Lapband/gastric bypass surgery

mykaylis wrote: »

since i'm apparently the only one who is undergoing bariatric surgery, i thought you might want to know a little about what you'd be facing (again, i DO NOT THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU).

first, there is a basic qualification. is your BMI high enough to meet the surgeon's criteria? in my area it is bmi 40-55. you also have to NOT smoke for at least a year. you don't fit either of those, you'll get rejected flat out.

then, there is an information seminar where they explain the different types of surgeries available and the POTENTIALLY DEADLY risks.

then, you meet with a team of bariatric experts. my team consists of a nurse, a kinesiologist (exercise expert), a registered dietitian specialist, and a psychologist. they will put up barriers for you. the nurse had to put me through a battery of tests to determine if surgery is safe for me, plus had me list all the ways i have already attempted to lose weight. the kinesiologist gave me orders to seek physiotherapy for a chronic pain issue, and follow a schedule of daily physical activity (cardio in particular). the dietitian made me come to MFP and record all my stuff so we can look at it and analyze whether i've made any permanent changes to my lifestyle. no more soda (ever ever). no more alcohol (ever). limited sugar. take vitamin supplements. reach MFP caloric and macronutrient goals. and the psychologist asked me a bazillion questions about my mental health, what my expectations are about surgery, whether or not i was ok with the overhanging skin that will result, what my goals are, what my relationships are like (immediate family, extended family, friends, coworkers). you HAVE to pass all these hurdles to move on.

after a few months we meet with the team again to evaluate progress and if the team says so, set up an appointment with the surgical team, who then has to figure out if physically you are a good candidate for surgery.

at any point in time, if you mess up on these expectations, you will be kicked out of the program. weight loss surgery is NOT the easy way out. it is only a tool to prevent overeating. you still need to follow a prescribed diet (even more important after surgery), exercise, and supplement regimen FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. you decide to go off the rails, you gain the weight back. that's the way it goes. and most do gain part of it back.

Fatkat121212 wrote: »

I still have approx 50 pounds to lose. I would still reduce calories and exercise but just feel it may help me keep the weight off forever.

prrite wrote: »

Goodness. I know my thoughts on this subject will go against the grain here. I came to see how others had progressed since having surgery, and found this. It's obvious I had taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque. I had no idea of all the great physicians on here. A person asked for an opinion and gets body slammed for even considering doing something that may help them out? Really? Unless I have a medical degree diploma tacked on my wall, I'm not about to tell or suggest to anyone what is good or bad for them. It's their best interest to seek the advice of a MEDICAL Doctor, and be assessed by a professional. Having gone through the process myself, 5 months removed from, gasp, drops head in shame, bariatric surgery, I talked to my Doctor, I talked to the Bariatric Surgeon, a Pyschiatrist, a Nutrionist, Physical Fitness advisor and made an informed decisison that I thought was best for me. Has it been easy? Hell no. People think Bypass/Bariatric surgery is cheating....that somehow, you're getting a free pass on excercise and eating healthy. That is misinformed gobbledy-gook. I've worked to lose weight before surgery and after to maintain my health. I've had no ulcers, no pain, and gradually eased back into a normal diet again. I can eat anything, let me repeat that for the professionals, anything I want, when I want. I just limit how much I input. I'll state that I don't count calories or depend on medicines to replace nutrients, etc. My blood work is fine. My sugars are normal again, my blood pressure is normal. I weigh 86 pounds less than i did 5 months ago and I feel great. I'm still losing, by the way. I walk 5-8 miles a day on average. My motto has been Less In, More Out - let me explain that a littler bit for the more advanced degreed professionals - Less In = Eat Less; More Out = Exercise More - another cheat; if you will, if your input (food) is less than your output (excercise), you will lose weight (shocking theory ain't it)? To the professionals out there giving advice, I'm glad I didn't bother listening to you. I would still feel miserable. And yes, I get it, whose fault is that? Mine. You are absolutely correct. But I did something about it. I cheated. I fought the law and won. I swam upstream, I thumbed my nose at the establishment. I didn't lift the toilet seat when I went #1. I went in the out door. I pushed when I should've pulled. So what? I'm happy about it. As a matter of fact, I'm damn glad I did it. Get an informed opinion, from a MEDICAL Doctor. Ann Landers, Dear Abby & Ms. Cleo, and the rest of the professionals on this board don't know squat about you. Take charge of your own life and quit giving a flip about what others think about it. Ultimately, it's your body. It's your decision. Happy New Year! Mine will be!