People magazine cover - ThinnerTimes

bridgetgirl · 01-03-2005, 05:10 PM

I dont know if you guys have happened to see this weeks people magazine about weightloss... the cover says:

Half Their Size
No magic pills, no surgery, no private chefs – and no giving up. Nine regular people who lost loads of weight tell how you can, too

I was perturbed when I saw it!! Upset! Did any of y'all happen to see it, and what was your reaction to it? I just hate feeling like we did some gimmicky thing... it just ticks me off! Why are we always excluded from being "making it happen" too? I mean no matter how you lose weight... losing it and keeping it off and having a better quality of life is being successful... its no matter how you win the race, as long as you finish it right? So how come someone who "dieted" and kept it off, is more of a success, than any one of us? Maybe y'all have a positive way of looking at their statement. Either way, I would love to hear from ya!

triciaknox · 01-03-2005, 06:45 PM

Bridget,

I saw it. Yesterday when I went to the store. I read the cover twice, slowly stewed, then let it go. Some people will never understand (those anorexic type who have never had to deal with what we dealt with) and I won't waste my breath trying to make them understand. It just isn't worth it.

lealphachienne · 01-03-2005, 06:56 PM

I get a few reactions from people who say I took the easy way out....Bah to them. There will always be critics. And to those on the cover, I'd say good for them! You got to give them some credit too.

Dara · 01-03-2005, 07:08 PM

Bridget:

I haven't seen the People cover yet, but this subject continually plagues us. People still insinuate that I took "the easy way out" and tell me that they also want to have the surgery--people who are no more than 20 lbs. overweight! Their ridiculous and insensitive remarks used to frustrate me tremendously because it cheapens the severity and importance of the surgery. They act as if I had a fingernail repaired and, on a whim, they can have it too!

I have realized over the last nine months that we will never change the attitude and perception of people who are not in our shoes. They don't realize they sound idiotic when they make those remarks.

I simply respond to them by stating the truth...that the surgery should be a last resort, after all other avenues have failed. I also tell them that I wish I could have lost and maintained my weight another way.

Luckily, I've been able to release my frustration. As a very important man once said, "Forgive them for they know not what they do (or say)."

Much love...

HAMPTON5555 · 01-03-2005, 08:39 PM

Well said Dara!!!

Early on when I mentioned I was considering this surgery, people could not resist giving their opinions and ignorant comments. I say consider the source and move on. What do they know?

People magazine is in the business of selling magazines, a few months ago they featured Al Roker and a couple years before it was Carnie Wilson. They were positive articles re: W.L.S..

People who really do not understand, really can't undersatnd unless they have lived in MY skin like I have!!

The funny thing is, now, after the fact... so many people, have said,
"gosh, Rain, your aren't THAT, big!!!

I am sure like the rest of you who made this dificult and life altering decision, this was our last resort, our only hope and comes at a price.!!

I am only one week out and I am so happy to be on this side.

Jeanie · 01-03-2005, 10:27 PM

I actually get People at home. When I saw it I thought well good for them. It's great that people can loose the weight the way they did. All though none of them did what we did some of them spent up to $300.00 a week, just to loose the weight. They had pre made food,and personal trainers. If I could afford all that then I might have been able to do it there way also.
I just shrug off the people that say I did it the easy way. Until someone can walk in my shoes they can't tell me what was easy and what is not. All in all who cares what other people think. As long as you're happy then that's all that matters!!!![u]

Christina · 01-04-2005, 08:35 AM

As much as I am an activist for this surgery, if there was another way for ME personally to lose weight and keep it off I wouldn't have had the surgery. Now, what I would focus on with this whole magazine cover, and anything else in life.. is the fact that I am happy these people didn't have to do this.. however, I would really like for them to re-do the cover in 2 years with the same people at that point in their life and see how many still have kept the weight off!!

That is the key.. sure they did it.. we all did at one point.. however, will they keep it off?? Only time will tell.

Bigbaldbuddie · 01-10-2005, 12:36 PM

I saw it and good for those ladies. This surgery is not the answer for all overweight people. It didn't bother me. Not one bit.

We (Losers from GBP) hold the advantage over all people who have had successfull weight loss.

Why?

Because unlike us, all the rest can take a swan dive right back into that cesspool that got most of us to where we were at at one point before our weightloss journey.

Of course we can't jump right into that pool like them, but we could get there over the long haul (riding on a snail's back that is, compared to all those sportsters driving into the cesspool).

So I say..Good for them, and good luck!

They'll need more luck than all of us put together.

Just my opinion!

Blueyz · 01-10-2005, 09:55 PM

Well Said Gerry!!!!

bridgetgirl · 01-11-2005, 10:49 AM

All of you guys had some great posts and really good perspective about the whole thing. I dunno I feel as though going through this surgery and losing weight is just as hard as what they did too. High five to anybody that loses weight... no matter how us losers do it...that makes us all winners in the long run. Its not how you win the race, but finishing it right?