Gastric/lap band

TracyRoadman85
TracyRoadman85 Posts: 5 Member
edited January 5 in Health and Weight Loss
Do you think having Gastric or lap band surgery is cheating?

Replies

  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    I don't think it's cheating because I don't think it's the easier way to go in the end, from what I've learned about it.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    I wouldn't call it cheating because it's going to be a miserable way to live the rest of your life. Why not get a grip and learn to live and eat in a healthy way?
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    I don't think it is cheating, but I don't think it is the answer for most people. You still have to learn how to eat better, or you will end up regaining the weight that you have lost. I have seen it happen to several people. It may seem like a quick fix, but if you rely soley on surgery for weight loss, you are setting yourself up for failure. You have to also learn new dietary habits to go along with it.
  • Akumu
    Akumu Posts: 120 Member
    I have two friends that got this done and it's not a fun experience. You will be sick from it. You will be very limited in what you can eat, and if you don't change your habits you can gain the weight back, which is dangerous for people that have had this surgery. Altering your food habits and incorporating exercise, even if it's just walking, will have a huge impact. That is harder to do but I think it's much healthier for the long term.
  • TracyRoadman85
    TracyRoadman85 Posts: 5 Member
    My mom and both my aunts had it done I know the process I was just trying to get other people's opinion about it. I feel like you are giving up and taking the easier way out. i understand it is a quick fix and if you don't change your habits you will gain it back. i am looking into it but wonder if people will look at me the same as i look at other people that have it done.
  • Jxnsmma
    Jxnsmma Posts: 919 Member
    Nope. It doesnt mean the weight just falls off. A good friend of mine had it done and things are working out well for her. She didnt get sick. She has a few restrictions to what she can eat but big deal. She has had more success since her surgery than the 10 years prior. all the power to her. It is a tool.
  • celebrity328
    celebrity328 Posts: 377 Member
    I dont think its cheating, I have had three co-workers have the lap band done with very horrible results :(!

    One continues to eat the way they ate before the band and has actually gained weight and is not doing very well (like hair falling out bad).

    Second one has lost all the weight but now has to have a full body lift, looks like a skelton walking around with all this baggy skin and her skin has a yellow tint to it? no idea what that is about!

    The third one was 500+ pounds lost about 300ish pounds and now after 2 surgeries to repair some damage she did by over eating shes gained 100ish back of the weight she lost. She continues to eat full size bags of chips and wonders why she is having problems with her band? I dont get it >.<
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    I had the lap band almost one year ago. BEST thing I ever did. I have lost 61 of the pounds I have lost since having the surgery, and I am still losing. I have had minimal physical difficulty. Yep, I am slightly restricted in some of my food choices, but I honestly don't miss most of the things anymore, and really, if I wanted to eat those things still, I could, but I would only be sabotaging myself. It is NOT a quick fix, it is NOT a solution, it is NOT cheating, or a lack of willpower, or whatever. It is HARD WORK to do it CORRECTLY.

    Anecdotal evidence of people who fail because they did not follow the rules is not proof that it does not work. You STILL have to put in the work. If everyone could just "suck it up and do it," they would. This is a TOOL to help teach you how to change your relationship with food, but you still have to actually do it. Period.

    Who cares what people think about your personal health care decisions? That should be between yourself and your doctor. End of story. Figure out what YOU need, and don't worry about anyone else. People will have something to say no matter what tyou do, so you may as well make yourself happy.

    Good luck, whatever you do! :flowerforyou:
  • nanainkent
    nanainkent Posts: 350 Member
    Well speaking from experience I believe it is the easy way out. Lets look at it, not everyone has problems with it, most people do not, if they did then it wouldn't be so wide spread. So from the stand point of no problems it is the easy way out.

    You have a tool that causes you to follow the rules or pay the price immediatley. The (in the case of gastric bypass) portion of your intestines that contain the villi to absorb calories is moved out of service so you could if your body allowed (and most people can) eat most anything junky you wanted, chips, milkshakes,mashed potatoes,cookies,cakes,candy bars. Yes most people do not have issues with these things. The ones that do have issues post on Weightloss boards and the ones that don't just live life.

    While eating these things still for the first 18 months the weight just melts off of you without any effort on your part. Now if you want a decent body you must exercise. But losing so fast and dramaticly you will have sagging skin, but dressed you will look pretty good. Then, if you do not learn to eat right and exercise and watch your carb intake you will gain the weight back. Then you will be here working your hinney off to lose the weight with a slower metabolism.

    In the beginning your stomach will only hold about an ounce at a time. But after 2 years you will eat just like everyone else just not in as large a portions. you will be able to put away a 6 inch sub, or burger and fries. This of course is only if you do not do the work to change your life. You will grow new Villi and absorb your calories again.

    If you do the work you will be fine. My point is that it is alot easier to effortlessly lose the weight, learn to eat right and exercise to be able to maintain, than it is to eat at a deficit and motivate yourself.

    If you do any of the Weight Loss Surgerys, take it seriously and follow all of the rules. You will HAVE to take muliple supplements daily for the rest of your life. Along with watching your protien counts and getting reqular Labs done.

    And before anyone jumps on me for saying it is the easy way out, let me repeat...MOST people do not have problems, some do....You MUST work it correctly for it to work...This is MY OPINION..
  • glitteredgrave
    glitteredgrave Posts: 194 Member
    My step mother got it done. She's supposed to work out, but she doesn't. She literally just sits playing farmville every day, eating whatever she wants and waits for "magic" to happen. She's the only person I've known to get this procedure; so based on my step mother alone, yes I think it's the easy way out.
  • theblackbirdtree
    theblackbirdtree Posts: 168 Member
    Depends on how you look at it.

    Some people do it solely for the easy way out- they want that spark/feeling of fullness to inspire them to stop eating.
    Other people are ready to make the change, but want to feel supported in their journey so they get it done to kickstart the physiological sensation of feeling full on less food.

    I think that's why so many people are successful and so many people are not so successful in losing weight after a lap band.

    Why are you doing it? Are you determined and prepared to make the necessary changes to follow through with the surgical changes?
  • demilade
    demilade Posts: 402 Member
    Interesting question.

    I can attest it certainly isnt the easy way out. After trying Jenny, ww, lite n easy, shakes, pills etc, as well as gym memberships, I just kept gaining weight. Surgery was a big decision that was very well researched and took a long time to come to, it was in fact a last resort.

    Before the surgery i saw not only the surgeon but a dietician and psychologist as well.

    6 weeks after surgery and I have to follow my dieticians guide lines to the letter or it will be a waste. i find them easy to stick to becuse there is just no interest in food, for me the surgery has worked becuuse 1 im not hungry - ever - and 2 i have no mental desire for food, so the boredom eating has stopped.

    Yes some people cheet their surgery and stuff themselves with chips and chocolate and icecream, becuase these things melt into nothing and go down much easier than meat and veg, but for me i can have 30g of chicken or 30g of chocolate, and i prefer the chicken.

    Surgery is not for everyone, its a major decision that should not be taken lightly, but if you do decide its best for you then go for it. looking after your health isnt cheating, do anything you can to be healthier and happy.
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,123 Member
    DON'T DO IT!!!! Any surgery is risky and exposes you to all kinds of things going wrong. Be patient, and lose weight naturally.
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