zoebartlett
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Gastric Bypass
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zoebartlett
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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how long have you been trying on your own? and are you really 1000% trying or just halfheartedly trying or maybe going in a yo yo fashion? how did you gain the weight in the first place?
i dont have any experience with it personally, but i would only do surgery as an absolute last resort if my health was in danger and i had been giving it my all naturally, aka 10000% for a long time and getting nowhere and i felt that would continue and my life might really suffer for it.
if i was getting somewhere, but it was slow i would still keep at it over surgery. it didn't take 5 minutes to put on a lot of weight so it won't take 5 minutes to get it off (naturally).
if i recall correctly, something like this is a permanent thing and your life would be forever changed by it. i have a friend whose mom had something like this but can't remember if it was stapling or a bypass and she was thin sure but she could only ever eat TINY amounts of food, like 2 oz and then if she overeat she'd throw up and be sick. it never sounded like she had a very good quality of life personally, as a foodie i could never just eat like 2oz of dinner then be happy, or know that i had placed such stringent restrictions on my life unless it was an absolute necessary thing for my health aka future lifespan or similar.
so i would only ever consider something like this if it was absolutely necessary for health reasons, and i knew with absolute certainty i could not get where i wanted to go on my own naturally.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Gastric-bypass
link with some information and after/effects that are involved.
just some thoughts...hopefully my frankness doesn't offend you since that is not the intention, but i wanted to be up front because i really don't feel like surgery fixes problems like this long-term aka forever, unless it's a really extreme case. so just be really aware of what you might be getting yourself into and why you might be considering it. if you have only been plugging away at losing weight for a short time, keep at it before you consider surgery.
i dont have any experience with it personally, but i would only do surgery as an absolute last resort if my health was in danger and i had been giving it my all naturally, aka 10000% for a long time and getting nowhere and i felt that would continue and my life might really suffer for it.
if i was getting somewhere, but it was slow i would still keep at it over surgery. it didn't take 5 minutes to put on a lot of weight so it won't take 5 minutes to get it off (naturally).
if i recall correctly, something like this is a permanent thing and your life would be forever changed by it. i have a friend whose mom had something like this but can't remember if it was stapling or a bypass and she was thin sure but she could only ever eat TINY amounts of food, like 2 oz and then if she overeat she'd throw up and be sick. it never sounded like she had a very good quality of life personally, as a foodie i could never just eat like 2oz of dinner then be happy, or know that i had placed such stringent restrictions on my life unless it was an absolute necessary thing for my health aka future lifespan or similar.
so i would only ever consider something like this if it was absolutely necessary for health reasons, and i knew with absolute certainty i could not get where i wanted to go on my own naturally.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Gastric-bypass
link with some information and after/effects that are involved.
just some thoughts...hopefully my frankness doesn't offend you since that is not the intention, but i wanted to be up front because i really don't feel like surgery fixes problems like this long-term aka forever, unless it's a really extreme case. so just be really aware of what you might be getting yourself into and why you might be considering it. if you have only been plugging away at losing weight for a short time, keep at it before you consider surgery.
zoebartlett
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Thanks Mara!
I''m glad for the honest reply...really. I''ve been trying off and on for a while to lose weight and I''m not progressing like I want. I do know that I could be doing better (take out not as often, smaller portions) but I KNOW I''m doing a lot of things the right way (low-fat or fat free foods, water instead of other drinks, baked or broiled fish & chicken when I do cook, etc.).
I haven''t been seriously considering having gastric bypass surgery but I began looking into it when my doctor mentioned it as a last resort. It just seems like such a risky thing to do when I''m sure what I really need is to just keep moving. I think that''s the hard part -- I get home from work and it''s SOOO easy to come up with reasons (excuses, I know) as to why I can''t go for a walk or go to the gym.
With my wedding just over a year away (if we can get the July time frame we''re hoping for), I really want to be healthier and look better. I know I might not be able to completely change my body structure but every little bit would help.
I''m glad for the honest reply...really. I''ve been trying off and on for a while to lose weight and I''m not progressing like I want. I do know that I could be doing better (take out not as often, smaller portions) but I KNOW I''m doing a lot of things the right way (low-fat or fat free foods, water instead of other drinks, baked or broiled fish & chicken when I do cook, etc.).
I haven''t been seriously considering having gastric bypass surgery but I began looking into it when my doctor mentioned it as a last resort. It just seems like such a risky thing to do when I''m sure what I really need is to just keep moving. I think that''s the hard part -- I get home from work and it''s SOOO easy to come up with reasons (excuses, I know) as to why I can''t go for a walk or go to the gym.
With my wedding just over a year away (if we can get the July time frame we''re hoping for), I really want to be healthier and look better. I know I might not be able to completely change my body structure but every little bit would help.
jmtomaui
Shiny_Rock
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Zoe, if there is some way that you and I could take this discussion off-line, I would be happy to talk to you about this. I have had GB and am very happy with the results.
Unfortunately, there are too many "Maras" in the world and they all know someone that has a bad experience with the surgery. And they always have many false assumptions on how you did not try 1,000,000,000 times hard enough to lose the weight on your own. They don''t do enough research on the subject to see that it is a biological issue vs just not having the willpower to do it on their own.
Yes, there are many people out there than can lose weight on their own but they usually don''t have the genetic issues to work with. Nor are they in rather immediate danger of passing away due to that obesity. This surgery does give many people a second chance at life. And yes, some do have ugly results. But like the cancer patient that is facing death, the obese person is also looking for a way to survive to have many more years with their loved ones.
