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

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

I've read lots of WL surgery experiences on here and it sounds like it is NOT the easy way out, just the opposite. It sounds painful and debilitating and no way would I suffer like that.

On the other hand, it works for many.

Whatever you choose, I wish you peace and happiness :flowerforyou:

...so in the end I will not lose a whole lot of money if I gain it all back.

I feel if a person is already thinking to themselves, "if I gain it all back, I won't be out a whole lot of money" then that person most definitely is NOT ready for such a huge decision.

EXACTLY

I would never recommend WLS for anyone who has less than 100 lbs to lose.

Here's the deal with Weight Loss Surgery - most people who get it gain the weight back within 5 years. Because WLS doesn't address the problem. It forces you to eat less, but doesn't get to the heart of the issues of why you are over weight nor does it teach you how to eat normally for the long run.

Wonderfully said. I work on a bariatric surgery floor, and we had to go to a new patient seminar to see what was being taught. Surgery is a tool, but doesn't fix your mind, and SO many of us gained weight because of our minds. In order for surgery to succeed, you have to be completely willing to change your mind and the way you act towards food.

For me, it was simple...do I want to give up NEVER eating a Thanksgiving meal again? Do I want to give up caffeine forever? Do I want to take away some of the joy I get from food, just to be smaller, when I could do it on my own? Definitely not. Not to mention that these surgeries can have massive negative side effects that can develop into problems later on.

If you want to do it, go through the classes every week for 6 months, but also really try the good old fashioned way. Use this site to count calories, exercise and eat healthy. I bet you'll see a BIG difference in those 6 months, if you really commit to it.

You can do this on your own. If you were so obese that you were in danger of hurting yourself by exercising, then I would say go for it. Or in other words, if your weight was so high, that you were disabled by it. That is who this surgery is really meant for.

I wish more people would realize this!

Well, my thoughts on the subject are like this-you are going to have to learn how to eat properly and exercise with the band anyway, so why not really try again without the band? I don't think you give yourself enough credit. You are MUCH stronger than you think you are. Look at all the people on here who have lost over 100 lbs? My initial goal was 130 lbs to lose (260 to 130). Very overwhelming. But you can't look at that. You have to focus on one day at a time, even one hour at a time some days. All the effort you will put into the surgery takes work. Not to mention the risks. If you can put the effort into the classes, you can put that time into finding and trying new recipes and beginning a workout program. I'm not against surgery, I considered it for myself, but decided against it. You know what's best for you. Best of luck!

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.

Think smaller and hopefully you'll be less overwhelmed. You're not losing 100 pounds in a day, a week, a month or maybe even a year. You can lose a pound or more a week, every week for a year and by this time next year you'll be 50 pounds lighter. But you're only thinking about losing that 1 pound a week.

You'll be exercise 3 times a week or more for the first month. Then at the start of the new year up that to 4 times a week, then 5, then 6. Go for walks. Run, skip, bounce, dance, laugh -- anything to get moving. Moving burns calories. Calories burned = weight loss with the right eating.

I just think you can do this on your own. I started this journey at 270 pounds and have managed to get down to 211 so far (6 months) and there are people who have started at alot higher weights than that and have been successful without surgery. I understand what the "requirements" are, but you being 230 pounds and still young, I don't think that risking your life to get surgery is the right decision. Do you work? You would have to take off of work for months I assume and not be able to do much of anything during that time. This is a lifestyle change and unless you can go through the process of understanding what you are doing wrong to be overweight and are willing to make the sacrafices and decisions daily to lose the weight, in the long run you will be right back to where you started or worse. Just wanted to put my opinion out there.

Surgery can be a life saver for some very obese people, but unless it was life or death, I would not recommend it.

You should consider the extra cost of skin removal that is nearly always necessary when you lose weight that fast. IMO, that saggy skin looks as bad (or worse) than fat. If you lose weight more slowly your skin will have more time to adjust.

If you are having a really hard time losing weight on your own, what makes you think you'll keep it off if you lose it with surgery?

My brother had weight loss surgery early this year. About the same time I started dieting so he wouldn't be going alone. I also knew that technically I qualified for surgery as well.

He went through the meetings, and still goes to a support group. He has lost 100 pounds since starting the process, and 80 since the surgery.

I have lost 50 hard fought pounds in the same length of time.

Having said that, I definitely don't wish we'd switched and I'd had the surgery. My reasoning for this is as follows:

I have really focused on eating right and healthy this time. I've made slow changes that yield lifelong results, These will be better for me in so many ways.

He has to constantly watch what he eats and second guess how sick he will get from the food.

The surgery recovery was ok, but you don't eat normally for a month before the surgery (protein shakes anyone?) and for the next 6 weeks afterwards. This is difficult, harder than any diet.

You must exercise, you're losing a ton of muscle with the fat due to how quickly your weight comes off.

You MUST stick to the diet to lose weight. It's so low calorie you may have depression, low blood sugar etc.

You MUST watch sugar intake for the rest of your life.

Eat wrong, and you'll end up in the bathroom with dire results.

With all that said, he is really glad he went through it, and with the results. You may be the same way..

But I'm willing to bet, given enough time, you could do the same. You don't gain weight overnight, don't expect to lose it that way either. Exercise, eat right, make good choices and it'll come off.

I would consider the options and go for what feels right. But I am a HUGE advocate for wls. I am 5'5" my highest weight was 304. I was miserable and depressed. I had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy in January of this year and have lost over 140 lbs and still losing. I am now 161 with a goal of 140. I do have to watch what I eat and exercise. Its a big change but I am not constantly hungry or worried about food. Yes when I eat too fast I throw up. Not every day or even evrry month. To the people who have said its the easy way out what is so wrong with that?????? Everyone wants a "miracle" when it comes to weight loss. There is effort involved but I know I have a great tool that if the scale even shows a slight gain I can go back to basics. Protein, veggies, then carbs and water water water. If you have lost weight doing it the "hard" way then u know all the effort you put into it so even if its just a tad bit "easier" for someone else to get sugery why is that so wrong? I am very healthy. My doctors are impressed. I have never had so much energy. Sometimes I think the naysayers are pissed b/c they worked so very hard to lose a fraction of what we have lost. Gaining it back is a possiblity but only if u are very lax and don't change anything. I have a cousin who is 500 lbs. She told me not to do it she had gotten down to 400 by doing it the hard way. Preached and preached the evils of wls. I am almost at goal and she gained her 100 back. She hates me for my success. Just research everything. And don't let the holier than thou fitness freaks on here discourage you!