bariatric surgery

How many pounds do you have to lose?

You might find the WLS convo starting with this post helpful: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/39777849/#Comment_39777849

I don't feel it's an easy way out, same as I do about steroids. You still need to put in work. There are a lot of morbidly obese post-WLS folks, as there are steroid abusers with brutal physiques. It's a tool.

Weight loss surgery isn't an easy way out - the surgery and aftereffects are a *kitten*, but there is no doubt that some that get it think that it will be easier than alternative methods, that it will enforce what they should be doing. And it does, to a degree, but not perfectly and not forever. Those people are the ones that fail, unless they have an attitude change.

I know four people who've had it done, varying procedures, and all four were unpleasantly shocked by the negative effects. Makes me wonder if the negative effects were downplayed during the medical consult, or if they just refused to hear things they didn't want to hear. I really hope it was the second.

One nearly died from complications and malnutrition. He lost weight while sick and then gained it all back and didn't lose any more. The other three lost varying degrees of weight. Only one made it out of obesity, and all four gained it all back again because they used the surgery like a permanent crutch and weren't learning to do it on their own.

The one that made it out of obesity once (and is a former athlete) finally realized he needed to take control of his diet and activity and that the surgery was not going to make him do it. He got back to his habits when he was an athlete and lost the weight again. He's at an ideal weight now, and looks to be close to his former athletic physique.

What bothers me about WLS is that for most people, I think it is a temporary fix and I think that it is often used unnecessarily. I think few manage to make the permanent changes after surgery that are needed to be successful long term, and I don't see a benefit of putting people through it unless they are in a situation where they need to lose weight immediately (not the case for any of the four I described).

Shull_rachael wrote: »

I just had VSG I'll be a week out tomorrow. I can't speak for the ballon option seeing as I went for something permanent. But I must say as of right now. I regret it every single day. I wish I had went with something that could have been reversed or even better nothing at all! At times I feel like this is one of the worse decisions I've ever made and now I have to live with it forever. That being said I could change my mind and a few months out be so thankful I had it. But if I knew someone who was going to even consider weight loss surgery I would suggest something that can be reversed.

I have a loved one that is strongly considering the VSG. If you don't mind... could you share some more in depth reasoning as to why you feel like it was a mistake for you? If it's too personal I understand.

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firef1y72 wrote: »

[quote="Bekah7482;c-39822774"

Because if weight loss was as easy as "just stick to the diet," we wouldn't have overweight people. The pre-surgery diet is a very specific set of guidelines for not only what foods to eat but how you eat those foods. You need to change these habits before surgery because you can literally hurt yourself if you do not follow the new eating guidelines after surgery. The general population seem to think that WLS patients have surgery then sit on their *kitten* and watch the weight drop. They still have to diet and exercise for the rest of their life just like everyone else. Surgery is just a tool, if not used right, you will not lose the weight or gain it all right back.

As far as complications, the complication rate of surgery is very low. It has become a pretty routine surgery and is relatively safe. The side effects are generally short term throughout the healing process; nausea, dizziness, food getting "stuck," constipation, etc. Most of the issues that are dangerous have to do with a patient who does not follow the post surgery rules (again why the pre-surgery diet is so important). If you do not eat right, get in your water and protein, take your vitamins, etc are far more dangerous than the actual surgery.

Also with surgery, most of the time you are required to take 6 months of nutrition courses, meet with dietitians and therapist and go to support groups to work on your relationship with food. There is far more to WLS then get the surgery and lose weight.

Sorry but weight loss really is as simple as "just stick to the diet", whether you have WLS or not. As I said, I was told there was no way I'd be able to lose the weight without surgery, but by sticking to the diet, and moving more I have. If the same resources and effort were put in to helping these people continue with the pre-surgery weightloss who's to say they wouldn't also be able to shed the weight without resorting to surgery. It seems to me that the possibly life long rules after surgery are just over restrictive, I enjoy the occasional "naughty" meal where I blow out and that hasn't stopped me losing the weight.


