Weight Loss Surgery--I CANNOT Believe I Am Posting This!

2. Why not give yourself the 6 months you need to attend the WLS classes before you can have surgery anyway and tell yourself you will follow a sensible healthy food intake and exercise for that 6 month period and see what happens. I bet you can get 50% of your weight loss in that time.

I was thinking this as well. During the time that you attend those classes, go on a sensible reduced calorie diet and exercise. When the classes are over, you will most likely have lost enough weight to not "need" the surgery, you will have gained the knowledge it takes to keep the weight off, and the exercise you will have performed will have strengthened your heart, lungs, and skeletal muscles (which is one thing that the surgery can NOT do for you!) You will have gained confidence in yourself to keep going. And then you will decide that it is not really that hard to lose the weight naturally, and you will be healthier for it without having invasive surgery that alters your organs for the rest of your days.

I personally have had a hard time losing weight. I've had my thyroid tested, I've been tested for diabetes and found out I was perfectly fine. I spent the first two months and lost 10lbs, then hit a plateau and gave up for about two months. I didn't gain my weight back because I had learned to eat better already, but when I came back I spent 85 days trying to lose just five little pounds. I didn't give up... I came close to and cried MANY times. Believe me was it hard to stick to it. I found out I needed to eat within 50-100 of my calorie goal every day, not being short 200-300 as I was most often.

Since then I've lost a few pounds, and it was the biggest success I've had so far. Seriously I think that its very empowering and life-changing making it through all these obstacles without drastic surgeries. In the end, I will have done it safely, not taken any big risks and proved to myself that I could do it.

Make sure you don't make the decision too quickly Sweetie and either way good luck

I wouldn't do it and here is why:

1. A family friend had one you are talking about and she is no longer with us. She did have complications with a laproscopic operation and didn't get the chance to loose weight, she lost her life instead. As with any surgery there is that risk but it was not the initial surgery that killed her nor was it right away. A small infection right after the surgery started it and when it was all said and done she was brain dead and on life support. So would I do it?? NO!!

2. An aunt had one of the surgries you speak of, she had her stomach cliped. While she did loose weight--a 2 month old eats more than she does and she also had complications. Unexpected vomiting if she ate one ounce to much. She could only eat 4 oz!! 4 oz--Do you know how much that is???? Not much. She could barely function she was so run down and tired because 4 oz is not enough to fuel your body-EVER!! While she has lost a lot of weight, she looks nasty!! She did not think she needed to workout but rather make it easy and just get the surgery so after the surgery she did not workout either and she has more hanging skin that Fat Bas**rd on Austin Powers--it's gross becuase she is not in shape--just skinny now. She looks fraile and like she is withering away. Her grandkids now eat tiny amounts for fear they will get "fat" and they are not getting the nourishment their bodies need to grow and a year later it is starting to show in the grandkids!! They are not growing like they were, they are always tired because they do not eat enough. Please think about others around you if you have this done, especially kids and the example you are setting for them.

I was 5'9, size 6 and 135lbs- 7years ago before an accident, an accident that left me with serious nerve damange and constant pain and I could not workout. I took one medication that put 30lbs on in less than 3 months!! 30lbs I am still carrying. Before I knew it medications added over 80lbs so I know how that feels. I am in my 30's and just had my first child so let's add more. I felt terrible, my thyroid doesn't work and I don't loose weight.

In 2 months I have lost 26lbs, I am now running, YES RUNNING, 4 miles a day. 3 weeks ago I could barely run .5 of a mile. and prior to 2 months ago I coudn't run at all due to pain. I have less pain and feel great. I am watching what I eat now, I am using MFP to hold me accountable and I do get help from an All-in-one supplement I found 2 months ago. I am not trying to sell it in the post so that is all anyone needs to know about it but it was enough to make me feel better with less pain so I am taking advantage of it and working out. So without it I would not be working out due to pain but at the same time it does not make me work out--- I DO, it does not make me watch what I eat--I DO, it does not hold me accountable-- I DO!!! It just helps me feel better, have less pain and want to get healthy for my now 7 mo old becuase I want to be here!! 2 months ago I weighed 216 and I am now down to 190!!

my opinion only. I don't judge people their choices.....
I have watched a friend go thru the whole process over the last 2 yrs. She got a lap band and based on observation and talking with her I would not do it myself and here is why...

