Overweight People Who Voice Their Opinions Against WLS

October 17, 2002

Hello All,

I usually don't post but I need some email postings to copy on this

subject. I work with 3 women who are overweight.

One has decided to look into having WLS. Her doctor will not give her

knee surgery until she does something about her weight problem. She

needs clutches to get around.

One has just recently decided that this is something she wants to do

because she is just tired of being " fat " as she says.

That was the exact reason I had mine. I make no secret of the fact

that I have had WLS and I am very proud that I did.

It seems when I was overweight; I had to put up with the comments

from " normal " weight people about being overweight. Now that I am so

called " normal " , I have to put up with some overweight people making

comments about my decision to have WLS.

I am amazed how quickly they loved to say that WLS is the easy way

out or the wrong way to lose weight. While they stand there doing

NOTHING about their weight problem.

This weekend I will be working with the one who has decided to have

the surgery and the one is who is against it. I want to give some

email postings from people who have been on both sides of this issue.

I am hoping to wake up the one who is against WLS to realize that her

support of her friend's decision is more important than her idea it

is wrong.

This group is full of great ideas and great advice. Please post some

more........)

Deborah Burseth Minneapolis, Mn.

Dr. Baker RNY 1/19/1999

Pre-Op 227 lbs. Size WP 28

Post-Op 100 lbs. Size Girl's 10 ½ Plus Pants

" IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU ALWAYS DID - YOU'LL ALWAYS GET WHAT

YOU ALWAYS GOT! "

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?

=B985460193&NoStatic=1

October 18, 2002

That was the exact reason I had mine. I make no secret of the fact

that I have had WLS and I am very proud that I did.

It seems when I was overweight; I had to put up with the comments

from " normal " weight people about being overweight. Now that I am so

called " normal " , I have to put up with some overweight people making

comments about my decision to have WLS.

******************************************

When I decided to have WLS, I did it for my health and no other reason. I

heard many comments from other overweight people soon after the surgery. It

really didn't bother me. There were things said such as I took the easy way

to lose weight, I really didn't work to lose the weight, and basically I

wasn't all that because I no longer struggled to lose the weight. Actually,

it takes great courage and detication to have WLS and we all know that. I

overlooked what was being said because I knew they weren't as strong as I

decided to be.

I am hoping to wake up the one who is against WLS to realize that her

support of her friend's decision is more important than her idea it

is wrong.

*******************************************

WLS IS NOT for everyone. You can explain what has been done to you and for

you. You can give the benefits but be sure you explain the difficulties as

well. A friend did this for me and a year later I decided for myself that

WLS was for me. You need to support your friend that has decided to go

through it. The friend who thinks it is wrong is okay too. She just needs to

know that even if she thinks it is wrong, she needs to be supportive as

well. It is quite possible that this person is afraid of being left behind.

Maybe she feels something like peer pressure. Let her know that you will be

her friend no matter if she is overweight or not. She may just be insecure.

Remember though...You cannot change someone's opinion. Everyone is entitled

to their own. You can only do so much. All you can hope for is that she

realizes the same.

Dawn

October 18, 2002