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The point of that is that there are more complex things working against "just stick to the diet." I am not arguing against the fact that by sticking to a diet, ANYONE can lose the weight without surgery. I completely agree with that. I also disagree with your doctor who said that you couldn't do it without surgery and I am happy that you were able to. But not everyone has been as successful as you. If you look at most people who are morbidly morbidly obese, there is another issue besides food that has led them to where they are and work against their ability to just stick to a diet. Surgery is a TOOL to HELP people lose weight while they work on their underlying issues and relationship with food. As you can see from people's comments above, it does not guarantee weight loss success, it is only a TOOL.

The post surgery diet and rules are not as restrictive as one might think, especially the farther you get post op. Just because you had surgery, doesn't necessarily mean that you cant have a "naughty" meal. Some people get food sensitivities that may prevent them from eating certain things, but for the most part, people can handle all foods(bypass patients have higher sensitivity to sugar, sleeve patients not so much).

Everyone has their own plan to lose weight. If someone needs this tool and it's resources to be successful then who cares? You didn't want to have the surgery so you worked hard on your diet and exercise and lost the weight, good for you. Someone else has the surgery and works hard on their diet and exercise and loses the weight, then good for them. Weight loss is hard work no matter what route you choose to take and as long as you put in the work and lose the weight (and preferably keep it off) then good for you!! My problem is that a lot of people with zero knowledge of WLS and what it entails always seem to have a lot to say about it.

I am morbidly obese and have seriously considered bariatric surgery, but after much research, I have chosen not to got that route. I know surgery saves/changes the lives of many people who experience success. However, those who gain the weight back may be worse off.

I'm only in my 30s, and it terrified me to think that if I had the surgery and regained my weight in 10, 20 or so years, then I'd be older, with the same or worse obesity-related health issues that might make it more difficult to be active at an older age. Also, depending on the surgery, people will experience some degree muscle/bone loss with an hindered ability to build muscle. Plus, my mental health would surely suffer after regaining weight.

I've had a sports medicine physician give me an ultimatum: (1) bariatric surgery or (2) therapy combined with changes to diet/exercise. However, my orthopedic physician flat out said he'd never recommend bariatric surgery because of the damage it does to the musculoskeletal system. It would have been easy to take that advice and just say, "well, my doctor said no." But the skeletal damage may be a worthwhile cost for the benefits of significant weightloss... it's a huge decision, either way.

In the end, I decided to find a therapist to help me address my underlying issues that keep me from losing weight. Three years later, I still meet regularly with my therapist, and am just now beginning to shed the weight. It takes time, but now that I am able to recognize the causes of my eating habits and my relationship with food, weightloss no longer feels like an unscalable mountain.

NOTE: My view of bariatric surgery has been influenced by people in my life who had the surgery, never lost more than 70-80 lbs, and have started to regain the weight. Although, I also know people who have had success and love the results of their surgery.

Also, therapy and bariatric surgery are not mutually exclusive. I know it's recommended for bariatric surgery patients to seek therapy before and after their surgery.

jgnatca wrote: »

I had the bypass and the entire process including the lifestyle change has transformed my life. The head surgeon that supervised my program is not a fan of the lap band or the balloon. These surgeries are NOT proven and are based on a false premise.

(The false premise is that the obese got that way by consuming large volumes of food at a sitting)

My (proven) surgery is thought to work by reducing/impairing absorption. It also changes the production of ghrelin and "turns off" insulin resistance.

Whichever way you decide to go, OP, I'm roooting for you.

Amen to this statement! Anyone can gain and lose weight. Choices are so important for health and wellness. No matter which way we decide to lose weight, or gain weight for that matter, let it be healthy. We all know success stories of this method and that method, stay with what works for you. I was greater than 340 pounds this time last year, and with the aid of gastric bypass I am 205 pounds. I still have to make choices of which food I shove in my mouth. I chose much healthier food now than I ever did. I stare down junk food each time I shop and feel like such a winner when I leave the store with no chocolaty, salty, fatty foods. I pick them up, read them, look at the label and ingredients and happily put them back. Yes, I will have an occasional snack that one would consider junk food, but, control is everything when developing a lifestyle change. My wife and I had surgery the same day last July and we have both lost well over one hundred pounds each. Careful out there. Gaining only three pounds per year starting at twenty years old equals 105 by 55....

I wish there was a free clinical trial going on now. No more going on now?