Mara, please don''t take this as a personal attack as I truly don''t mean it as one. It is just that there is so much mis-information out there and as someone who was going to DIE due to my weight, and the documented, failed, attempts to do it "on my own", I''m a little defensive about my need to make such a drastic decision. I have lurked and followed Mara''s results on the Weekly Workout thread and am impressed w/ her diligence and hard work for a healthy life. But sadly, I did not have the health to go to the gym and spend time on the elliptical - much less walk a mile - so I had to do what I had to do. Now I can spend hours at the gym, eat a healthy amount of food (more than 2 oz), and maintain a very healthy weight as well as blood pressure, cholesteral, etc.
Again Mara, please don''t take this personally, as I don''t take your impression of me based on having surgery as personal. It is just your experience through a friends mother vs my real life experience.
If anyone can tell Zoe and I how to connect in cyber space, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Unfortunately, there are too many "Maras" in the world and they all know someone that has a bad experience with the surgery. And they always have many false assumptions on how you did not try 1,000,000,000 times hard enough to lose the weight on your own. They don''t do enough research on the subject to see that it is a biological issue vs just not having the willpower to do it on their own.
Yes, there are many people out there than can lose weight on their own but they usually don''t have the genetic issues to work with. Nor are they in rather immediate danger of passing away due to that obesity. This surgery does give many people a second chance at life. And yes, some do have ugly results. But like the cancer patient that is facing death, the obese person is also looking for a way to survive to have many more years with their loved ones.
Mara, please don''t take this as a personal attack as I truly don''t mean it as one. It is just that there is so much mis-information out there and as someone who was going to DIE due to my weight, and the documented, failed, attempts to do it "on my own", I''m a little defensive about my need to make such a drastic decision. I have lurked and followed Mara''s results on the Weekly Workout thread and am impressed w/ her diligence and hard work for a healthy life. But sadly, I did not have the health to go to the gym and spend time on the elliptical - much less walk a mile - so I had to do what I had to do. Now I can spend hours at the gym, eat a healthy amount of food (more than 2 oz), and maintain a very healthy weight as well as blood pressure, cholesteral, etc.
Again Mara, please don''t take this personally, as I don''t take your impression of me based on having surgery as personal. It is just your experience through a friends mother vs my real life experience.
If anyone can tell Zoe and I how to connect in cyber space, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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zoe then i would say to just KEEP AT IT.
losing weight is not fun really. eating what you want is way more fun than having to be disciplined and implementing portion control all the time or forgoing bread or dessert. but in the end your body will thank you for it.
honestly i would never tell someone 'get gastric bypass' if they just don't want to stop eating take out and/or don't work out enough. to me that is like the easy way out, but yet it's not EASY...i think that people really may not understand just what a surgery like that could mean for you the rest of your life. don't want to stop eating take out? how about being able to eat like 1/10 of that takeout before you feel sick and full and can't have anymore? that's just as much fun to me as implementing portion control but one requires surgery and permanent altering of my body and one doesn't.
have you joined our WWT in the family home and health section? i can't recall if i have seen you on there, we get some people that come in for a while and don't really return hehee. anyway, you should check it out, i feel like it's pretty motivational in general. we have people who need to lose weight, those who just want to be healthier and/or more fit/toned/muscular, and those who are maintaining from previous weight loss as well. so it's got all kinds. we talk about what we eat, what we made that was good to eat, and what our workouts/active lifestyles entail for the most part. and other general life stuff too sometimes.
anyway, i find it's a little easier when you are kind of 'accountable' for what your actions are. in the thread we have to admit when we don't work out or eat the dessert. sometimes it's nice to get a reality check. so you might want to check it out. have you considered getting a personal trainer to help with the gym laziness or considered one of those meal delivery services if you don't want to cook at home and like getting takeout? some people seem to have been really successful with that. i like cooking at home personally so i have all sorts of healthy tasty recipes we cycle through for dinners. also we have a 'healthy recipe' thread in FHH as well. and i am a huge foodie, so i only eat stuff if it tastes good...no boiled chicken and rice for me.
hope this helps somewhat but quite honestly from the sound of it...i don't know that you need GB...i think that you need to just plug away at it for longer, be more disciplined, add in some more workouts and really just be MOTIVATED to do this for yourself. it'd be so much healthier long term than a permanent altering of your body like GB.
jm..i don't take your comments personally at all...i don't have any sort of impression of you just because you had surgery. actually i was hoping my post did not come off like that. your story is why i would not say 'don't ever get GB'...but it is why i asked zoe more about what HER habits are and what her health is and what's actually been doing to get the weight off. to me from what she expounded on, that's not quite a case of life and death and 'i have tried everything absolutely under the sun and GB is the last resort for me'....to me that's a different scenario. i don't judge anyone who decides what to do for their body, but again i would just not just go advocate something like GB for someone who just doesn't want to change habits and their life isn't absolutely threatened by it kind of thing. obviously everyone is different and some people just cannot get the weight off or have another problem contributing to it, but otherwise i am such a firm believer in diet and exercise and persistence. as you know if you are a lurker!!
losing weight is not fun really. eating what you want is way more fun than having to be disciplined and implementing portion control all the time or forgoing bread or dessert. but in the end your body will thank you for it.
honestly i would never tell someone 'get gastric bypass' if they just don't want to stop eating take out and/or don't work out enough. to me that is like the easy way out, but yet it's not EASY...i think that people really may not understand just what a surgery like that could mean for you the rest of your life. don't want to stop eating take out? how about being able to eat like 1/10 of that takeout before you feel sick and full and can't have anymore? that's just as much fun to me as implementing portion control but one requires surgery and permanent altering of my body and one doesn't.
