Weight loss surgery?

[ZippoGeek]

I've had a huge struggle keeping weight off for decades now, and it's not for lack of effort. I've lost anywhere from 40-82 lbs. no less than a dozen times in the past 20 years...only to gain it back, every single time. Right now I'm being evaluated for potential weight loss surgery this coming fall. If approved, I'm 100% committed to making the requisite changes in my diet and exercise habits. I'm confident I'll keep the weight off this time.

Have any other BOTLs had weight loss surgery? What has your experience been like? I'd really value your input on the subject...

 

[CVAC085]

Are you looking into the gastric bypass surgery??? Or the band???

 

[BrewinHooligan]

I have not had the surgery, but I have struggled with weight for most of my life. When I was very active lifting weights about 10 years ago I was in incredible shape and preparing myself to compete in bodybuilding competitions. I don't have the discipline to eat like that anymore and I don't have the time to be in the gym 2 hours a day now that I have my family. I know I can drop the weight if I apply myself and I am to the point where I need to so I can be healthy for my family. Keeping it off is the challenge and by allowing myself one cheat meal a week I find the "lifestyle change" is much easier. I say lifestyle change because diets do not work, you have to change your lifestyle to get the permanent results you want.

 

[SailorAg]

My sister had the surgery in April. So far she's lost nearly fifty pounds in about three months. Within four days of the surgery she was back at work.

The surgery will require a huge change to your eating habits for the rest of your life. If you're truly committed to making the necessary changes to your lifestyle, for good, I think you should strongly consider it. I'm thinking about it myself, actually.

 

[ZippoGeek]

Are you looking into the gastric bypass surgery??? Or the band???

Lap-Band.

 

[ZippoGeek]

So far she's lost nearly fifty pounds in about three months.

!!

 

[Jesse]

Hey brother, I suggest you watch Fat Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix. If you truly are going to commit yourself to sticking to a diet after surgery than watch this first and commit yourself to doing something before surgery. I have an aunt that did the lap band surgery and thought she was going to commit to her diet after surgery, she lost a few pounds afterwards but it was only because she could only eat smaller portions. She didn't change the way she ate and still ate junk food and unhealthy foods. That isn't going to allow you to drop the weight just because your eating smaller portions, you have to choose healthier foods. I've had an uncle and a good family friend both pass away from complications to the gastric bypass surgery. My uncle struggled with making healthy choices as well and felt like the surgery was the only option, my aunt tried to talk him out of it because she knew how she struggled with loosing weight after her surgery but he chose to do it anyways. These surgery's you can't go back from, you can't undo what is already done so I strongly suggest you weight out all your options before going through with surgery.

 

[CVAC085]

I had a good friend of mine get the bypass, and she's had nothing but complications and definicies.

My Uncle had it done and he's alright so far. I don't really go i to detail wirh it with him but he said he has to completely change his diet.

 

[Jesse]

I have not had the surgery, but I have struggled with weight for most of my life. When I was very active lifting weights about 10 years ago I was in incredible shape and preparing myself to compete in bodybuilding competitions. Anymore I don't have the discipline to eat like that anymore and I don't have the time to be in the gym 2 hours a day now that I have my family. I know I can drop the weight if I apply myself and I am to the point where I need to so I can be healthy for my family. Keeping it off is the challenge and by allowing myself one cheat meal a week I find the "lifestyle change" is much easier. I say lifestyle change because diets do not work, you have to change your lifestyle to get the permanent results you want.

Exactly that, diets don't work, you have to change the way you think about food and what it's doing to you and for you.

 

[atbat82]

I've had two uncles get lap-band surgery. Both were extremely overweight (400+ lbs on 6'5'' frames). One lost about 70 pounds, but has slowly gained it back over the last 10 years. The other lost about 50lbs and then gained that and another 50 back. He's going in next week to have the lap band removed and then in another month or two for some other kind of surgery (I think they are removing part of his stomach or something). Point is, surgery is not a silver bullet. It's easy enough to eat like crap with the band. I'd echo @Jesse above and focus on making the changes first, then see if surgery is the right call.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just sharing my second-hand experiences. It's great that you're thinking about your health and your future. Make sure to talk it over with your doctor and maybe a nutritionist as well.

 

[SailorAg]

My sister goes to group meetings with other folks who have had the procedure. She says it's a pretty important aspect of recovery. Sharing tips and just knowing that others have had the same struggles and made it through okay is a great help to her.

