Recently a woman went public in her online diet community with her decision for gastric bypass surgery. She was asking for fellowship and support from fellow dieters. What she received was a public cyber-stoning from hostile opinionated and poorly informed sanctimonious people.
I was a bit taken back by the arrogance of some respondents: that if Lisa simply had the willpower she could lose the weight.
Lisa has 170lbs to lose. In the last two months she has lost 7 pounds and a poster told her that was wonderful progress ? she should just keep doing what she's doing and lose the remaining 170 lbs. It would take Lisa, losing 3.5 lbs/month, 48 months to lose her weight. That is without setbacks or life's little disruptions. That's 48 months of maintaining a rigid diet/exercise program while seeing little progress. Few people can accomplish that. Take a look around, there are a lot of obese people struggling just to get by, yearning to be in any body besides their own fat one.
In the same forum another poster had the nerve to write Eat Less: Exercise More. Calories In = Calories Out. Really? Thanks for the help with the math.
Another threw in the cheesy slogan: Grit Determination + No Excuses = Goals Reached and Dreams Becoming Reality.
Guess what folks? Catchy phrases and simple math don't cut it when a person is morbidly obese.
I do not personally know Lisa, nor do I know her state of self-esteem.
I can tell you with heartfelt sincerity that when I had 150 pounds to lose I was in such a spiral of despair and hopelessness that nothing short of surgery worked for me. My acts of self-sabotage and self-destruction derailed every conventional attempt to lose weight. I did not have the self-esteem or courage to muster any grit determination. I was on the train to hell and getting there by way of obesity.
I needed help.
Surgery opened a window for me: for once in my fat life I was succeeding at weight loss. My weight came off and I was empowered by the success of it. I sought fitness as a way of life, not evil torture. I embraced the art of cooking healthy balanced meals. I started taking care of myself. Surgery and the occasional resulting discomforts is a small price to pay for self love and self acceptance, not to mention health and wellness. Without weight loss surgery I can only shut my eyes in horror at the sad life I may have had. Low self-esteem and poor health never equal grit determination.
The most disappointing thing to come of Lisa's call for support was the lack of empathy or understanding from people aboard the same sinking ship ? all overweight, all struggling dieters, all hopelessly defeated. Should this not have been the very group to rally Lisa's cause; to give her credit for a making a gut-wrenching decision; for having the courage to reveal her very private choice?
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com
LivingAfterWLS is a no-nonsense resource for people Living After Weight Loss Surgery. Our community is growing in numbers even as we are shrinking in pounds. Together we support one another in this lifestyle, that it turns out, is NOT the easy way out.
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often. To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
ohare limo service Grand Rapids ..Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed... Read More
It is estimated that about 32 million Americans are following... Read More
The Order of Energy UtilizationBack to our table of stored... Read More
Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that... Read More
One way of recognizing a fad diet is... Read More
Many of us have tried losing weight in the past... Read More
A common claim from gastric bypass detractors is that after... Read More
Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing... Read More
It seems like everywhere you turn, there is someone trying... Read More
Things get so confusing when it comes to understanding what... Read More
Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More
AND SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. The secret is simple... Read More
You know you have weighted, err, waited more than enough.... Read More
Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
Cellulite is not a medical condition or an aesthetic mutiny... Read More
Running For Weight Loss??.Slow DownYou may be out running your... Read More
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started,... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
Abdominal fat is now seen as a growing health hazard,... Read More
Just one more day I can do this, I told... Read More
A fill is nothing to be worried about. The actual... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
When women talk about their biggest obstacles to successful weight... Read More
According to a recent survey by the National Health Institute,... Read More
executive chauffeured services Barrington Hills ..So your neighbor, office mate, best friend, whoever just lost... Read More
Many individuals these days, male or female, young or old,... Read More
I learned about gaining weight when I heard the question... Read More
It is very important for low carb dieters to stick... Read More
So you're overweight, "fat"--to be honest--and you want to start... Read More
On the road to weight loss, fitness, and health,... Read More
Every day you walk down the street it is becoming... Read More
The very first thing you want to do before you... Read More
Fat burning exercise is not merely one that will burn... Read More
Let me tell you something - if you are doing... Read More
The first rule for successful weight loss and weight maintenance... Read More
Here are 4 diet tips we all need reminded of... Read More
Things get so confusing when it comes to understanding what... Read More
I know, I know. What a crazy question!Considering that we've... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying... Read More
It seems like everywhere you turn, there is someone trying... Read More
One of the biggest scams ever successfully pulled on the... Read More
The best way to lose weight is by consuming fewer... Read More
1. Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot... Read More
You may be considering weight loss surgery if you are... Read More
It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained - yet few people... Read More
Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat.... Read More
There's a dirty little secret in the diet industry. The... Read More
There are a lot of "crash" diets out there that... Read More
Weight Loss |