have you joined our WWT in the family home and health section? i can't recall if i have seen you on there, we get some people that come in for a while and don't really return hehee. anyway, you should check it out, i feel like it's pretty motivational in general. we have people who need to lose weight, those who just want to be healthier and/or more fit/toned/muscular, and those who are maintaining from previous weight loss as well. so it's got all kinds. we talk about what we eat, what we made that was good to eat, and what our workouts/active lifestyles entail for the most part. and other general life stuff too sometimes.
anyway, i find it's a little easier when you are kind of 'accountable' for what your actions are. in the thread we have to admit when we don't work out or eat the dessert. sometimes it's nice to get a reality check. so you might want to check it out. have you considered getting a personal trainer to help with the gym laziness or considered one of those meal delivery services if you don't want to cook at home and like getting takeout? some people seem to have been really successful with that. i like cooking at home personally so i have all sorts of healthy tasty recipes we cycle through for dinners. also we have a 'healthy recipe' thread in FHH as well. and i am a huge foodie, so i only eat stuff if it tastes good...no boiled chicken and rice for me.
hope this helps somewhat but quite honestly from the sound of it...i don't know that you need GB...i think that you need to just plug away at it for longer, be more disciplined, add in some more workouts and really just be MOTIVATED to do this for yourself. it'd be so much healthier long term than a permanent altering of your body like GB.
jm..i don't take your comments personally at all...i don't have any sort of impression of you just because you had surgery. actually i was hoping my post did not come off like that. your story is why i would not say 'don't ever get GB'...but it is why i asked zoe more about what HER habits are and what her health is and what's actually been doing to get the weight off. to me from what she expounded on, that's not quite a case of life and death and 'i have tried everything absolutely under the sun and GB is the last resort for me'....to me that's a different scenario. i don't judge anyone who decides what to do for their body, but again i would just not just go advocate something like GB for someone who just doesn't want to change habits and their life isn't absolutely threatened by it kind of thing. obviously everyone is different and some people just cannot get the weight off or have another problem contributing to it, but otherwise i am such a firm believer in diet and exercise and persistence. as you know if you are a lurker!!
Independent Gal
Ideal_Rock
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Sounds like what you need is motivation, Zoe! Have you considered Sparkpeople? That can make you REALLY aware of how much food you''re taking in and make you face the take-out calories.
A pre-emptive anti-take-out option is to cook in big batches and freeze meal-sized portions for when you''re too tired to cook.
Then, calculate what you would have spent on the take-out and get yourself... some diamond studs?!?
About a year ago, I put on a little weight and wasn''t really motivated to take it off. I used a two pronged approach: sparkpeople + making it EXTREMELY expensive NOT to succeed. How? I made a bet with a friend. If one of us didn''t reach our weight goal in a healthy amount of time, we had to buy the other a very, VERY expensive present. But if we did meet our weight goal, we got to use some of the money to buy one for ourselves if we wanted.
The element of competition helped a lot. It kind of made it fun! And we''d sort of bait each other over e-mail in a friendly jokey way.
Another thing that helps is getting your FI to walk with you... to MAKE you go walking. My mom did this with my step-dad and he''s lost about 30 pounds this past year, just from walking. And he says he''s never felt better.
Or do you have an iPod? Or a best friend to walk with you?
Make it fun! And reward yourself. That worked for me at least.
A pre-emptive anti-take-out option is to cook in big batches and freeze meal-sized portions for when you''re too tired to cook.
Then, calculate what you would have spent on the take-out and get yourself... some diamond studs?!?
About a year ago, I put on a little weight and wasn''t really motivated to take it off. I used a two pronged approach: sparkpeople + making it EXTREMELY expensive NOT to succeed. How? I made a bet with a friend. If one of us didn''t reach our weight goal in a healthy amount of time, we had to buy the other a very, VERY expensive present. But if we did meet our weight goal, we got to use some of the money to buy one for ourselves if we wanted.
The element of competition helped a lot. It kind of made it fun! And we''d sort of bait each other over e-mail in a friendly jokey way.
Another thing that helps is getting your FI to walk with you... to MAKE you go walking. My mom did this with my step-dad and he''s lost about 30 pounds this past year, just from walking. And he says he''s never felt better.
Or do you have an iPod? Or a best friend to walk with you?
Make it fun! And reward yourself. That worked for me at least.
AmberGretchen
Ideal_Rock
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- Jan 6, 2005
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- 7,770
Zoe - this is such a tough place to be in.
I will say, from personal experience, that I have been (just a few months ago in fact) in a place where I was eating all the right things and exercising and I was still GAINING weight. My doctor and I talked about weight loss drugs, and yes, gastric bypass as a last resort. But while the drugs tried to go through my insurance for approval, I decded to try a slightly different approach on my own, that of counting calories. WOW. I don''t want to sound like a commercial for weight loss or anything, but I have lost 35 lbs since January. Slow and steady, and it continues to come off. Now I''m about 5 lbs from a healthy BMI (although I''ve always been heavy due to large bone structure and relatively high muscle mass), and in another 10 lbs, at my goal weight, I''ll be less than 10 lbs heavier than I was when I started high school. I know that these may not sound like huge numbers, but I''m not a very tall person, so smaller amounts of weight tend to be more significant.
I don''t think that I, or anyone else on this forum, can tell you what is right for you. But I''ve really struggled with this in a similar way and I have to say that at least for now, doing it this way is so much better for me. I feel better about myself and its really helped my confidence to lose weight like this on my own. I have days where I really doubt myself and think that since I''ve yo-yo''ed before that I''ll never be able to keep this weight off, that I''ll never get down to my goal, that I''m setting up unrealistic expectations for myself. But I keep reminding myself that I actually don''t feel deprived, that I''m still enjoying food just like I always have, and I still get to have an awful lot of indulgences and still lose steadily.
