake, and my hospital requires at least six months of behavioral training before approving the surgery to address the underlying issues at hand. They do not approve the surgery until all of the courses and counseling are complete, and extensive psychiatric evaluations have been completed across two different hospital care systems.

As it currently stands, I have been approved to take the courses; not for the surgery as of yet, and am in that process. Who knows--in December, I may not be approved by surgeon, only time can tell.

How the counseling/classes has shaped my current POV:

Using the example of a being separated by only a banana a day reads to me like absolute victim mentality. We all know good and well that the vast majority of bariatric patients simply haven't just been consuming a banana per day difference than the "straight-weight" human being, otherwise we wouldn't be in the current place we are today.

At a certain point, psychologically, recognizing that weight is setting in, especially using your slow gain model, should be addressed from a self-control and exercise issue, and if one is truly paying attention to their physicality and weight, this would be stopped in the 10-30 pound mark.

Calorie in/calorie is something I absolutely buy into. To maintain a weight of over 300 pounds, consumption of at least 3,000 calories per day in addition to working against one's own body weight maintains that scale number, and 3,000 calories isn't a banana. We aren't victims, we are responsible. Choice/action versus reaction.

I am always up for learning all of the perspectives on this journey though--I found Dr Weiner's contact information, and I'll be reaching out. I'd love to hear his perspective on what I'm being taught, and will follow-up if/when I hear back.

I would disagree with that statement. So would my surgeon. There is so much that goes into becoming morbidly obese. This is the simple view that society likes to think is true.

If your surgeons think this is true, I'm a bit surprised they are willing to do surgery. If they believe it is due to just lack of self control and laziness, how does the surgery help? Surgery doesn't fix those things. So aren't all their patients destined to failure?

If you buy into a pure calorie in/calorie out model the math doesn't even support this.

The average morbidly obese person does not gain 100 lbs in a year or two. The more common scenario is that a person gains 10lbs a year for 10 years and finds themselves 100lbs overweight.

If that's the case, 10lbs a year is an extra 35,000 calories a year. Or 95.89 extra calories a day. Which is slightly less than a medium size banana.

A person who gains an extra 100lbs over 10 years vs a normal size person is separated by less than a banana a day. Hardly what I would attribute to laziness and a lack of self-control.

[DeletedMember 715]

I just believe it is a nuanced issue that does not boil down to laziness and self control.

I believe to some degree many obese people are victims. Doesn't mean you're powerless, or that you are not responsible for your own success.

While around "normal" people, I've often noticed that they seem to experience hunger differently. If they eat a large holiday meal they are literally not hungry the rest of the day or the next. Their bodies are helping to regulate their food intake. Myself, I'm still hungry for a full meal later that day.

Am I responsible for rather I eat or not? Sure it is. But it's a heck of a lot easier to show restraint when your just not hungry.

That's really why this surgery works for some. Many of us know what we need to do, but it's a lot easier when we have a lack of hunger promoting hormones and a significant restriction.

I do understand a lot of people have emotional/psychological food addictions. Again, I don't think this is a sign of laziness or simple "lack of self control".

I am fortunate in some ways as this is not really my issue. I've never been an emotional eater. I don't graze or snack a lot. I have always loved food and eat way too large of meals and make poor food choices for those large meals.

Anyway, everyone has a different opinion and perspective, for me, personally, I don't believe the majority of people are fat because they are lazy, undisciplined slobs.