weight loss surgeries?

Ashalena

I know, this is a sensitive subject, so before you continue to read my post, I truly hope nobody takes this offensively.

I am very ignorant to this topic, so my reasoning for posting it is purely out of ignorance and wanting to understand.

My best friend’s mother had gastric bypass years ago. She lost a lot of weight, was healthy, and then gained all of her weight back. Another one of my friend’s relatives had the lap band surgery and recently passed away due to complications following the surgery. I’ve heard SO MANY terrible stories about these weight loss surgeries, why would anybody continue to consider or follow through with getting it done?

The people that I have known to have it, honestly, have been very lazy and did not try to actually lose the weight. I am certainly not implying that every case is the same, but if all it takes is diet & exercise, why do people still consider getting these surgeries?

callherbeautyxo

I was going to get the lapband done but after i heard other peoples stories about how unhealthy it was and how it could cause death, it changed my mind. I don't thin it's worth it, because after you lose the weight you'll have even more problems with you health. it's better to just hit the gym and eat in portions and eat healthy.

oneIT

A very large friend of mine had this done and well it didn't work and she is now in WW actually loosing some weight. Just cause you get it done doesn't do anything if your still eat at mcdonalds every day!

fiveferrels

The band is only a tool to use, it is not the food police whatching what we put in our mouth.

It is supposed to help control hunger and amount of food ate.

valsdetermine2lose

All weight loss surgery are just a tool and im sorry to hear about the people you know who's had it. Everyone is different and yes i admit some folks are lazy and do surgery as a way out, well im post op one year of my procedure and is living healthy and almost 100 pounds lost from my highest weight. Not all folks experience the down falls to surgery and i think the one's that do either had surgery for the wrong reasons, didnt research the type of surgery they had or was talked into the wrong surgery for then by a doctor. yes , it happens to alot of folks but not all. People choose to have surgery to get healthy and stay healthy , its not a miracle surgery but a change of life! But i do understand what your saying and maybe if you do a little bit more research on obesity , and sugeries you'll understand better. you can go to obesityhelp.com and read on all types of WL surgery.

melissaaguilar8

Gastric Bypass is almost a guaranteed weight loss at first. You have to have a great support system afterwards to keep the weight off, you also need to always set new goals to keep motivated to stay fit. Lap band surgery is a tool to help with food intake. they also have Sleeve gastrectomy surgery that removes a large portion of your stomach, this is the surgery I had on Dec 15 and am down 40 lbs. This surgery is only covered by certain insurances. I like this surgery because I never feel hungry, ever. It was a very hard concept for me to understand. 40 lbs. ago I would never have thought that I wouldn't be hungry but I'm feeling great. I am documenting my food habits to help with the weight loss and keep it off. I hope everyone reaches their goals and am always here if someone wants to talk.:happy:

melissaaguilar8

Gastric Bypass is almost a guaranteed weight loss at first. You have to have a great support system afterwards to keep the weight off, you also need to always set new goals to keep motivated to stay fit. Lap band surgery is a tool to help with food intake. they also have Sleeve gastrectomy surgery that removes a large portion of your stomach, this is the surgery I had on Dec 15 and am down 40 lbs. This surgery is only covered by certain insurances. I like this surgery because I never feel hungry, ever. It was a very hard concept for me to understand. 40 lbs. ago I would never have thought that I wouldn't be hungry but I'm feeling great. I am documenting my food habits to help with the weight loss and keep it off. I hope everyone reaches their goals and am always here if someone wants to talk.:happy:

RAFValentina

People do it as a last resort...with all the risks associated with the surgery...because they'll die regardless from being so obese and it's complications. Its surgery for those who are beyond normal dieting techniques to shed weight. It IS extreme and never taken lightly as a decision due to the risks of the surgery and them being so overweight. It's hard to comprehend to most people, even those who are just obese or overweight because there's still hope for them to lose weight through normal avenues,

Kelly_Wilson1990

Many people do not follow the rules that have to be followed after surgery. I had gastric bypass almost a year ago. I follow everything the doctor and nutritionist told me to do. I have had a great success. You have to be willing to change mind, body, and soul. You have to realize that this is a forever (lifestyle) change. You cannot go back to your old ways. Surgery is just a tool like MFP or the gym. How you choose to use it determines how well you will do.

