Gastric band v gastric bypass - your thoughts

Any surgery has complications, even having a tooth out can cause a bloody clot, does that mean we shouldn't visit the dentist either

....but I think any sane person would agree.....comparing a pulled tooth to something like a lap band or gastric bypass....does...not...compute.

Please forgive me for answer, which you won't like!!

Neither!! U don't need surgery, you need desire, motivation, and support!!! Sorry but that's what I thunk!!!

I agree.... sorry, but it's an easy math equation: Calories out (RMR + exercise) minus calories in (food) = a positive number ... you have to burn more than you eat.
Good Luck~

honestly , do you think if it was as easy as that obesity would be such and epidemic??? just saying

Please forgive me for answer, which you won't like!!

Neither!! U don't need surgery, you need desire, motivation, and support!!! Sorry but that's what I thunk!!!

I agree.... sorry, but it's an easy math equation: Calories out (RMR + exercise) minus calories in (food) = a positive number ... you have to burn more than you eat.
Good Luck~

honestly , do you think if it was as easy as that obesity would be such and epidemic??? just saying

Umm...I do. The human species is currently more sedentary as a whole than at any other point in recorded history. That, combined with the fact that high calorie, unhealthy foods are available for pennies on the dollar and accessable to every member of our society regardless of income...yeah, it is about calories in and calories out.

Think of the shift in America in the past 30 years - we've gone from an economy where we produced products and our labor force was made up mostly of jobs that required physical labor, to service based economy where sedentary desk jobs are the new norm.

People in the 50's, gasp, actually had to go outside and do stuff when they were bored and wanted to talk to people...today, you can spend hours in front of the television and surf the internet for your every need and desire.

No i disagree the surgery is done by laprascope and some dental treatment is done under anaesthetic, and as i said tooth extraction can cause blood clots so why is it different?

Since you've been under a program for the past six months, it sounds like you aren't really going to be swayed to simply NOT do it. However, I have to be honest and say I'm of the opinion that you should reconsider it.

In 2008, I went through the whole process of orientation and did quite a bit of research on the how the lap band works. I was pretty dead set at the time that I was going to do it. However, a road block came up.

The psychiatrist evaluating me was wanting me to go to support groups for a few months before he agreed to sign off. At that time I was going to college full time and had night classes, so the groups were impossible for me to work in my schedule then. From what research I did, I had never heard of anyone having a problem there. I believe at the time I was concerned one or two people in my family would give me a hard time with it. Which I told him. Looking back , I believe if they thought that's what I wanted to do, they would have accepted it. However, at the time I was VERY angry, thinking that was my only shot and I couldn't do it on my own. By the way, I'm 5'0" and weighed roughly about what you do (maybe a bit more) at the time. So I understand your situation in that regard.

Flash forward 3 years and since then I gained 25+ more pounds. But I couldn't be more happier? Know why? Because I proved to myself the past several months that I could do it on my own. Because I've nearly lost all that I gained since that orientation in 2008. I learned that I had to come to a place in my life where I could commit 100% to making this change. Before I was unable to be honest with myself that my desire to lose weight was half-hearted. I convinced myself that is just wasn't possible. Now, I know without a doubt that with patience and commitment, I will reach my end goal. This is a lifestyle change, not a diet. If you are dieting, that might be part of the skewed mental perspective.

(I do know several people that have had the surgery and busted their band and regained the weight, had to go in for additional surgeries, etc. The risk, was pretty scary to me. For people that are immobile,older, medical circumstances, I think it's a wise option. But for someone so young to make such a drastic change, it's premature imo.)

i'm 5'2 so...yeah.....very wide for my height! lol

I'm 5'1 and 223 - so we are about the same. I go to the gym every day and have been successful in the past with weight loss. I could have surgery too, but if I don't change my eating habits, then no amount of surgery will cure what my head is telling my body. I know 4 people who have had surgery - 3 gained all teh weight back and more, the other nearly died becasue they didn't hook her intestine back up corretly... and she weighs more now than she ever did.

I wish you luck - you will make the correct decision for yourself. No one can make that for you....

I had RNY just over a year ago and I wouldn't change a thing! I have been on so many diets, lifestyle changes, exercise routines - you name it I had done it. Nothing worked! I do highly recommend the RNY as opposed to the lap band. I believe that it works better and that the lap band as a higher failure rate. In addition if you have ever had any problems with acid reflux then the band is not for you. It tends to make it much worse. A few things to keep in mind if you decide to do this:

- It is not the easy way out!! I hate it when people say this, there is nothing easy about losing weight after this surgery. You have to work hard. You have to track what you put in your mouth and you have to exercise a lot!

- You will have to follow all the rules strictly or you will not see the results you are looking for. This means not drinking during or after a meal, introducing foods back into your diet slowly and eating lots of protein.

- There is a huge mental aspect to this surgery. You need to be mentally prepared. There is a big commitment to your health afterwards - you have to take vitamins every day, you must drink protein shakes and you have to put in the work.

All this being said, it's totally worth it. I am now at my lowest weight ever as an adult. I feel better then I have ever felt in my life. Also, I only had to take two days off work. I do have a desk job, but the recovery time wasn't horrible. The worst thing about it was not being able to drive and cooking for my kid. That was tough because I didn't want to get anywhere near food the first few weeks! Make sure you have lots of help for after the surgery as you won't be able to lift your baby for a few weeks.

I hope I helped! I know there are a lot of haters out there who will tell you never to have a major elective surgery, but sometimes it's just the best option, especially when nothing else works! People did die from the surgery, but it really doesn't happen much anymore. Be sure to research your surgeon thoroughly and check out his/her mortality rates. Make sure they have a good support staff too as that is invaluable. My dietician has made this process so much easier then if I was just doing it on my own.

I had the band fitted in 2007 my heighest weight was 280 lbs at 5'4.5'' but I also suffered from a co-morbidity, I had high blood pressure. Near 4 years on I am within sight of my target weight. The band is a tool that I use in conjunction with watching what I eat and walking upwards of 6 miles every day. I would do it over again if I had to.

i went to quite a few orientations about 4 years ago, but couldn't stick the diet and never went thru with it, and i'm glad i didn't. it's just not for me (at least as of yet), but i support everyone who is interested personally i would have gone for the band, because it's less invasive, adjustable, and reversible.