Went to a bariatric surgery meeting last night

Honestly, don't do it. If you REALLY don't want to lose slowly using MFP, ask your doctor to put you on a monitored VLCD (very low calorie diet). Anyone who gets weight loss surgery is put on the same diet basically, and that's where the weight loss actually comes from. The surgery just serves to curb your hunger, which will go away in a relatively short amount of time without surgery once you start eating smaller portions.
In my opinion, though VLCDs aren't the best thing you can do for your body, they're a better option than an invasive and risky surgery.
Read these risks: http://www.obesityhelp.com/content/risks.html
Tell me, after reading those, do you REALLY want all that when you could lose the same weight without it?

Although I do not have personal experience with bariatric surgery, I know plenty of people in my work environment that have had it done. An astounding percentage of them have relapsed and gained weight back or not lost nearly as much as they had hoped.

Having said that, I think a lot of it has to do with will power and self control.

I hope you, as many other have suggested, continue to learn more about it and take time to make your decision.

Best wishes for ya.

It is ultimately your decision and I'm here to offer my opinion. I'm against surgery. You can lose the weight on your own by making small changes in your lifestyle. I am incredibly inspired by the people on this site. I have a friend who lost over 100 lbs just by walking and she started way over 400 lbs. Why take the easy way out when you can accomplish this by yourself?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/115485-1-year-later

what to do, my mind is racing to do it or not to do it. the surgeron didnt really talk about the sleeve surgery much as he said there just isnt alot of data for it out there. the lap band sounds like it has alot of ricks. the one he talked alot about is The Roux-en-Y procedure. there are ricks in all but the sleeve sounds good and is not reversable, but the Roux one is. the lap band is also. any thougts on the one? found out my insurance does cover it in full. this is a big decison i have ever made. i need some help a sign something.

What everyone else says...keep getting all the information you need to in order to make your decision. I am not a big fan of surgery but, I know for some people it is needed. My brother looked into having it done because he is about 120 lbs overweight and has physical issues that prevent him from being able to do too much with his weight. If this is a problem for you, i say look completely into it, find a support group that you can join to help with any other issues that may have with food, and be smart about the Lifestyle Change.

GOOD LUCK and I will say a prayer that you can figure it out.

Honesly Todd...I have 5 friends that did bariatric.... all of them gained the weight back and then some. They also now have to deal with NUMEROUS health issues because of it. They do not lead a normal life anymore. I think you can do this without resorting to surgery...just got to hang tough and get with the program! It DOES work!

I can give testimony to this, I had RNY (many many years ago) and it is NOT easily reversible, I have numerous health problems. If I knew then, all that I know now, life would be much different.

Totally agree with this. Bypassing the lower stomach and upper part of the jejunum means you are likely to have trouble absorbing many vitamins and minerals since that is the main site for absorption. Vitamin B12, calcium, iron are a few major ones. Bone density can suffer, along with your hematological status. Often, many years out, you are as fat as ever, yet you can experience these health complications which don't go away, and need to be medically managed.

I'd say take time to do this on your own. I'd be glad to be one of your supporters! I am extrememly against surgery oo risky as in chance of dying from complications etc. If you want to change your life you have to just do it, eat right (most of the time it can't be a thing where you let yourself have some huge 1000 calorie treat a day), and start off slow exercising and the weight will fall off, no need for the extra money or life threatening surgery. You CAN do this all on your own just add some support and get started, ask questions, whatever you have to do to eat healthy and exercise. You will lose all that weight on your own and you will be SO SO proud!

Todd, YOU CAN DO IT!!!
And you can do it your way and without surgery!!!
After being over 300 lbs. for most of my 55 years last year I changed my mind and it changed my LIFE!
Last May 2011 I weighed in @ 360 lbs. This May 2012 I weigh 185 lbs. YOU CAN TO!!!! If you need anything just message or friend me

Peace
Geo

DO IT YOUR WAY 2012 & Beyond!

At 301lbs I thought the only way out was surgery. I was sure of it. I got turned down for surgery. Something snapped in my head and I decided I wanted it off! I'm 60lbs down and going strong. Nothing will stop me. I had ill health and a lot of things against me. If I can do it without surgery anyone can! Sorry if its not what you wanted to hear! X

My belief is that if you can do it with the surgery, you can do it without. I have had 3 abdominal surgeries, none of them bariatric, but what I can tell you is that it is major. The recovery is horribly painful, much more painful than exercise and counting calories. 4 years later and I am still recovering in some ways. Please don't make this decision quickly.