Nitachi

Those that actually go through the blood sweat and tears appreciate their body a lot more and their are also the ones that are able to keep the weight off. Seen so many going for weightloss surgery but gain all their weight back in a few years as they never adapted their lifestyle.

inotnew

I had often thought about having surgery for weight loss. Aside from being chicken, my thoughts kept going around the following:
- it doesn’t take away the fat
- it prevents you from eating more than a very tiny amount
- you have to learn to eat a very small amount or you throw up
- some of these people gain it all back because they didn’t learn to eat a small amount
- why can’t I just learn to eat a small amount?

FuzzieJelly

Many people do not follow the rules that have to be followed after surgery. I had gastric bypass almost a year ago. I follow everything the doctor and nutritionist told me to do. I have had a great success. You have to be willing to change mind, body, and soul. You have to realize that this is a forever (lifestyle) change. You cannot go back to your old ways. Surgery is just a tool like MFP or the gym. How you choose to use it determines how well you will do.

I totally agree with you. The unsuccessful individual stories that I've been told had people that DIDN'T change their lifestyle (eating right, eating small portions, daily activity, etc...) and regretted the surgery (any kind). I know of just as many people who were successful cuz they DID change their lifestyle and followed doctors orders.

This subject has pros and cons. I personally believe that the change has to be mind, body, and soul (just like you said above) in order to have the results that you want to receive.

I agree too that weight loss surgery, of any kind, is a tool not a quick fix. You have to be serious and research, research, research.

In my case, I have thought about it for 1 year in March. I have researched, got input from others stories, changed my eating habits, changed my physical well being, changed my spirit. In so many ways I have already changed. I just need and little help getting over the hill (so to speak). And thats where the surgery will come into play for me. I'm not looking for a quick fix. I just want to be healthier than what I am now. I want to be around here on Earth long enough for me to enjoy grandchildren and other things too.

Well thats my 2 cents on the subject.

melsmith612

I considered Gastric Bypass last year but almost immediately decided against it because of the uncertainty of the long term results. To me, it just wouldn't have been worth going through surgery to lose weight if it wouldn't have been a permanent solution.

I considered it because I'm 100+ lbs overweight and have had great difficulty losing weight through normal means, partially due to having PCOS and being on birth control pills. And partially because it's often difficult to find the time to work out AND eat healthy.

But difficult or not, here I am tracking my food again and hoping I can get some good solid advice from people with the same goals that I have.

Stagezz

My sister just had the gastric sleeve done a few months ago...she is loving it, however she still eats out everyday and lives on Kraft Mac & Cheese...She has lost 70 pounds...doing nothing, it has just cut her ability to eat as much...

My opinion if you are eligible for the surgery you should have mandatory nutrition counciling to go with it.

landorki

LMAO!! If you are a nurse... this has to be the most ignorant response from a "medical professional" I have every heard! I am the farthest thing from Lazy. I am 16 months out of lap-band. 174 pounds down and bust my *kitten* for every pound! I do know that I am an exception... but "lazy way to lose" is so far from the truth. Complications have NOTHING to do with the process. You still have to work out and make healthy choices. HOW IS THAT LAZY?

Just like the original Poster, I do not think you know anything about these surgeries... or else you would not think it was "LAZY" You have only seen the bad side of these being a nurse. WW and other weight loss programs also have people that GAIN ALL OF THEIR WEIGHT BACK after losing alot. Does that make those lazy too??

TeresaWash

I've lost 140 pounds. Go to the gym 6 days a week and am a hell of a lot more active now than I was 140 pounds ago. I can tell you without a doubt I could not have done without the help of the band. It doesn't work for everyone, I know many who it has not worked well for. I've changed my life style. I eat healthy and I exercise regularly, I never would have achieved this without the band but I know that it takes healthy choices and exercise to succeed. My point being.... There was absolutely NOTHING lazy about my 140 pound weight loss.

landorki

Lazy way to lose. As a nurse I seen so many complications from this surgery.

