With over 16 million workout videos sold since 1980, Kathy Smith has become a household name in fitness. A mother of two, Kathy also serves on the board of the USC School of Gerontology, the Women's Sports Foundation and is a recipient of the IDEA Lifetime Achievement Award from IDEA Health & Fitness, the world's largest professional fitness organization.
“The Surgery”
I ran across this story on ABC News, and it grabbed my attention: Musical artist Carnie Wilson’s battle with her weight has made tabloid headlines once again.
Several years ago, when she weighed over 300 pounds, Carnie underwent gastric bypass surgery (which was broadcast online), and lost over 150 pounds in the next year. She looked terrific and spoke publicly about her newfound healthy lifestyle, but as time went on and she got pregnant with her first child she gained back over 50 pounds of that weight. After giving birth, she dropped the excess weight before long. But in recent months she’s been at the center of a media firestorm surrounding the fact that she’s gained back roughly 70 pounds.
My heart goes out to anyone whose body is put under a microscope by the media - but Carnie’s story may not be so unique. Two friends of mine had gastric bypass surgery, and initially, both were thrilled with the results of this drastic procedure. Marie was pre-diabetic at 27 years old. Ellen was in her late thirties and was fed up with failed diet and exercise plans. Both made up their minds and felt they had solid reasons for making the decision to have this surgery - and both have been surprised in recent years to see their weight creep back up.
So is this blog simply a fitness expert’s rant to scold people who take the “easy way out” instead of making a solid, lifelong commitment to diet and exercise? In reality, it’s not so simple. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions, as we all know, and everyone who suffers from it has his or her own story and personal experience that has led to being overweight. And while I will always tout the benefits of a realistic, healthy diet and exercise plan above any and all quick-fixes, I understand that sometimes we find ourselves in extreme situations, and the only way out seems like an extreme solution. As you’ll see in the video above, Carnie seems to have a positive relationship with her body and advises anyone who’s desperate to lose weight to start by changing habits. But I will say this: Neither Marie nor Ellen committed to any diet or exercise plan after experiencing their initial weight drop following the surgery. Both continued to snack on the same fried or sugary foods, living the same sedentary lifestyles that led to their weight gain to begin with. Medical experts quoted in the stories about Carnie have explained that there is often a natural weight gain after the initial drop - but one thing is clear: The surgery is by no means a “cure” for obesity, and nothing can replace the benefits of moving regularly and eating right. There really is no magic pill - and the odds for a magic surgery aren’t looking good either.
