Bariatric Surgery or Natural Weight Loss
syrus911
Posts: 11 Member
Trying to decide on wether I should just give up and get a sleeve gastrectomy or Natural weight loss,eating healthy,work-out,etc...So Confused At Times...
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Replies
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I know just how you feel! I have had 5 doctors tell me to have the bariatric surgery and my husband says you can do this on your own. I am disabled and have a bad right leg and knee and hard for me to exercise. I am not making excuses but I know I need to get off 150 pounds. I know surgery is not a quick fix and it takes a year after meeting with doctors before they will do anything. I am right their with you!1
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@syrus911 welcome to MFP forums. Per some at post on the subject say after the surgery one can be expected to eat very differently. You may want to google that. Best of success what ever way you choose.1
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Same here tammiann just so much pressure from mom & Doctor when I really want to just do it on my own plus I'm terrified of GENERAL ANESTHESIA0
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HI Guys I'm new here but just to share I've lost 144 pounds since July 2014 through lifestyle change lo cal lo carb diet 1800 cals daily intake and 2800 output ( Enhanced by jogging and swimming ) most days . I was considering bariatric but was warned off it through some very bad experiences of people I knew had it plus elevated risk from general anaesthetic at high weight . I started at 192 kg !! and am now just over 125 kg and counting . When I started I couldn't walk 20 paces without being out of breath and back seizing up . Airline travel airports etc nightmare finding a seat in a restaurant etc etc . Now I'm jogging 5 miles nearly every day 10 miles on Sundays and have never felt better since my 30's . I'm 61 in July by the way . I also cut out alcohol completely and do not smoke . Using the right food predominantly fruit veg and salads and everything else in pre measured microwave plus I weigh anything I really need to watch portion of I've discovered it is possible to change ones life around completely and I'm seldom hungry. The main aspects are motivation , exercise , healthy food intake and above all patience as its a marathon not a sprint and has taken me almost 2 years to get where I am now and I'm not going back !!! Hope this helps - If I can advise re diet or exercise specifics etc feel free to ask would be delighted to support the effort !!!!! Best of luck -it can be done !!!! even though my doctors told me I couldn't do it naturally Ive proved it is possible with the right approach . !!!8
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Thanks @GaleHawkins !!!0
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I had to lie just to get my diary to close for the day, because I had only consumed just under 900 calories for the day. I don't understand! Anyway, I eat like this more often than not, and still can't lose weight. I'm in the program now to have the sleeve done! Can't wait! I have been miserable my entire life, 48 years old! I have been down for 2 years, recently diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis. Can't exercise like I would like to. I am looking forward to the day I go in that operating room! I say, if you are healthy enough to have the surgery, if you understand the lifestyle changes, and you are miserable....go for it! I'm ready!1
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WoW I admire your will power @shadowmanlocal !!! I think Bariatrics Surgery should truly be used as a last resort . My Doc says its "better" for me but I really think I can do it on my own, I'm 5'1 and I'm 221.3 Lbs most of my weight is just all settled around my belly, UGH0
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I think what's mostly holding me back is the fear of going under general anesthesia @melindawjewell !!! Best of Luck to you !!!! And I'm actually in the process as well for a sleeve, just really wanted to try once again before I really do this big change0
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WoW I admire your will power @shadowmanlocal !!! I think Bariatrics Surgery should truly be used as a last resort . My Doc says its "better" for me but I really think I can do it on my own, I'm 5'1 and I'm 221.3 Lbs most of my weight is just all settled around my belly, UGH
I'm 5'2" and started at 222lb, I was half way to 130lb, but I've had some regain following surgery (not bariatric). Pre-op, I was losing 2lb/week on 1600 cal (balanced macros, not low carb or low fat), if I stay active (swimming, kickboxing, weightlifting). I know the amount you have to lose seems overwhelming, but to be honest, there is serious risk with surgery, along with lifelong changes to your body. You can do it without the surgery, but it takes time, effort, and patience.