So I guess my answer is that I am like Mara, I wouldn''t go that route unless it felt like I had honestly exhausted all the other options. But I can easily see the appeal of it in the face of the incredible frustration that is your current alternative. I wish you the best of luck with whichever decision you make and I''m sure it will be the right one for you.
I will say, from personal experience, that I have been (just a few months ago in fact) in a place where I was eating all the right things and exercising and I was still GAINING weight. My doctor and I talked about weight loss drugs, and yes, gastric bypass as a last resort. But while the drugs tried to go through my insurance for approval, I decded to try a slightly different approach on my own, that of counting calories. WOW. I don''t want to sound like a commercial for weight loss or anything, but I have lost 35 lbs since January. Slow and steady, and it continues to come off. Now I''m about 5 lbs from a healthy BMI (although I''ve always been heavy due to large bone structure and relatively high muscle mass), and in another 10 lbs, at my goal weight, I''ll be less than 10 lbs heavier than I was when I started high school. I know that these may not sound like huge numbers, but I''m not a very tall person, so smaller amounts of weight tend to be more significant.
I don''t think that I, or anyone else on this forum, can tell you what is right for you. But I''ve really struggled with this in a similar way and I have to say that at least for now, doing it this way is so much better for me. I feel better about myself and its really helped my confidence to lose weight like this on my own. I have days where I really doubt myself and think that since I''ve yo-yo''ed before that I''ll never be able to keep this weight off, that I''ll never get down to my goal, that I''m setting up unrealistic expectations for myself. But I keep reminding myself that I actually don''t feel deprived, that I''m still enjoying food just like I always have, and I still get to have an awful lot of indulgences and still lose steadily.
So I guess my answer is that I am like Mara, I wouldn''t go that route unless it felt like I had honestly exhausted all the other options. But I can easily see the appeal of it in the face of the incredible frustration that is your current alternative. I wish you the best of luck with whichever decision you make and I''m sure it will be the right one for you.
jmtomaui
Shiny_Rock
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- Oct 10, 2006
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jm..i don''t take your comments personally at all. actually your story is why i would not say ''don''t ever get GB''...but it is why i asked zoe more about what HER habits are and what her health is. to me from what she expounded on, that''s not quite a case of life and death and ''i have tried everything absolutely under the sun and GB is the last resort for me''....to me that''s a different scenario. i don''t judge anyone who decides what to do for their body, but again i would just not advocate something like GB for someone who just doesn''t want to change habits and their life isn''t absolutely threatened by it kind of thing.
Thanks Mara. I see that Zoe was answering your question as I was typing. If she and I connect off-line, I would certainly encourage her to look at all alternatives. As well as telling her that this surgery was not a walk in the park for me and many times I have wondered if I should have tried once more in the more traditional way.
I will also tell her that it does take me a great deal of time planning healthy meals, planning - and spending - time every day to get in healthy movement. And that I have to be more diligent than ever to stay healthy w/ vitamins, healthy food, etc.
And as you would never say don''t have it, I would never tout is as the be all and end all of solutions. That is why Zoe will do well to do extensive research, talk to others on both sides of the fence, and make a well informed decision.
Thanks again. Julie
Thanks Mara. I see that Zoe was answering your question as I was typing. If she and I connect off-line, I would certainly encourage her to look at all alternatives. As well as telling her that this surgery was not a walk in the park for me and many times I have wondered if I should have tried once more in the more traditional way.
I will also tell her that it does take me a great deal of time planning healthy meals, planning - and spending - time every day to get in healthy movement. And that I have to be more diligent than ever to stay healthy w/ vitamins, healthy food, etc.
And as you would never say don''t have it, I would never tout is as the be all and end all of solutions. That is why Zoe will do well to do extensive research, talk to others on both sides of the fence, and make a well informed decision.
Thanks again. Julie
MsP
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2004
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- 704
I''ve talked to my doctor about this but he says that I don''t qualify because I''m not "overweight enough"(I''m not sure how to term that...). You must understand that I worked at a gym and personally knew two ladies who were not morbidly obese and got this surgery and died. I wasn''t just looking into it because it was the easy way out but rather because I have tried everything. I first saw a nutritionist when I was 7 because I was a fat kid who was always on a diet... seriously. I saw one all through high school because of eating disorders and now that I''ve generally overcome my eating disorders, my body just doesn''t process food and I''m overweight again. For me, I just don''t like to eat. If I eat like a normal person would eat(a normal healthy person not junk food) I gain weight. I''ve been on soooo many different prescription diet pills but most are just appetite suppressants which do nothing for me. I''m never hungry and therefore I eat like once every day or two.... which is murder on your body. I''ve recently(past like 3 months) been drinking all kinds of juices during the day instead of eating nothing. I don''t like how solid food feels in my body... so I blend, juice, and puree everything(not just fruit, but lots of greens and supplements). I''m eating more volume than I''m used to and I''m finally dropping some weight. My doctor isn''t so sure about my new habits but as far as I''m concerned, it is the first "diet" that has worked for me. So I have no advice on what to do about your situation but I thought I would share my experiences on how difficult it is to find something that is right for you...
Good luck!
Good luck!
neatfreak
Super_Ideal_Rock
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- Feb 17, 2007
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- 14,174
Zoe,
I do health research (and a lot on obese kids), and I would say that if you KNOW that you can do better with diet and exercise, this isn''t the right option for you. There are just too many risk factors to this kind of surgery to NOT have tried everything before it.
And remember, this isn''t a cure all. So if you''re not eating as healthily as possible now, you''re not likely to change your habits after the surgery, and you NEED to. My view is that it''s not worth it unless you have HONESTLY tried everything else.
Have you tried going to a local weight watchers meeting where you weigh in every week? I have had a few very heavy friends do that and they''ve lost 50 and 74 pounds respectively so far. It can be done, you just really need to give it 100%.
