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.
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareWe are bombarded with advertisements pushing delicious looking, fat filled,... Read More
Low self-esteem produces a game of control. It causes a... Read More
There are many books and internet articles written about weight... Read More
Is this even possible?Well hold on to your seat because... Read More
With so many diets and fads being offered on the... Read More
You will be surprised to find out how many people... Read More
You are ready to shed those energy draining, body crippling,... Read More
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of... Read More
Tip 1) DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACKThis... Read More
It is common for new WLS patients to ask, "How... Read More
Activity means both mental and physical activity.Mental activity is similar... Read More
To understand how surgical procedures aid the grossly overweight person... Read More
Dieting and weight loss is almost certainly the most lucrative... Read More
If you are trying to lose weight, the holidays literally... Read More
If you're like me, you probably wish that there was... Read More
Today obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run through us at... Read More
New Medical Research shows high-intensity exercise can increase the body's... Read More
One Reality TV show, The Swan, thrives on makeovers. Often... Read More
An article published in http://www.inch-aweigh.com mentioned, "If you are eating... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
Have you been on a new diet for a couple... Read More
When I decided to lose weight I of course decided... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Have you ever wondered why some fat people can be... Read More
If you are committed to the low carb way of... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
So you ask, "How do I determine if I am... Read More
Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
When was the last time you focused so much on... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
I am a Registered Dietitian who has spent over 10,000... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
Nice girls don't speak up. Nice girls take care of... Read More
The average American eats about twice as much protein than... Read More
As a weight loss mentor it never ceases to amaze... Read More
Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially... Read More
Obesity is now assuming epidemic proportions. Worldwide there are over... Read More
Body Mass Index (BMI)Body Mass Index is an accurate indicator... Read More
"I'd love to lose weight, but I don't have the... Read More
Everybody you know is on the latest weight loss bandwagon:... Read More
Negative thoughts, symbolic protection, being who we really are ........ Read More
Since the reintroduction of Ephedra based products on about April... Read More
Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More
"I tried that diet and lost 8 pounds in the... Read More
Here are a few free tips on losing weight that... Read More
In the early nineties doctors were beginning to see the... Read More
Families who dine out with their loved ones who've had... Read More
WEIGHT LOSS:Nutrition and weight-loss researchers say that some supplements can... Read More
If you have been eating as usual and the pounds... Read More
Weight Loss |