Food scale for solids (even prepackaged stuff will be off), measuring cups for liquids, watch the database entries (they aren't all accurate), and have some patience. Forgive yourself for slips (they will happen). Don't be overly restrictive. If you tell yourself you aren't allowed to have something you will focus on it more. Allow yourself a treat once in a while (I was eating ice cream nearly every day and still losing, just having a single portion of it, not the whole container).
In the end, surgery is certainly not an easy route either. It will also require that you make life long changes, to reduce the risk of regain. Either way, there is some work ahead of you. It's your choice.2 -
Absolutely @nutmegoreo1
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could 'nt agree more - I know a couple of people my age who had to have open surgery after bariatric to correct nasty interaction problems with sleeves etc . Patience is key once you find a formula for exercise and food intake that suits you and your lifestyle . One other thing I've done to boost metabolism was specifically targeted acupuncture with an excellent Chinese doctor in Dubai . I think it also helped me a lot as at 61 the body has a slower metabolism which can result in sticking points of which I' ve had several . Hospital dieticians tell you 1000 cals a day my reply to that was that they should try it themselves !!! and yes a little ice cream or a treat is great but definitely not the whole container lol Key is find a plan that works for you and stick with it . Best of luck !0
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at the end of the day, surgery carries risks and it sounds like you're not keen either!
weightloss through eating well isn't super quick but it's worth taking your time. As a classic over eater and comfort eater it's taken me quite a long time to get to a point where i have control of my eating habits. Personally I found great help from the Paul McKenna I can Make you Thin book-it's small but has so many tips that seem really obvious when you read them and are a good basis on how to cope with eating less-it's very empowering
I wish you the best of luck
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thx for the feedback - I'll certainly look for the book you mentioned too - best of luck also -quality of life is so much better now 0
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I went in to see the doctor about a hernia. She sent me to a surgeon who specialised in those operations and when he saw me, he said he was more concerned with my obesity and asked me if I had considered a surgery. He then told me I couldn't lose weight on my own, I would always gain more than I lost.
What he said scared me. I realised then that I would always struggle with my weight if I didn't take control. I knew my problem was overeating so I started to use the MFP app, I still eat what I want but in much smaller portions. I have a scale by my bed for my night time snacks, I budget my meals for the day. If I need to eat more because I feel hungry, then I do, and I add fitness to help me burn the extra I consume. And if each week I am under my goal, I have a cheat day to enjoy a couple hundred extra calories. Really helps when you want to eat out or go to a friends for a meal. Otherwise I stick to the 1200 cals a day (not below so my body doesn't start to try and protect itself by storing everything). I also know I can't just stop the diet when I'm done, I will need a time to come off it or I will jump right back up and gain more than I lost (the body's way of making sure it doesn't starve if you have another crash diet). So I have planned a year to lose everything I want to, and a year to maintain it. Of course it's just a plan and maybe my body doesn't allow me to do it that way, but it's a start.
I am 5'1" too and was 215 lbs when I started and in only 7 weeks I have dropped 20 lbs.
I feel better. I wanted to join a gym but I haven't raised the money yet and I didn't want to add another monthly bill to my budge, and my husband suggested I find a workout buddy to go with before I commit to such a high cost and my old Cindy Crawford workout video is too advanced for me now, so I used youtube for workout ideas.
I like the 10 minute solutions dance mix. - teaches different hip hop choreography and doesn't raise the heart rate too much that your heart is pounding out of your chest. You could do just one 10 minute portion or do all five. 10 Minute Solution also has other workouts, pilates, kickboxing, ab attack... etc. I have other fun dance aerobic videos I like too. You can find a lot of free resources on the web if you want.
I also enjoy biking, my family goes with me and we bike to the mall. We live in a hilly area so it does get the heart going and it's fun family time.
I agree the surgery shouldn't be your first "go to". If you are serious about your problem and commit yourself to the work, you will be able to do it. I have friends who look good now but I never would have known they weighed more than me when they started getting in shape.
(Medications, thyroid problems, disabilities, or other medical issues may effect your weight as well, always consult a doctor especially if you are not seeing progress).
