[Lauren]

As with anything in life, I personally believe that anything worth having has to be worked hard for. If bariatric weight loss were easy, we might not learn anything from it. I am almost as grateful for the things I have leanrt about myself after wls as I am about the weight loss itself. I have had to work hard both to lose and maintain my weight so I have a sense of achievement that makes me feel positive about myself. Wls helps with real hunger but ‘head hunger’ is the real demon. Therefore, I think anyone who loses weight, by whatever means is a bloomin hero!

There will always be negatives concerning wls until it becomes better understood. Quite possibly in 50 years time, people will wonder why the benefits of wls were ever doubted. I hope it becomes as acceptable as having your tonsils out – if something isn’t working: change it. If our appendix is making us ill, we have it out. Surgey is primarily a means of correcting something that is defective. In my own case, my constant hunger and need for food was killing me so wls changed that. It took away my hunger and allowed me to learn a new way to think about food.

Right, I’m rambling now….! Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that whether it’s restriction, satiety or both if it works – keep doing it!