A lot of people have to end up getting some significant cosmetic surgery after they lose all that weight. They have large flaps of skin on their bellies and arms that can cause rashes. Most insurance plans do not cover these procedures. My sister probably won't have to worry much about it since she is still young (in her mid twenties), but those past their mid thirties will have to keep it in mind since your skin loses its elastic properties with age.

 

[XYRNTX]

no one has walked your shoes except for you bro....you are under medical supervision and verbalized a strong desire to change then you have the tools for it to work....nothing but love bro...get after it

 

[ZippoGeek]

no one has walked your shoes except for you bro....you are under medical supervision and verbalized a strong desire to change then you have the tools for it to work....nothing but love bro...get after it

Thanks Tony, and everyone else (even those of you who are cautioning me). I really appreciate all the input.

The biggest thing with me is not a lack of knowledge on how to eat right; I've got a healthy desire to be constantly learning and evolving in that area. My struggle, at least I believe so, pertains to the fact that I have Huntington's Disease, a rare neuro-degenerative illness that causes people to move their limbs and walk in a manner as if they were drunk. Now, I don't have the movements yet (thank God). But people with HD have serious irregularities in the hypothalamus (the portion of the brain that regulates appetite). So I think my wild appetite swings are a dysfunction of this...anyway, that's the other half of the picture.

 

[SailorAg]

Thanks Tony, and everyone else (even those of you who are cautioning me). I really appreciate all the input.

The biggest thing with me is not a lack of knowledge on how to eat right; I've got a healthy desire to be constantly learning and evolving in that area. My struggle, at least I believe so, pertains to the fact that I have Huntington's Disease, a rare neuro-degenerative illness that causes people to move their limbs and walk in a manner as if they were drunk. Now, I don't have the movements yet (thank God). But people with HD have serious irregularities in the hypothalamus (the portion of the brain that regulates appetite). So I think my wild appetite swings are a dysfunction of this...anyway, that's the other half of the picture.

Find a knowledgeable and experienced doctor that you like and trust. Work with this doctor to determine what your best options are. Everyone's situation is unique and there is never a "one size fits all" solution for medical issues.

 

[Griz]

There was two ladies had surgery at work, they lost a ton of weight but didn't stick with the diets and within a year or so they both gained it all and then some back. It's all about the commitment.

 

[Smoqman]

I have not had the surgery, but I have struggled with weight for most of my life. When I was very active lifting weights about 10 years ago I was in incredible shape and preparing myself to compete in bodybuilding competitions. I don't have the discipline to eat like that anymore and I don't have the time to be in the gym 2 hours a day now that I have my family. I know I can drop the weight if I apply myself and I am to the point where I need to so I can be healthy for my family. Keeping it off is the challenge and by allowing myself one cheat meal a week I find the "lifestyle change" is much easier. I say lifestyle change because diets do not work, you have to change your lifestyle to get the permanent results you want.

You and I are exactly the same in this scenario. I was ripped and in the best shape of my life (got there thinking about the upcoming birth of my first child), ate like a pig (all good stuff) and could run like the wind.

Work, family, absolute laziness, etc all played "a part" in my transformation to all fat, useless slob.

The one thing all of us who have gone through a weight-loss know, is that once we make up your mind - there is no stopping us. The problem with this is that we tend to become fanatical about the weight-loss, because we are goal drive. As others have stated, the real transformation is when you change your lifestyle, and become more content in it than you are without being in shape and more healthy.

 

[ZippoGeek]

Work, family, absolute laziness, etc all played "a part" in my transformation to all fat, useless slob. And quite frankly, lots of cigar smoking has slowed me down. I know it doesn't for a lot of guys, but it came from me.

Don't be too hard on yourself Joel. Life circumstances have a tendency to slow all of us down. If you combine that with the fact that ours is a post-industrial, sedentary society with a super-abundance of food, it's inevitable that some are going to fall out of shape...

 

[Smoqman]

Oh bro, I'm a realist. It is what it is. I'm just a self-effacing brother who sees what my body has become via the circumstances and decisions I've made (or avoided). I'll get my booty back to "acceptable" at some point

 

[eastcoast paul]

What ever option you choose i wish nothing but the best for you.

 

[ZippoGeek]

What ever option you choose i wish nothing but the best for you.

Thanks Paul!