I think it is wonderful that you are weighing all your options, but do not assume that information that you read on the internet is accurate. Roux en y gastric bypass is not considered reversable. The stomach is divided and a section of intestine is actually bypassed. While it is technically possible to reverse most of the procedure, it is complicated and risky. The lapband is the only fully reversible form of weightloss surgery, but I might add it is statistically the least effective for long term loss in chronically morbidly obese patients. The sleeve has many things in common with the RNY procedure, but has less risk of mal-absorptive issues (inability to absorb nutrients from food) because they bypass of the intestine is not part of the sleeve procedure. The sleeve is considered the best alternative for people who have had stomach issues in the past (over-production of acid, uclers, etc) or who have to take daily medication which puts them at greater risk for future stomach issues (for example, people who take prescription arthritis medication are more likely to be better suited for the sleeve).

All that being said, I will tell you that I had RNY 10 years ago. I went from 388 to 212 over the course of about 18 months. I thought it was great. I was so excited to feel like a normal person. Unfortunately, they did surgery on my stomach but I still had a problem with my head. I never changed my relationship with food or established healthy habits after the surgery. Over time I was able to eat more. My "dumping" reflex lessened, and I was able to eat sweets without getting sick. I started to nibble on high calorie foods, essentially grazing all day. I did not have any kind of follow-up program after surgery, and I never learned how to really treat my body to keep the weight off. I ate my way back up to 280+ pounds.

Last year I faced a major health issue, and decided I wanted to try to improve my health as much as possible. I started learning more about nutrition and exercise. I found mfp when I was at 272 pounds, the end of August. Since then I have lost 57 pounds. I have done it slowly, because I am trying to build habits that I can stick with. I want to do it right this time. I feel healthier than ever.

After all that, here is the bottom line: I do not regret my surgery at all, but it was not the permanent fix I once believed it to be. Now if I want to lose weight I know I need to move my butt and keep track of what I put in my mouth. Only you can decide if the surgical route is the right one for you. You really need to do as much research as you can, and understand that surgery or no surgery you have to change your life if you want to be healthy. Either way, try making small changes now. It will help you along your way, no matter which path you choose. I wish you much success on your journey.

I have always wanted to do the complete bypass surgery, but was unsuccessful in finding a dr to agree when i had insurance that would cover. and wheni found a DR and insurance, they wanted 500$ upfront for the consolutation, so needless to say I have not been successful in getting th esurgery, but i have know alot of people who have gotten it and everyone has had great results,

We are discussing the lap band for my husband who is 6ft 8 and 520lbs. We will not consider gastric bypass at all. Way too risky for someone who is relatively healthy other then being very heavy. The idea is to get his butt in shape while he is still young and before he starts dealing with diabetes and high blood pressure etc. Also he has been doing really well using MFP that he is losing about as much as he would with the lap band (according to the info we have, most only lose 2-3lbs a week) without any risk or complications. I told him the other day that he is capable of doing this without surgery, it is possible!

Unfortunately, they did surgery on my stomach but I still had a problem with my head. I never changed my relationship with food or established healthy habits after the surgery.

I think that jfrog123 makes a good point here. Part of what works for me on MFP is the fact that I am being trained to think differently about food and exercise and how I balance them.

After surgery you will still have to be careful to watch what you eat, which to me is not that different to what I am doing on MFP. I know that the surgery means that you will be physically unable to overeat, but if you are prone to doing that, how does the surgery prevent you doing it again in future? It seems to me that this is why people often gain the weight back again.

Another plus for the non-surgical approach is that I am proud of myself for my weight loss. It is all down to me. I cannot give any credit to anything surgical, just to my hard work. That is as great for my self-esteem as the weight loss is. And building my self-esteem helps me to avoid the emotional over-eating. :-)

It is down to your personal choice of course and nobody can make the decision for you, but I echo those who suggest that you try MFP first. There are loads of great people who can support you, many of whom have also had lots of weight to lose so they know how you feel.

Whatever you choose, good luck!
Ali

I would say if you do choose to do it, please make sure you deal with the mental and emotional aspects of your food addiction first so you can enjoy the results. I know a few people personally who wish they had the money to get their lap bands taken out because food has always been their comfort and now it's so limited. It has made them miserable. Just make sure you really think it through before deciding