There are people who have success with it, and it really can turn their lives around. But these days people seem to be too quick to jump into surgery as a solution...and you''re really risking your health if it isn''t a LAST RESORT option.
I don''t mean to be rude, but MOST people DO NOT have genetic issues that are making them very overweight. Most people just eat too much and don''t burn enough calories. I don''t know if you have really researched portion sizes, but I was SHOCKED when I realized the things I eyeballed as 1c. of pasta were really closer to 3c! It can really open your eyes to start weighing your food and controlling portions.
So if you give your diet and exercise routine 100% for a year (or longer!), while working with a nutritionist and a trainer (or at least honestly getting to the gym 3-4x per week minimum), and STILL don''t see ANY results, then maybe give it another try. But it''s just too dangerous otherwise.
Just my .02.
I do health research (and a lot on obese kids), and I would say that if you KNOW that you can do better with diet and exercise, this isn''t the right option for you. There are just too many risk factors to this kind of surgery to NOT have tried everything before it.
And remember, this isn''t a cure all. So if you''re not eating as healthily as possible now, you''re not likely to change your habits after the surgery, and you NEED to. My view is that it''s not worth it unless you have HONESTLY tried everything else.
Have you tried going to a local weight watchers meeting where you weigh in every week? I have had a few very heavy friends do that and they''ve lost 50 and 74 pounds respectively so far. It can be done, you just really need to give it 100%.
There are people who have success with it, and it really can turn their lives around. But these days people seem to be too quick to jump into surgery as a solution...and you''re really risking your health if it isn''t a LAST RESORT option.
I don''t mean to be rude, but MOST people DO NOT have genetic issues that are making them very overweight. Most people just eat too much and don''t burn enough calories. I don''t know if you have really researched portion sizes, but I was SHOCKED when I realized the things I eyeballed as 1c. of pasta were really closer to 3c! It can really open your eyes to start weighing your food and controlling portions.
So if you give your diet and exercise routine 100% for a year (or longer!), while working with a nutritionist and a trainer (or at least honestly getting to the gym 3-4x per week minimum), and STILL don''t see ANY results, then maybe give it another try. But it''s just too dangerous otherwise.
Just my .02.
jmtomaui
Shiny_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2006
- Messages
- 390
I've been reading a little about gastric bypass and I'm wondering if there's anyone out there who has had this done. I know it's a very personal subject, and if anyone is willing to share her (or his) story or other info., I really appreciate your openness.
Zoe, now you can see why you will find very few people willing to come out of the shadows to try and share with you their experience with GB.
I am rescinding my initial offer. I would rather not talk to you about it. IF you decide to go forward with a diagnosis from your personal physician - someone that knows you far better than strangers on a chat board, myself included - then you will spend the rest of your life defending your decision from people who have never experienced what you have. Even those that have done health research ("not to be rude"). I don't want to be even an infinitestimal (????) factor in that decision for you. And quite frankly, I'm tired of having to defend myself when my life is too busy running marathons, biking half centuries, competing in triathalons, etc - all things I could never even think of before GB.
If anything, this should show you how unpopular your decision will be should you go forward with your research.
I honestly wish you the best. Whatever you decide, the outcome will be the same - a lot of hard work with hopefully very positive results. Best of luck.
Retreating back to lurkdom now... Julie
Zoe, now you can see why you will find very few people willing to come out of the shadows to try and share with you their experience with GB.
I am rescinding my initial offer. I would rather not talk to you about it. IF you decide to go forward with a diagnosis from your personal physician - someone that knows you far better than strangers on a chat board, myself included - then you will spend the rest of your life defending your decision from people who have never experienced what you have. Even those that have done health research ("not to be rude"). I don't want to be even an infinitestimal (????) factor in that decision for you. And quite frankly, I'm tired of having to defend myself when my life is too busy running marathons, biking half centuries, competing in triathalons, etc - all things I could never even think of before GB.
If anything, this should show you how unpopular your decision will be should you go forward with your research.
I honestly wish you the best. Whatever you decide, the outcome will be the same - a lot of hard work with hopefully very positive results. Best of luck.
Retreating back to lurkdom now... Julie
Ellen
Super_Ideal_Rock
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AmberWaves
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Zoe, I know this is a different view on this, but my FMIL had the surgery done. She did not seem obese by looking at her, as the members of her family (my fiance included) are very large-bodied and don''t put weight on in any obviously specific places. Yet, she WAS obese. As a result, she''s had terrible problems with her knees and joints and keeping up with her four grandchildren was a chore. She is in her early to mid 50s, and lives alone. While not the best eater, she would watch what she ate constantly. Always dieting and counting calories, checking the fat ratios for everything, weight just kept getting put on despite many trips to the gym and yoga a week.
She went into the doctor trying to find another possibly effective way to lose weight, and they actually recommended this procedure. She was afraid, of course. They explain the possible pros and cons (yes, you can gain the weight again, no, you don''t have to limit your food intake 100% forever) things like that. We talked about the outcomes with her, and decided that she should make the appointment. After working with many other GP patients in her office, she knew the after effects, and saw them in person.
Last July she had the surgery. Now she has lost about 70 pounds on a diet that is easy for her to maintain. A former sugar-holic, she can now say no because the sugar makes her feel a little ill, if too much is eaten. Her knees are slowly easing the pain and she does have a better quality of life. If you ask her, this is the very very best thing that has happened to her. She was too young to be feeling like an invalid, now, according to her, she is free.
While I am neither for it, nor against it, I''m just telling you HER story. She feels she''s blessed now.