You can do it Syrus. I'm not an optimist or a cheerleader, and I don't say something without meaning it. You can do this. The first step is realising this isn't going to be easy, but it is going to feel so good. and it isn't going to be a quick fix either. If you want to keep off the weight, it's going to need time to maintain it after you lose it (I know a few people, myself included, who dropped over 20 lbs and then gained back more because they just gave up instead of continued to watch what they ate).
Best Wishes.3 -
Good morning. I am 5'3" and started at over 200lbs, and really having the same thoughts as you are. I eventually decided that I could do it on my own, without having to go under the knife. I am losing at a slow pace, but still losing and that is important to me.
There is a lot of good information in the posts before me, and I would encourage you to do what is best for you. Everyone is different and there is nothing wrong whichever you decide.2 -
Thanks @3nails1love !!!!!! I actually prefer to try it on my own again but this time I'm much more serious much more motivated and I truly want a"healthier" lifestyle sometimes our surroundings can make it very difficult, u make so much sense as far as joining a gym AND having the extra bill.... I do make sure I get myself use to attending the gym without a companion though just to keep more focused .....2
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Natural all the way. I am not a big fan of surgery and the issues surrounding food afterwards. But it's really a personal choice. My sister did it years ago as have a few others I know. Some kept the weight off, 2 gained every bit back. Good luck either way.1
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I've lost more weight than my mother has and she's had a Gastric Bypass. I started at 149kg and was offered surgery several times but after seeing my mother's experience I decided that surgery wasn't for me. I started out 6kg heavier than my mother was when she had the surgery done. It definitely was the right choice for her though - we are all different! I lost 71kg, she lost around 60kg and we're both maintaining.
Either way you have to work for it, but I don't believe any doctor that doles out general blanket advice to obese people that they can't lose weight without surgery. While there are always cases where it's medically the best option, it certainly isn't always the case.1 -
Whether or not you decide for or against the surgery, you will have to change your eating habits.
A lot of people here have lost a lot of weight without the surgery, myself included. I lost over 160 pounds and have kept it off for over 2 years. Maintenance is definitely harder for me, but I have learned a lot along the way that has helped me in maintenance.
The statistics are against all of us though. Over 80% of the people that lose weight, no matter how they lose it, gain all of the weight (some gain even more) back within 5 years.
It is a personal choice, and only you can decide what is right for you. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.1 -
I grappled with weight loss for years and decided to have gastric bypass surgery in 2006. Before surgery, I weighed 259 pounds and approximately two years later, with careful monitoring of diet and exercise, I got down to 175 pounds.
Since then, it has been lots of work maintaining the weight loss but worth it. No matter what you decide to do, you'll have to work at it. I say the surgery gave me an initial advantage but I still have to do the same work now to maintain it. Currently, I'm 165lbs. Since the surgery I gained 1/3 of it back (was 215lbs in May 2014) but have worked to return to good health.
I wish you all the best no matter what you decide!!!1 -
I struggled with obesity my entire life -- I could take off some weight but never enough to get healthy, and then I would regain even more. I decided on sleeve gastrectomy almost three years ago. I have lost approx. 200 lbs. Losing and maintaining is still hard work! But I could never have done it without the surgery.
If you are scared of general anesthesia -- remember that morbid obesity is a lot more dangerous than anesthesia. There was a published study showing that getting bariatric surgery reduces your risk of dying by 90% over not having surgery, and that includes the very small risk of mortality that comes with any surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery has fewer complications and a lower mortality rate than knee replacement or gall bladder removal. If you knew someone who was struggling to walk and in constant pain and needed a knee replacement, would you tell them not to do it because of the risks involved with anesthesia?
All that said, you need to be sure the decision is right for you, and that you are committed to a lifetime of healthy eating. Surgery will make it possible, but not easy. Good luck!1 -
syrus 911 can you post your stats, that might help some of the pros here with giving you the proper advice, , i personally would not have surgery , you be amazed how much weight can be lost just by simply walking.2
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I'm 41 and one year ago, almost to the day, i downloaded MFP and bought a fitbit - i've lost 138 pounds since then and have been at my goal weight for the past month. You can do it on your own! Just move every day and watch your calories. Make filling food choices - 200 calories of cauliflower is going to fill you a lot more than 200 calories of cookies. Make a lifestyle change for the better!
