What's your opinion of people who lost weight via gastric bypass/lap band vs. "the old fashioned way?"

[Anonymous]

I used to be immensely overweight and my family was pressuring me to look into options such as gastric bypass surgery or getting the lap band put in. That idea didn't sit right with me though because I always looked at it as a form of "cheating" so I decided to try doing it the old fashioned way. I lost a lot of the weight but not as much as I would have if I probably did it the other way. What's your opinion of people who did it the old fashioned way (diet & exercise) vs. people who got gastric bypass surgery or the lap band done?

[Simple-Simonette]

Most of the people I know who went the surgical way were obese or close to it and used it as a last chance attempt to lose weight. They tried dieting and exercise with minimal results.

I wouldn't look down on someone who had lapband or gastric bypass - who am I to judge? Only they know the best route to losing weight for themselves.

Losing weight has never been an issue for me - I am blessed with a high metabolism and an inherent desire to be physically active. I'm not going to push my lifestyle on others who aren't built the same way that I am.

I think that overweight people judge themselves too harshly. I understand that if you have physical problems due to weight, wanting to change that, but this rampant desire to be skinny is more harmful than healthy.

I see it as a personal decision, nothing more.

[Anonymous]

my dad wanted to do that bypass stuff, he's over 500 lbs but the drs said he wasn't healthy enough for it. when I heard he wanted to do it I got really mad about it. cause I've worked very hard dieting and excersing to lose the 50 lbs that I have lost. to me it is cheating. why should someone get off easy instead of actually trying to lose the weight. I've heard all sorts of excuses from people who go under weight loss surgery or use those extreme diet pills but don't change their habits but the truth is they just don't have the will power to commit to their diet. it treats the end results of unhealthy habits but not the symptom as to why someone overeats.

[AnonymouslyKnown]

It's not my business how a person chooses to loose weight. All I have to say on the subject is that I hope whoever does it adapts to a healthy lifestyle after the surgery. If you pay all that money, only to go back to the same old habits that got you into it, you're wasting your own money.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, I don't think I've ever actually met someone who's had gastric bypass or whatever done (at least, I didn't know about it). I guess I don't think I'd judge for it—as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, what you do with your body is your business (not counting things like drug addictions).

I have to say, I have heard some scary things about gastric bypass, though, and would never recommend anyone do it. I think the statistic is that 1/50 people who have had it die in the first month. There's no way the risk would be worth it to me. So I guess I might wonder if the person who got it done would really rather risk death than be fat, or just didn't do a lot of research.

[Anonymous]

i don't look down on them or hold any malice for them, I just think losing weight the old fashioned way is a better option. you may not have lost "as much" weight but I bet you're healthier and won't have any bad side effects from it.