She went into the doctor trying to find another possibly effective way to lose weight, and they actually recommended this procedure. She was afraid, of course. They explain the possible pros and cons (yes, you can gain the weight again, no, you don''t have to limit your food intake 100% forever) things like that. We talked about the outcomes with her, and decided that she should make the appointment. After working with many other GP patients in her office, she knew the after effects, and saw them in person.
Last July she had the surgery. Now she has lost about 70 pounds on a diet that is easy for her to maintain. A former sugar-holic, she can now say no because the sugar makes her feel a little ill, if too much is eaten. Her knees are slowly easing the pain and she does have a better quality of life. If you ask her, this is the very very best thing that has happened to her. She was too young to be feeling like an invalid, now, according to her, she is free.
While I am neither for it, nor against it, I''m just telling you HER story. She feels she''s blessed now.
zoebartlett
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Wow -- thank you all for replying! I really appreciate it. Hmmm, where to start? Ellen, I have to say, your post made me laugh out loud. My hands are tiny (size 4.75 ering and wband and they are pretty loose). I am only 4''9", as I''ve mentioned in previous threads. Yet I wear plus size clothes. What a tricky combination!
I know what I need to do -- eat right and exercise. Eat balanced meals, watch portion control, be more active. In my head, I know this is the way to go. I know there are no magic pills, no fad diets, etc. that will work. It''s all about motivation, determination, and moving. It''s ten thousand times easier said than done, however. I could go to the gym with my FI or a friend. I could go for a walk during my lunch time at work or before even leaving school. I''ve tried WW and Jenny Craig even but I didn''t make it work. I join WW, get excited for a while, then drop out. I joined Jenny Craig and lost a few pounds but then I had to stop (''casue it was too darn expensive!). I gained much more back than I lost.
Like I said, I know all this. For whatever reason though, it''s not quite sinking in that if I don''t do what it takes, I could be in serious trouble. I''ve had a wake up call last year but I was (okay, and still AM) in complete denial. Like I said above, I do a lot of good things when it comes to this issue. I just don''t do enough of them.
Mara, I''ve been a lurker in the WWT threads. I have read posts but I haven''t contributed to the discussions. I have used one of the personal trainers at the gym but I had to stop because of constant pain in my foot. Since then I haven''t been back to the gym regularly. I''m also one of those people who think she needs to be in shape to go to the gym.
I was proud of myself when I went and I kept at it for about 4 months or so. I didn''t lose much weight though.
Thanks neatfreak for your thoughts. I have researched portion sizes and honestly, I laughed when I found out what a serving of pasta really looks like.
jmtomaui (Julie): thank you for your thoughts. I know this is a personal decision that I need to make with my doctor, and I hesitated posting about GB because I know it''s a very personal thing. I appreciate your perspective and I hope you decide to come out of lurkdom again.
Thanks Amber. I know how hard it must be and I know it''s not a quick fix.
I don''t think it will come to GB for me, but I am curious about it. It''s the motivation factor that I need to consider more. That''s huge!
I know what I need to do -- eat right and exercise. Eat balanced meals, watch portion control, be more active. In my head, I know this is the way to go. I know there are no magic pills, no fad diets, etc. that will work. It''s all about motivation, determination, and moving. It''s ten thousand times easier said than done, however. I could go to the gym with my FI or a friend. I could go for a walk during my lunch time at work or before even leaving school. I''ve tried WW and Jenny Craig even but I didn''t make it work. I join WW, get excited for a while, then drop out. I joined Jenny Craig and lost a few pounds but then I had to stop (''casue it was too darn expensive!). I gained much more back than I lost.
Mara, I''ve been a lurker in the WWT threads. I have read posts but I haven''t contributed to the discussions. I have used one of the personal trainers at the gym but I had to stop because of constant pain in my foot. Since then I haven''t been back to the gym regularly. I''m also one of those people who think she needs to be in shape to go to the gym.
Thanks neatfreak for your thoughts. I have researched portion sizes and honestly, I laughed when I found out what a serving of pasta really looks like.
jmtomaui (Julie): thank you for your thoughts. I know this is a personal decision that I need to make with my doctor, and I hesitated posting about GB because I know it''s a very personal thing. I appreciate your perspective and I hope you decide to come out of lurkdom again.
Thanks Amber. I know how hard it must be and I know it''s not a quick fix.
I don''t think it will come to GB for me, but I am curious about it. It''s the motivation factor that I need to consider more. That''s huge!
neatfreak
Super_Ideal_Rock
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jmtomaui,
All I was saying to Zoe was that if she HASNT already tried to give it 100% (as she had already admitted) that she should do it before she tries something as big as gastric bypass. It''s not the solution for most people, I''m not saying it wasn''t the right solution for you, as I mentioned many people DO have success with it. But I think any responsible doctor would agree that it is something that needs to be undertaken only as a last resort, AFTER all the traditional methods have failed. If a doctor is suggesting it right off the bat, it seems that he is not be a responsible physician as the surgery has many risks, and to ignore that is silly.
Read the numbers, and see who is often getting this surgery, and too many people are using it as a "fast fix" instead of at least TRYING to do things the right way. My opinion may not be from personal experience, but I do have a lot of experience researching this topic. So I know a lot of the info out there.
Just as YOU are allowed to share your opinions on this board, others are too. Even if our experience with it comes from OTHER places besides having gone through it ourselves. No need to attack.
All I was saying to Zoe was that if she HASNT already tried to give it 100% (as she had already admitted) that she should do it before she tries something as big as gastric bypass. It''s not the solution for most people, I''m not saying it wasn''t the right solution for you, as I mentioned many people DO have success with it. But I think any responsible doctor would agree that it is something that needs to be undertaken only as a last resort, AFTER all the traditional methods have failed. If a doctor is suggesting it right off the bat, it seems that he is not be a responsible physician as the surgery has many risks, and to ignore that is silly.
