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obesity is a choice?

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Wow, lots of energy in that post. My opinion, completely unsolicited of

course... (and to be read in monotone), is that to a certain degree...

obesity is a disease, and that a person has to be accountable for their

disease in the same way an alcoholic is accountable for their disease. No

one makes me eat fried cheese instead of string cheese, that is a choice. Is

it an easy one? Of course not. I still feel hunger, but the day I had my

surgery I made a commitment to my health... and no one is responsible for

adhering to my surgeons rules, except for me. Without question, obesity is a

disease... but if we aren't willing to accept responsibility for what we put

in our mouths, then why in the heck did we have our insides rearranged to

begin with? That was step one, of a life long commitment to our health...

and I do believe its a cop-out to try to justify eating poorly because of the

disease. I couldn't stay on a diet for more than a week pre-op. Why that

is? I wish I knew. I stalled with weight loss at 11 months post. Why?

Because I was eating total crap, not drinking water, not exercizing, drinking

alcohol. That was my own fault, my own choice. A year ago when I gave up

sugar and starch, I lost the rest of my weight (within 15 pounds anyway)...

and because I hold myself accountable, I take 100% of the credit for that

weight loss. I don't say I lost the weight because of the surgery, even if

it contributed to the success... because at this point of my post op life,

the size I am... and the health I enjoy, is directly related to how well I

follow the rules, and the choices I make. Anyway, please don't be

offended... I usually don't post, I just felt strongly about my perspective.

Thanks for listening...

sarah s

minneapolis

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<<I don't know how far out you are from surgery, or maybe you are one of the

lucky ones who no longer has to make choices on a daily basis and you stay

thin without any work.>>

I want to know who these people are. <VBG>

Jac

Life is not a spectator sport.

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Jeri,

Thanks for the input here. I feel like I was falling into to the same

thinking as the opinions expressed here until I saw your post. You are so

right about this! Its so easy now to sit back and judge others when we

were in the same boat not long ago ourselves. Without my surgical 'tool', I

would still be making the same poor choices and sitting on my rear in

despair. There were many times when as an MO person, I would buckle down,

make the necessary lifestyle changes and lose weight. I had all the

willpower in the world and could make wise choices, only it never lasted. I

lost about 100# several times, so I know it wasn't that I lacked willpower

or didn't know how to make wise choices But alas, I always gained back all

the weight lost, plus some. After losing 100#, I definitely didn't 'choose'

to gain them back. Please, lets not forget what it was like for us...what

its like for many who struggle with their weight.

Jim K.

Open RNY 5/14/02

Start - 319

Goal - 174

Current - 167

Total Lost - 152

jlw@... wrote:

Subject: obesity is a choice?

I'm a bit confused here -- if obesity is simply the result

of bad choices (or mostly the result of bad choices) surely

it would be easier simply to make the right choices than to

have major surgery? And surely insurance companies would be

in the right to refuse to pay for such surgery?

It's amazing how having this surgery and losing weight

because of it makes us all such better people that we can

judge others so clearly. I hadn't realized what a wonderful

side benefit the surgery had. (Actually, I think I've

missed that particular benefit. Darn.) I also didn't

realize how cunning I was to hoodwink the the insurance into

paying for most of the cost of the surgery when they could

simply have told me to, mmm, diet and exercise. <smacking

the side of my head> Why didn't I think of that? What a

revelation. I was fat because I ate too much and didn't

exercise enough. Who knew?

And yes, I am being sarcastic. It is truly disheartening

for me to see how many individuals who have themselves been

through the struggle -still- believe that obesity is simply

a matter of willpower.

Do so many of you honestly think that post-surgery you

simply have more willpower, better self-control, wiser

choices? Funny me, I've found that it's easier to eat less

when my body is not screaming so hard for more food. It's

easier to exercise when my body doesn't hurt. I must have

missed out on that side benefit of becoming a better person,

'cause I don't think I am one bit better than I was 150 lbs

ago. I'm just thinner. And luckier. My (rearranged) body

is cooperating with me for the first time. I am putting

less willpower, less pain, less struggle into my daily

eating choices, and having infinitely better (and easier)

results. It would be dishonest to claim that the credit is

due to better choices, other than the choice to have the

surgery. A choice that might not have been available to

whatever obese person you are so happy to judge. Or maybe

even a choice that is NOT the best one for every single

obese person.

Hasn't it occurred to any of you who are being so judgmental

on the subject that your amazing ability to make " good

choices " and " become accountable " came about after a surgeon

rearranged your insides?

Jeri

> > I recognize the accountability factor in our situation is a

controversial

> > topic-in my opinion it only goes so far because of factors beyond our

> > control. But lets face it, we do make choices that help or hinder those

> > factors. (not exercising prior to when we just plain couldn't, not

eating

> > sugar, etc).

> >

> Lorie - just wanted to let you know I agree with you completely on this

> score. In my own experience, the obese people I know (and I know a lot!),

> make poor choices. Perhaps there is a small minority who are eating the

> right # of calories for their bodies, exercising regularly, and eating

> healthy foods who still are morbidly obese, but the majority of us don't

fall

> into that category. This opinion does make me distinctly unpopular among

my

> obese circles - after all, we live in a " it's not my fault " society.

>

> There were certainly mitigating factors in my own situation that

contributed

> to my obesity, but I absolutely chose not to exercise, and to continue

eating

> unhealthy foods. As far as I can recall, no one ever showed up on my door

> step from Mcs and force fed me......

>

> Kate

--

jlw@...

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