My face is definitely frowned up at this, but probably not for the reasons you’d think:
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made a huge announcement to the The New York Post—but not the one everyone has been expecting. The paper reported on Tuesday that the famously rotund Christie underwent “lap-band” stomach surgery three months ago, in a desperate effort to lose weight. The procedure, which involves placing a restrictive tube around the top of the stomach to limit the amount of food a person can take in at one sitting, is considered less risky than the more invasive gastric bypass surgery. Christie didn’t reveal what his weight was before or after the surgery, but sources say he’s already lost 40 pounds.
Naturally, the first instinct from political pundits is to assume that Christie’s dramatic decision is about more than just getting fit. The obvious spin is that this is the first salvo of Christie’s 2016 presidential campaign. It doesn’t take a strategic genius like Karl Rove to tell you that being overweight would have been a huge liability in a national campaign, but if the summer of 2015 rolls around and he’s suddenly looking fit and trim, he might look like a front runner. [source]
No one else is giving this the side-eye?
We damn near elected a 70 year old man into office in 2008, but a young fat person’s size is a liability?
Listen. Far be it for me to defend Christie but, if he had an invasive procedure like this just because a majority-fat country would penalize him in the polls for being just like them, then I seriously don’t know what the hell is going on anymore. Actually, maybe I do.
Damn, and here I thought Americans were all about embracing people who were most like them. Whew.
6 comments
I agree with you. Do you how you wish to pursue your weight loss goals. No judgments. But with all the criticism, pressure, bullying Christie has faced, I’m sure it became clear to him that no matter his accomplishments, how much farther he rose was gonna be contingent on his weight. Classic discrimination. And if a powerful white man gets hit like this, I think there’s no question what the rest of us are going through. SMH
I agree with you. He often is ridiculed for his size all of the time even during Hurricane Sandy. American needs to learn to accept all different types of people. People need to understand it would be boring if we all looked the same. Fat Discrimination is a serious thing.
His reasoning is that after talking with his family and his doctor he realized he needed to take care of his health to be around for his family. As a New Jersey resident, I am no fan of Christie (except for his handling of Sandy) but I tend to believe the guy. He says what he thinks and doesn’t give a crap whether you agree/believe him or not
So interesting. First I’d heard of his surgery.
Straight up my major concern is not cosmetic but his health period. Women are having heart attacks, people are dying of heart attacks whether they are overweight or not. Just too much stress and pressure.
Lap band surgery is a band aid he needs to move, have a regular exercise program for circulation. Eat health. Also deal with his emotion, and stress management.
Whether they acknowledge it or not the presidency is a stressful job bar none. I would say the most stressful job. The healthiest candidates go in looking full of life. Everyone I have seen after a few years have aged a lot. To do the job well you have to been in the best of health. He is the governor of my state, yet he has had health issues. I even got on President Obama for his smoking issues.
In an interview on Oprah with his family his wife mentioned his health as a major concern since she didn’t want to become a widow raising her children alone. With all of the weight he is carrying and stress he will be under I would worry abut him dying in office. When I listen to him he is laboring just to breath. Last year or was it the year before he had respiratory issues.
I guess he is the republican hope. But after listening to him he has emotional issues he needs to deal with and to handle his stress. Since he is under a lot of pressure maybe with some skills to deal with stress, pressure and anger issues he will be able to deal. In the position as Governor with all the pressure and stress he has gained more and more weight.
Yeah, I agree, that Christie was feeling the pressure of his weight on his career. It’s sad that will look pass one’s character and accomplishments and notice his/her size.
While I think that surgery isn’t for everyone, I can see his choice for lap band over gastric bypass. The band is adjustable, reversible (if medically needed) and less invasive; and nothing is rerouted as opposed to bypass. The LB is a tool that makes one eat less and that’s all. GB, to a certain degree, makes the choice for you. Meaning, it can physically make one sick (and can be painful) when those high-fat, rich, or sugary foods are eaten; and food isn’t absorbed into the body like it used to. Of course, there are always those who would find a way to get around the system (that’s why some regain their weight or never reach full weight-loss success at all). I believe the LB relies more on the person to make healthy choices. Sure, the first 30 % (depending on one’s size) is due to the surgery, but the rest is on the person’s food choices and lifestyle. For maximum weight-loss potential, both surgeries depend on the mind-set of the person, and no surgery can do that for you.
Unless he truthfully shares with us his feelings, we’ll never know why he chose to go with the LB. But I wish him well on his journey.
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