Read the numbers, and see who is often getting this surgery, and too many people are using it as a "fast fix" instead of at least TRYING to do things the right way. My opinion may not be from personal experience, but I do have a lot of experience researching this topic. So I know a lot of the info out there.
Just as YOU are allowed to share your opinions on this board, others are too. Even if our experience with it comes from OTHER places besides having gone through it ourselves. No need to attack.
Ellen
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Oh goody, that''s way better than making you mad or upsetting you.
Gotcha!
If you''ve lurked on the WWT, did you happen to catch either of the couple posts I made (it''s been awhile) on the style of eating me and hubby are on?
Let me know, and if not, I will give you some info later, getting ready to BBQ right now.
zoebartlett
Super_Ideal_Rock
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- Dec 29, 2006
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- 12,461
Ellen,
Have fun at the BBQ. I can''t remember if I''ve read your posts on WWT or not. I''ll go have a look after dinner.
I really do appreciate everyone''s responses. I know it''s a hot topic but I wanted to hear what everyone had to say about GB...the good, the bad, whatever. I know it''s not for everyone and I know conversations with my doctor is what ultimately make me decide one way or another. I don''t think it''s for me but I want to do something about this lack of motivation piece.
You''d think an upcoming wedding would do it right?
Have fun at the BBQ. I can''t remember if I''ve read your posts on WWT or not. I''ll go have a look after dinner.
I really do appreciate everyone''s responses. I know it''s a hot topic but I wanted to hear what everyone had to say about GB...the good, the bad, whatever. I know it''s not for everyone and I know conversations with my doctor is what ultimately make me decide one way or another. I don''t think it''s for me but I want to do something about this lack of motivation piece.
You''d think an upcoming wedding would do it right?
jmtomaui
Shiny_Rock
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- 390
Zoe, I''m glad that you are going to put off this decision and try the more traditional methods. Please do work at it. Do all you can to measure your portions, make healthier choices, get out and MOVE more. (Believe me, I do know the "I need to be skinny to go to the gym" mentality!)
You will feel so much better about all of this if you can do it with the help of your family and friends.
I can honestly tell you that this surgery did not fix my brain. I had to have some counseling before the surgery, and even more after, to figure out why I could not control my eating (genetics aside). Why my emotions caused so many bad habits. Why I could not "find the time" to exercise. Why I had a million excuses to why I could not do whatever I needed to to do it traditionally...
I worked with a personal trainer and a nutritionist after my surgery as I did not want to fail. I had to LEARN what to do and how to do it. What made it harder now was that I had to learn what to do within the contraints of having had the surgery. I wish I had tried harder before making this decision.
NeatFreak, I do not disagree w/ your facts that many doctors, and patients, see it as a quick fix. (Not to mention a cash cow for the surgeons.) I recently went back to my surgeon''s information session w/ a friend who was researching this option. When I heard some of the questions being asked, and the answers given, I knew that for many in the room, they would have the surgery and not have success. I question my own success at times as I have not reached the magic number on the scale I would like to see. But I am alive, eating well, healthy, and physically fit so for that, I have much to be thankful for.
What really disturbed me was the many ways people were looking for ways around insurance requirements as well as ways to work around the surgery. After all, many Medicaid and Medicare plans have a sure YES if someone meets a minimum of 75 pounds overweight so why not go for a freebie??Many thought it was a magic fix and would not have to put any effort in.... And yet, it is so easy to eat around the surgery....
NF, I am truly sorry for attacking. I did not think that I was at first, but in re-reading my reply, I did attack and I am sorry. It was wrong of me. It was also a too speedy response in feeling like I was attacked. No, not from you personally, or anyone else on the board, but from the many others I have faced in real life and had to defend my choice.
Zoe, again, best of luck! Do all that you can to change things now - before you HAVE to have a surgery this drastic.
Peace to all - Julie
You will feel so much better about all of this if you can do it with the help of your family and friends.
I can honestly tell you that this surgery did not fix my brain. I had to have some counseling before the surgery, and even more after, to figure out why I could not control my eating (genetics aside). Why my emotions caused so many bad habits. Why I could not "find the time" to exercise. Why I had a million excuses to why I could not do whatever I needed to to do it traditionally...
I worked with a personal trainer and a nutritionist after my surgery as I did not want to fail. I had to LEARN what to do and how to do it. What made it harder now was that I had to learn what to do within the contraints of having had the surgery. I wish I had tried harder before making this decision.
NeatFreak, I do not disagree w/ your facts that many doctors, and patients, see it as a quick fix. (Not to mention a cash cow for the surgeons.) I recently went back to my surgeon''s information session w/ a friend who was researching this option. When I heard some of the questions being asked, and the answers given, I knew that for many in the room, they would have the surgery and not have success. I question my own success at times as I have not reached the magic number on the scale I would like to see. But I am alive, eating well, healthy, and physically fit so for that, I have much to be thankful for.
What really disturbed me was the many ways people were looking for ways around insurance requirements as well as ways to work around the surgery. After all, many Medicaid and Medicare plans have a sure YES if someone meets a minimum of 75 pounds overweight so why not go for a freebie??Many thought it was a magic fix and would not have to put any effort in.... And yet, it is so easy to eat around the surgery....
NF, I am truly sorry for attacking. I did not think that I was at first, but in re-reading my reply, I did attack and I am sorry. It was wrong of me. It was also a too speedy response in feeling like I was attacked. No, not from you personally, or anyone else on the board, but from the many others I have faced in real life and had to defend my choice.
Zoe, again, best of luck! Do all that you can to change things now - before you HAVE to have a surgery this drastic.
