Anyone try a nonsurgical bariatric program?

keobooks

Hi! This is my first post here. Thanks for inviting me. I am lousy at intros so I'll just make my first post about what's on my mind.

I'm scheduled to start working this weight loss program in early July.

http://www.ecommunity.com/s/bariatric-services/non-surgical-weight-loss/

I am entering the program because I might have special complications in weight loss due to my medications. I have a few concerns. The site itself admits the program has a less than 5% success rate. I'm wondering if this is partially due to the fact that surgical patients are required to enter this program before their insurance will pay for the gastric bypass or other procedure. But still, five percent is pretty low.

Another concern I have is the vlcd plan they suggest for anyone with a bmi over 30. My bmi is in the 40s, so I think most people my size will choose this option. Even though I'll be seeing a doc every week and a shrink once a month on the diet, I'm pretty intimidated by the idea of going vlcd. I know vlcd is frowned upon by mfp, but I'm only talking about doing it in a highly supervised way. Has anyone else gone the vlcd route and had success? Do you think I should stand firm and refuse vlcd when they offer it, or give it a try?


Also, with grim statistics this program offers, what can I do to make sure I'm part of that 5%?

KarenZen

Hi, and welcome!!!

what is vlcd?

scubasuenc

VLCD's have a history of failure not because you don't lose weight while you are on them, but because most people put the weight back on after they finish. They do not prepare you to make the basic lifestyle changes necessary to lose weight and keep it off.

A medically supervised VLCD might help you jump start your weight loss, but make sure you think about what comes next. What lifelong changes are you going to make to continue your weight loss and keep it off?

I have a friend who started a program to prepare her for gastric sleeve surgery about the same time I started MFP. During the 6 months, I lost twice as much weight as she did. I don't know her exact starting weight, but it was probably pretty close to mine, and she is at least 10 years younger. She had her surgery last week. I wish her all of the best, but anyone who is morbidly obese needs to be willing to address the underlying psychological issues of why they are overweight and make permanent lifestyle changes.

Many in this group have talked about how they'd almost rather be addicted to drugs or alcohol because you can go cold turkey with those things, but we need food to survive. We cannot give it up, and so must deal with it daily. I know people who have been sober for decades who still say there are days they struggle with wanting to drink. You need to make sure you are prepared for that kind of ongoing struggle. Otherwise the VLCD will just be a temporary fix.

keobooks

When I think of the vlcd option, it reminds me of a guy I read about in the news who underwent an experimental procedure to get over his heroin addiction. I can't remember the specifics, but basically he was sedated during the withdrawals so he didn't feel them at all. He woke up with his physical addiction cured. He was out using heroin again 2 days later.

I think their reasoning for offering it is to be a kickstart of the program. Get all jazzed up about losing all the weight and then you'll feel more invested in the program. But I keep thinking about their low success rate and how this program is created by people who make their main bread and butter money from surgery. I don't think they are being dishonest or shady about anything, but I wonder if people go into the program expecting failure so they can move on and have the surgery.

I will do mfp and the program. The main reason I want to do it is that I have a number of medical conditions and medications to consider. I'd like one doctor around to help me coordinate things like having my meds or cpap machine changed as I lose weight. I'd also like to see if a weight loss specialist could suggest a change of meds to ones that are more weight neutral.

Also this program will give me access to a low cost lifestyle coach, an extra shrink and a physiologist for exercise. It's not often you'll get a cool opportunity to get all this stuff for just 15 bucks a week and it's all covered by my insurance!

blondageh

That is so COOL that you get to have that kind of attention/service for $15 a week PLUS it is covered by insurance. How low calorie is it though? Why can't they just put you on a 1200 calorie? Did they tell you the reason for it?

shaynepoole

I completed a VLCD under medical supervision. It wasn't a liquid diet though like your link mentioned.

In any case with weight loss, if the underlying reason for the weight isn't really addressed then yes, it will be unsuccessful. But it is in the hands of the person themselves - so you ultimately control whether you are successful or not. And you will need to make changes that you will keep to after the weight comes off -- If you do the diet, lose the weight and then go back to thinking that you can do whatever you were doing in the beginning, well I am sure we have all been down that road before...

it's sounds like a great program and great coverage, btw.