Warning... very optionated post of follow
I am about to hop onto my soapbox for a moment, but it seems to be quite 'fashionable' to have a gastric bypass done atm... what is with that???
So many people seem to be going under the knife to become slim... the easy way... or so they seem to think!!
I know that I shouldn't judge people on their own choices, and I wouldn't know all of the reasons behind their decision to undergo major surgery to lose weigh, and each person is different, but I think it is a cop out.
Do they really think about it?? Have they REALLY given other 'healthy lifestyles" a chance before giving up?? Have they thought, and I mean really thought about the long term effects on their life?? Example... Christmas day!! Who counts points on Christmas day?? If you had this procedure done you wouldn't enjoy this days anywhere near as much. How many other occasions during the year do you celebrate with food??? If I watch what I eat before and after an event.. I let loose. You have to live life!!
Surely some must have some depression associated with a gastric bypass... Food would never be looked at again in the same eyes.. Never!! No days off... Never. People who undertake this procedure must love food, otherwise, like myself they wouldn't be in this situation. That would have to effect your life. Not being able to eat when, what and as much as you liked for the rest of your life. No choice!!
I know that I could wear some flack about this, but it is taking the easy way out. Almost like cheating.. Well thinking they are in for a quick fix without thinking of the long term.
Also... What sort of example does this set for their children.
If, at my largest, I was 2kg heavier, I would have qualified for the by-pass. I lost weight with changing the way I lived.. nothing ground breaking..no super diet or pill.. just living life they way we should. Sensible eating, movement and most of all controlling my emotions.
I can remember saying before I joined WW that I wasn't an emotional eater.. I just really liked food. Well... I do really like eating but I am a huge emotional eater, I just wasn't aware of it. I still eat occasionally because of stress, but at least I know that I am doing in and put in place plans to make me stop. How does an operation control this????????
So.. Sorry if you are reading and you disagree with what I am saying, but it amazes me how much more acceptable this procedure is. Surely, our heathcare systems funds could be better spent on education and support for these people to first adopt a healthy lifestyle before they go under the knife...
12 comments:
Oooh, don't get me started! I think most people are just lazy (not all) and unfortunately they are allowed to come up with every kind of excuse for why they're not and call it a "disease" or whatever else. Are the arrows flying at me yet? Just an opinion.
I think I need to say that my opinion is obviously coloured by my own laziness!
These people don't seem to realise that they still have to eat well and exercise...this is not really a quick fix!!
I know a woman who has had it done - and she melts mars bars to eat...she has not learn't anything about nutrition at all!!!
I agree with you completely!!
I've just popped in here from Beck's site.
Haha - I could never have surgery. Taking supplements all the time so you don't get sick, never being able to have a blow out (like your Christmas Day example), feeling sick if you eat anything rich or sweet. No thanks. When I eat I want to enjoy it and deal with any consequences myself. Like a grown-up.
funny you should bring this up... i recently read a post on a recognised slimmers site and it said, and i quote "i was talking ot my friend who has had by pass and she told me she'd gained weight, she couldn't work out why, she wasn't eating anything more than normal, she doesn't have any interest in food anymore"
i thought to myself, HOW SAD? i love food, yes i over eat, yes i'm overweight but food is a way to celebrate, come together over a good meal, it's no fun sitting there saying "sorry i can't eat that".
so i'm with you, it is the cheaters way out, i mean, if people can lose 200lbs the old fashioned way, why can't these people.
having said that, if it will save someones life, that is a bit different... i remember seeing that show when "John" died from a skin infection caused by bed sores, which he got from weighing over 500lbs. mind you, he refused to stop eating right until the day he died. i couldn't believe he actually died, i was expecting some miracle story where you see John at 85kgs looking fabulous...
anyway, i digress!
i agree to a certain extent. i think we are a society of "quick fixes" and don't want to take the long road if we can avoid it.
fortunately i know that with weight loss there are no quick fixes and am willing to see the term out and yet you will constantly see people turn their noses up at the concept of ONLY moving more and eating less - "ppffff! there must be more to it!"
i couldn't have surgery. its a big risk going into the surgery and if its just for the 'easy way out' then i object. if it is a life saving option because a person is literally eating themself to death - then i am all for it.
unfortunately gastic bypass doesn't address the emotional connection some of us have with food. that is a big issue.
This is a great topic!
When talking about the average person (like most of us here) I'd agree with what your saying... but of course there are exceptions. There are people out there who truly have severe eating disorders, and in their case telling them to 'just eat sensibly', is like saying to an anorexic 'just eat'. It isn't always that simple. I still don't know that I would endorse gastric bypasses, but I think we can be a little harsh on those that go down that road. They have struggled and failed as many times as the rest of us...and they have been desperate to shed the kilos, just like the rest of us. I have felt so desperate....so absolutely sick of myself that I have thought about it...I still doubt I'll ever do it and will plod along with WW style lifestyle...but I get it...I get where they are when they choose that option. I guess what I'm saying is...I don't think it's always an act of laziness...I think more often than not it is an act of desperation. It may still be the wrong decision for these people to make...but they need our compassion...not our scorn.
I will never look down or ridicule anyone for making the decision to have this operation...having said that I doubt I would ever encourage anyone to have it either.
Well there's my 2cents!! :)
Kristy, I totally empathise with you about your friend. Thanks for clearing that up in your recent comment. Is she allowed to have the surgery at that height/ weight ratio?
I really think this isnt a cut and dried discussion. Some people I take my hat off to and say "Wonderful - go for it", others my heart just breaks for.
Im glad you liked the pictures. I hadnt seen pictures of it before and thought I better check them out. Arent they interesting?
P.S. You have a great weekend too! I'll send a rain chant your way...
I do find your opinion a bit single minded and somewhat insulting, and until you have experienced a severe and I do mean a severe weight problem then it is hard to judge others on their opinion. I have a lapband, I had to go through a very specific protocol to qualify for this band and it was not a whim decision I made, due to the actual concept of what it was, the cost involved and the medical risks. I had tried all diets known to man, including ww which I will say was prior to this my most successul at losing weight, I did lost 28 kilos using the ww program and I would recommend it to anyone. When I had my operation in January this year I weighed 160.8 kilos, I have since then with my band lost 25 kilos. But the weight is just a bonus. This is by no means the easy way out it doesnt lose the weight for me it is a tool for me to use to help me lose weight, I still have to make healthy choices, healthy quantity choices and exercise I cant just eat anything I want because I have it. The biggest bonus for me is that fact that I no longer am consumed by food, it used to be in my thoughts all day every day, for the first time in my life I am in control of my eating and I do not feel hunger anymore, well at least not the hunger I thought I had before. So please until you personally know someone who actually has one and can give you a blow by blow description, keep in mind it isnt an easy option it is simply a life saving option for some people who have tried conventional means of losing weight. As I said it doenst make the weight come off it is a tool to assist it.
Many thanks
W
Further to my previous comments, I would also like to add what I have is a Lap band it is different to Gastric Bypass and I can have mine removed completly or at least the restriction removed to eat anything I like, I was not offered gastric bypass as my option by my gp or my surgeon, but Lapbanding. I was consdiered SUPER OBESE, this is the worst you can be, and like stated I had tried everything else for several years, I am 29 and have been overweight since 18, so I have pretty much been on a diet of some sort of lifestyle change since then. Please understand it is most definately NOT the easy way our of Cheats way and I must admit I do see if for larger people the only option, I wouldnt have got it done if I was only at say 100-120 kilos, It do beleive I could have achieved weight loss myself at that weight, but at 160 kilos mine was just getting worse.
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