1. I could lose 30 lbs if i was on only a liquid diet for 10 weeks. (over a month of that is BEFORE the surgery) she was miserable.

2. She has had many side effects....horrible constipation, vomiting with no warning when trying to swallow a bite of food, hair is thinner, she does not look healthy

3. She has gained weight back...not all of it but some. It does not fix the problem of eating unhealthy things.

I will say also that she does not regret her decision to do it. I am happy she is happy with the outcome but I believe she could have achieved the same results without the surgery.

^^^^All of this, but replace "a friend" with "my husband."

I would never consider surgery for myself unless I KNEW I had tried as hard as I could to do it on my own. Realistically I knew I'd never committed to it long enough to lose any real weight. I made a deal with myself that I'd try again & give it at least 6 months before reconsidering surgery. In that 6 months I'd lost 50 lbs so my decision had pretty much been made.

You are right, losing 100+ lbs is overwhelming. Ultimately I'm trying to lose more than that too. No one can do that, right? It sounds impossible. That's why you start with 5 lbs. Ignore the other 95+ for the time being & focus on losing 5. Surely you can handle that. However long it takes, do what you gotta do to lose that 5.

Repeat.

Yes the classes are for maintaining weight loss, and also an evaluation, psych evaluation, etc etc etc. All these things to make sure you are qualified.

I understand that I need to change my eating habits and fitness habits......but like I said, losing 100 pounds is overwhelming. It is like I need a jump start of some sorts to get me moving in the right direction. The reason I am considering it is because like I said my insurance covers it...and I just pay a very small percentage of it...so in the end I will not lose a whole lot of money if I gain it all back.

I feel weak...you guys who are doing it the natural way are strong and brave. I know this is the easy way out.

"The natural way" - yes losing 100lbs is daunting (had 100lbs to lose myself)...so forget the big number. My first goal was to lose weight, ANY weight, break it up into mini goals. Set your ticker for smaller amounts so youre not overwhelmed.

You still have exactly the same work to do whether it is by bariatric surgery or "the natural way" Its only easier because you physically can't consume the quantity of food. An occasional pig out is part of life...never being able to eat a full meal again is a bad trade off in my opinion.

If you really cannot see yourself ever being able to control portion sizes yourself then yes, look into it but if you can get in the right mindset I'd strongly advise that you forget the big number, join a challenge or 2 and crash your way thru some mini goals.

I also considered this surgery as my insurance would have paid for it as well. Ultimately after sitting through all of the informative classes and speaking with the surgeon I realized it was not a quick fix. It would be a long, painful and emotionally trying journey, just as "healthy" weight loss is. I decided that if I wanted to lose the weight bad enough to put myself through a major surgery, which risks are involved, WHY can't I be just as disciplined and do it the healthy way and influence my husband and kids to be healthy as well?? I didn't want to be the mom that couldn't eat at her kids functions or eat the breakfasts that they cook for me or popping pills all the time. I guess my decision was based mostly on how it would affect my family and my children. I wanted to teach them that hard work is rewarding. Please don't get me wrong, I completely agree that some people do NEED the surgery and I know it has saved a lot of lives, but it's definitely just as hard, if not harder than regular diet and exercise so please do not make this decision lightly. Best of luck in whatever you decide!!

beautiful post!!! Congrats on the weight loss, absolutely love your attitude and strength!

It sounds to me like you've already made up your mind.

You know it's taken me a while to lose close to 120lbs, but I wouldn't trade the journey or the process for anything. During this time I've discovered how strong and capable I am, I've developed self confidence and have taken control of my life. I've leant alot about myself during this process and I love my healthy, fit, sexy life! I'm not going to credit any stupid surgery - I did this, ME! I am my greatest accomplishment!

Sure, you can have a medical procedure and completely alter the way you live your life for the rest of your days, or you can change your life yourself and gain so much pride and respect for yourself that way. So the pills made you put on weight, so what, you have the power to change your own life for the better.

Don't choose the knife. Do it slowly, live a health filled enjoyable life. I've done it, so can you.

I haven't read all the replies but....

I know three people in my family (my mom and two cousins) who has done the surgery.
One of my cousins gained ALL her weight back (within 3 years), my other cousin stayed the same after losing but she is pregnant now and has gained 30 pounds and she is only 5 months pregnant and my mom has had 4 follow up surgeries because of infections, she almost died during the last surgery

I will never ever do that surgery, I don't care if it takes me 2 years to get this 100 pounds off me, but I will do it without all those complications, AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO.