I've lost 140 pounds. Go to the gym 6 days a week and am a hell of a lot more active now than I was 140 pounds ago. I can tell you without a doubt I could not have done without the help of the band. It doesn't work for everyone, I know many who it has not worked well for. I've changed my life style. I eat healthy and I exercise regularly, I never would have achieved this without the band but I know that it takes healthy choices and exercise to succeed. My point being.... There was absolutely NOTHING lazy about my 140 pound weight loss.

AMAZING JOB!!!! Keep it up!!!

I truly feel that NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HEAR THE GOOD SUCCESS STORIES!! We are out there! As usual, people tend to focus on the bad...

Figuringoutme

It is not the easy way out!!!! You still have to diet and exercise!!! It's just a tool that helps just like having a HRM or food scale. It's how you use it. A HRM is not going to help you lose weight if you don't exercise.
Gastric bypass also helps diabetes (sp?). Almost everyone who is diabetic and has that surgery will go home off there blood sugar meds or insulin. They will have normal sugars after that. It cures and prevents diabetes in almost everyone.


I would have done it if I could. I was under 18 though. If they would do it now even though I am at a healthy weight i would.

TeresaWash

I've lost 140 pounds. Go to the gym 6 days a week and am a hell of a lot more active now than I was 140 pounds ago. I can tell you without a doubt I could not have done without the help of the band. It doesn't work for everyone, I know many who it has not worked well for. I've changed my life style. I eat healthy and I exercise regularly, I never would have achieved this without the band but I know that it takes healthy choices and exercise to succeed. My point being.... There was absolutely NOTHING lazy about my 140 pound weight loss.

AMAZING JOB!!!! Keep it up!!!

I truly feel that NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HEAR THE GOOD SUCCESS STORIES!! We are out there! As usual, people tend to focus on the bad...

Thanks... You too!!! Life is Good!!!

HMD7703

I know, this is a sensitive subject, so before you continue to read my post, I truly hope nobody takes this offensively.

I am very ignorant to this topic, so my reasoning for posting it is purely out of ignorance and wanting to understand.

My best friend’s mother had gastric bypass years ago. She lost a lot of weight, was healthy, and then gained all of her weight back. Another one of my friend’s relatives had the lap band surgery and recently passed away due to complications following the surgery. I’ve heard SO MANY terrible stories about these weight loss surgeries, why would anybody continue to consider or follow through with getting it done?

The people that I have known to have it, honestly, have been very lazy and did not try to actually lose the weight. I am certainly not implying that every case is the same, but if all it takes is diet & exercise, why do people still consider getting these surgeries?

Why do people get WLS? You are asking for ONE answer to define a millions of people? Ignorant does not even begin to cover this questioning. Each person has their own reasons for doing any type of WLS. One might be looking for that tool to help them finally lose weight that they have been losing and regaining for years. One might be dying from obesity - literally, their body is killing them from the inside out. And Yes, some look for an easy answer to a problem they have been dealing with for years or a lifetime. But anyone that has had WLS will tell you that is not a quick fix and it requires work to maintain.

No one can go into a hospital and get WLS without going through some sort of protocol - generally this includes (but not limited to): attending WLS seminars, 1/3/6 month doctor monitored diet plan (as dictated by the insurance company or WLS center), a psych consult, tons of labs/bloodwork and usually a Nutritionist consult as well. Insurance companies set the standards for WLS canidates. Doctors can enforce more strict standards. Many overweight and some obese people cannot and do not meet the min requirements for WLS. *People do pay out of pocket and go to Mexico to skip some of these steps / requirements, but they generally meet the weight standards set by those WLS centers in Mexico.

Come on... people do what they think is right for them. There is no ONE answer as to why people get WLS.

bohdanko

Another thing to consider regarding how "so many" people regain the weight after WLS: I was told that roughly 50% of people who lose their weight with WLS will gain it back. That seemed kind of risky to me until I also considered that most sources cite 90% to 98% of people using other means to lose weight who regain the weight. So that's a 50% chance versus 90% to 98% (depending on the study). The 50% pretty well correlates with the people I know, as well.

MOST people I have known have not undertaken the decision lightly but have battled their weight through many different approaches for many years, resorting to surgery only after a lot of research. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, but that doesn't mean that the rule is wrong.