Peace to all - Julie
neatfreak
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Date: 5/20/2007 5:44:43 PM
Author: zoebartlett
Ellen,
Have fun at the BBQ. I can''t remember if I''ve read your posts on WWT or not. I''ll go have a look after dinner.
I really do appreciate everyone''s responses. I know it''s a hot topic but I wanted to hear what everyone had to say about GB...the good, the bad, whatever. I know it''s not for everyone and I know conversations with my doctor is what ultimately make me decide one way or another. I don''t think it''s for me but I want to do something about this lack of motivation piece.
You''d think an upcoming wedding would do it right?
Hasn''t motivated me yet, but I''m hoping to get my butt in gear myself to shape up for the wedding
Another suggestion is that if you don''t have one already, go out and buy a food scale and start weighing EVERYTHING you eat. Once you realize that real portion sizes are much smaller than you think, you''ll naturally be more conscious about how much you eat and can start working on controlling your portion sizes.
I know you can do it, just a matter of changing your lifestyle instead of thinking of it like a diet.
surfgirl
Ideal_Rock
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- Apr 5, 2007
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- 4,438
zoe, I feel for you because I was where you are a year ago. I was always larger, not necessarily "fat" but a bit overweight and I can carry alot more weight than one would guess. And then I had a surfing accident several years ago. Suffice it to say that after 4 months either in a cast or walking boot, two years of not being able to workout more than walking a few minutes, and a surgery finally, to correct the damage, and I had gained ALOT of weight. I was FAT. Photos of myself were horrifying to me. And yet I didn''t do as much as I could. I''d buy all the fat free foods but then I''d eat so much of them I''d gain anyway. I finally decided to make an investment in losing the weight since my injury was no longer standing in the way. I got a personal trainer thinking the $$$ it cost would motivate me. Well, in the end, after months of personal training, I only lost about 6 pounds because I simply didn''t do enough cardio. A friend of mine, who was also doing personal training told me her new trainer put her through a workout that should have been easy for her and it was killing her. She said she realized that she''s a "cardio pussy". She thinks she''s working out hard, but she really wasn''t. She asked me if that was my problem and I said I was working out hard but honestly, I wasn''t! I realized that I needed to change my eating behaviors while increasing my cardio. Simply put, you cannot lose weight if you put more calories INTO your mouth, than you are burning off with your cardio workouts. If you eat more calories and dont burn off AT LEAST that amount, you wont see any weight loss week by week. Plain and simple. So I started to get into the gym 5 times a week. 50-60 minutes a day on the treadmill keeps me honest and I go to a gym where they have individual TVs at each cardio station so there is always something on TV to keep me interested for an hour or so. Sometimes I play tennis or walk outside on the weekend and I always take off one weekend day for lounging and no exercise! And, the biggest change was doing Weight Watchers point system. I realized how much I was eating - great food but too much of it! I started the end of last June and I''m down 35 pounds. I have about 10 more to reach my goal and then I''ll decide if I can/want to do another 10 to my college weight. The point? It''s a long road. I should be a my goal a year later but you know what? I travel alot and it''s been a challenge just to keep my weight at its current number at the end of a business trip. So I workout alot when I''m away, try to eat well and in moderation. And I am pleased that I''ve been able to keep that weight off for several months now. I''m motivated to lose the last 10 now and I realize that I''ve been allowing my self to slack a little bit in the snacking and eating out department and I''ve gained 3 pounds, so I''m on lock down now
The truth is, when I stay on track, the weight just comes off pretty easily. And I do the WW online, not the meetings but alot of people like the meetings because it keeps them honest...
The point of sharing all this with you is because you''ve acknowledged that you haven''t really done enough and just by admitting that, I think you can probably do this without pills or procedures. Good luck...You can do this!
The point of sharing all this with you is because you''ve acknowledged that you haven''t really done enough and just by admitting that, I think you can probably do this without pills or procedures. Good luck...You can do this!
chiefneil
Shiny_Rock
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- Feb 7, 2007
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- 174
I''m not going to counsel one way or the other, except to say that you should be sure to do a lot of research before deciding. And I mean reading the medical literature, not asking on web forums for anecdotal experience. I recall reading some articles in the past year or two saying that the mortality rate is higher than initially thought. Also that the percent of people for whom it doesn''t work in the long term is also higher than initially thought. It seems that even though they have the procedure done and lose weight initially, many people doggedly continue bad habits and end up gaining back the weight. Unless you can quote mortality and rebound rates offhand, you''re not fully informed. So just be sure to educate yourself so you know the odds and know what to do to ensure your personal success should you decide to do it. I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide.
neatfreak
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Very true and unfortunate. I've read a lot of this literature myself and I wish that doctors were not trying to cash in and instead really evaluating people to determine if this is truly their best option.
JM, Thanks for your reply. I did not mean to make you feel judged AT ALL, I was just trying to let Zoe know that since she admittedly hasn't put in enough effort to dieting and exercise, that she should do that first before attempting a complicated surgery. Most, but not all, people just need to reform their eating and exercise habits to lose the weight. If that doesn't work, and GB has been thoroughly researched in conjunction with a responsible doctor, it can be a great help to many people too.
ladykemma
Ideal_Rock
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diamondfan
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Gasatric bypass is extreme and dangerous in some cases, though I know it is sometimes the only option. Some people eat well and exercise and have metabolic issues, but only a doctor can really pinpoint that, in which case the surgery might be the only way to really lose significant weight. Without knowing all of your particulars, I would say keep trying the portion control/increased activity etc, and see how you do. Give it some more time. I only say this because I know that the surgery is not a perfect answer either and I really just find surgery very intimidating, though of course sometimes it is a life and death situation and one must take the risk. It just does not seem that that is where you are currently. Good luck, and please have faith, it should all be fine!
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