On a side note, i know two people who have had some sort of weight loss surgery - both of them gained all the weight back. They never changed their eating habits - if you always eat what you always ate, you will always weigh what you always weighed.
a few quotes helped me along the way:
- moderation, not deprivation
- don't sacrifice what you want most for what you want right now
- you don't have to eat it all - it will be there tomorrow
good luck in whatever you decide4 -
There can be a happy medium. I decided on an RNY and it did make a dramatic improvement to my life. But I had to learn to control my eating before surgery. So that is all under your control now.
You mention that the home environment is not that supportive, yet your mom is urging you to get the surgery? It seems to me if she were that concerned she should be open to reforming the pantry.2 -
Same here tammiann just so much pressure from mom & Doctor when I really want to just do it on my own plus I'm terrified of GENERAL ANESTHESIA
Sounds like you already know which way you want to give a try first. I would tell your mom it's not her business, and your doctor that you'd like to try it on your own first with their supervision. I know you have a lot to lose but if you start today to count cals and you succeed in losing 10% already, it'd do you a lot of good But if you do this, commit to it. Weigh everything, do your best, count everything (I am NOT saying to cut things out of your diet, just to weigh and count everything). Also, if you can't exercise at first, it's fine. Nutrition is the priority, also walking does wonders at first for your heart and weightloss. The best of luck to you! 0 -
If you are questioning to have it or not it sounds like you should not. Weight loss surgery is very beneficial for many of people. Surgery is a lifestyle change just as is any other "diet". If you don't change your mind then eventually you will regain. Surgery is a tool to assist you in your weight loss journey. Continue to try on your own and if at some point you feel you want to explore weight loss surgery, attend the seminar or consultation and make your decision from there.0
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SibylDiane wrote: »I struggled with obesity my entire life -- I could take off some weight but never enough to get healthy, and then I would regain even more. I decided on sleeve gastrectomy almost three years ago. I have lost approx. 200 lbs. Losing and maintaining is still hard work! But I could never have done it without the surgery.
If you are scared of general anesthesia -- remember that morbid obesity is a lot more dangerous than anesthesia. There was a published study showing that getting bariatric surgery reduces your risk of dying by 90% over not having surgery, and that includes the very small risk of mortality that comes with any surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery has fewer complications and a lower mortality rate than knee replacement or gall bladder removal. If you knew someone who was struggling to walk and in constant pain and needed a knee replacement, would you tell them not to do it because of the risks involved with anesthesia?
All that said, you need to be sure the decision is right for you, and that you are committed to a lifetime of healthy eating. Surgery will make it possible, but not easy. Good luck!
It's great that the surgery helped you change the way you eat. Knee surgery can not be fixed by the way I eat nor does it alter my total system from one end to the other. Medically I see few similarities between the two types of surgeries. Best of continued maintenance success and congratulations on losing 200 life saving pounds.0 -
Hello, just addn my 2 cents. My wife went took the surgery route and I went the natural route. No shame in going either way. I was just too chicken to go under the knife lol. Anyway, let me tell you that although having surgery helps you lose weight faster, you are still going to have to work hard. You have to make sure you get the proper vitamins, protein etc. May have to deal with lose skin and it is a constant battle to find the right medium. So whatever route you choose to go, just be prepared to work hard, good luck!
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I knew someone who got it, and it didn't change their bad eating habits. They may have lost weight, but they never took the time to workout and actually get HEALTHY. Weight loss doesn't automatically equal healthiness, and I really feel that's what people should ultimately strive for. She said that she completely regretted it, because now she can't even enjoy a family BBQ or potluck or birthday without having to worry about how much she's ate. And then when she does overeat, she feels violently ill.
I know that there are some situations where it's better for the person, but I feel like those situations are few and far in-between.1
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