A coworker has done lapband and is seeing great results-- with little pain from the surgery.

100 lbs. is not that much to lose if you look at it in small increments, I have a sister in law who had the lap band surgery, that was about 5 years ago, she started at around 375 lbs and within a year she was down to 150 lbs. She was always sick, couldn't keep anything down, had to puree her food for a very long time, she now has seizures since the surgery and has to take medication for the rest of her life because of it, I have heard other horror stories about this procedure, and by the way she may have lost all that weight and her insurance covered most of it, but they would not cover surgery to have the excess skin removed, and she can't afford that, so now she is walking around with so much extra skin just hanging there and she looks sick all the time, constantly at the doctors, so before you decide to have this surgery because it's not going to cost you much you need to look at all the costs that come with it afterwards, like medications for the rest of your life if something goes wrong or the cost of having to have surgery to remove the extra flab that has nowhere to go after you lose all the weight. Some people on here say do what you think is best, but as for me and what I have seen and heard about this I say don't do it. you can lose it all on your own, be healthy and get tone at the same time and you won't incur those extra costs that you are not even thinking about.

When I truly thought about it -- and I have known some folks who have done it, mostly all have gained it back or look like hell with flabby skin and no muscle tone - I thought "If I can cut myself down to 1 oz. of food 5 times a day on my own, I can lose the weight without surgery so why would I put myself through that?"

The first few weeks after the surgery are horrendous and there is bandage changing and leakage and yuck! Take a deeper look into your weight gain. Write down your weight, as you remember it, through your weight gain and see how long it took to put it on. Take a deeper look inside of yourself. Many of us are in denial about the true cause of our weight gain. Depression and anxiety alone can aid in the weight gain, not just the meds.

If you decide to do it, I hope it works for you... but this is not a rollercoaster, this is your life. Treat your body right and it will thank you.

I have one friend who had had great success with her Lap Band procedure. However, she was in a much different situation than you. She's has to be extremely careful with what and how much she eats. Like someone else here mentioned, 4 oz at at time is about it. That's about half a cup of many foods. And she really has to watch certain types of carbs; they can cause issues even at small quantities.

She has definitely had great success with losing the weight though. It's taken her about 4 years to lose about 180 pounds. She's trying to lose 20 more to reach her goal weight of 200. She's 5'3". So, even when she's at her goal, her BMI will be over 35. She's also quite physically active, which has helped tremendously. She does have some loose skin, but her insurance will cover a lift of everything below the belly button. So she's going to get that done when she's happy with her weight.

She's quite happy with her procedure. But just watching the struggles she faces, I'm glad that I don't have to endure them. I could not handle the thought of having the possibility of vomiting daily if I took one bite too many.

Whatever you decide is your journey to weight loss and better health, just make sure it's really the path you want to take. You'll be the one walking it daily. Make sure you have all the information you need, and don't let anyone rush you into any decisions.

My recommendation for this is to do it as a last resort.. My new job covers it too, but I wont do it unless I have to. I understand your curiousity because I have been there, done that.. Then I decided that no matter what it will be a nutrition adjustment in my life, and you still have to exercise.. The point being is there is no magic pill or surgery that is 100% full proof without any side affects. My Step-Cousin went through the lap band surgery about 4 or 5 years ago, she did lose quite a bit of weight, but I did recently see her and her place and she is still buying the junk food, and her weight is picking up. So she didn't learn a thing...she just wanted an easy way to lose the weight without doing all the hard work. I opted to do it the hard way because I feel that I will feel better about myself if I work my butt off for it instead of having some surgery to cut off (in a way) part of my stomach... Your stomach will naturally shrink and your appetite will decrease.. you will start to crave the healthy foods more than the bad foods.. You just have to give it time,... Work your butt off, and you will appreciate it so much more.. I wish you the best of luck!

You must be prepared to change your diet/exercise habits FOREVER. No matter how successful the surgery is, you can undo all the good by eating badly and stretching out what's left of your stomach or by drinking too many calories. WLS is NOT a quick fix, and it does not give you a license to eat whatever you want.

I'd suggest, before you decide, that you commit to eating right and exercising for at least one year to make sure you can do the lifestyle change that's required. If you do that, you'll know that you can handle a permanent change. You may also find that you lose enough weight that you don't need the surgery.