It is NOT the “Easy Way”

I love my sister. She is usually the most kind, generous and giving of herself and her time. She takes in all sorts of strays, human and animals alike. She said something to me yesterday that was hurtful, and I do not think she even realized it.

Like many of you here, I have struggled with my weight for a long time. For the last two years I was fighting a clinically diagnosed low resting metabolic rate and physical injuries that made exercise exceedingly difficult. I was at a point where I could not eat any less or exercise enough to create a calorie deficit in a truly healthy and sustainable way. (I could have used liquid meal replacements, but that is all I would have been able to “eat”, therefore not sustainable.) I also have mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and I use a c-pap machine. That is what helped me medically qualify for weight loss surgery. I never really considered surgery until I had a bad meniscus tear to my right knee, followed by an MCL tear. I was losing the battle of my own biology, and I was terrified of what the excess weight would do in the future. I was not extremely overweight, less 80 lbs. from a healthy BMI, but I was not losing, and the weight was slowly going up. The decision to have Gastric Bypass surgery was made after talking with my doctors. I needed to not just lose weight, but to STOP gaining when I was doing all I could. I had the surgery and I have now lost a total of 67 lbs. I am 9 lbs. away from having a BMI that is considered normal, and a lot of the joint pain I was having has resolved, though I am still having some issues with the right knee.

So, the hurtful thing my sister said when she saw me for the first time since surgery was, “You’re looking good, but you took the easy way.” I was dumbfounded. I had a major abdominal surgical procedure. I had to take a month off work to recover. I had to re learn how to eat, and not following the plan can lead to complications. I am now at a higher risk of experiencing a bowel blockage for the rest of my life. I struggle to stay hydrated (you physically can not chug if you are really thirsty) and not make myself physical sick. It is NOT the “Easy Way”, but for some of us, it is the only way.

For all of you who have had a surgical weight loss procedure and have reclaimed your life, do not let ANYONE try to make you feel less for having it done. For those who are thinking about it, know that you WILL have to work to make it happen and to make it successful, so do not thing you are “Cheating” or “Taking a short-cut” or doing “The easy thing” because it is anything but easy.