had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

[LC_Dave]

http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?i...&section_id=17

I feel sorry for this guy, it was only a few weeks ago that I weighed the same as him but now I have lost some and now weigh less.

Check out this comment:

At his weight, he had no real alternative besides a gastric bypass surgery.

Don't you dare try Atkins because 'there are no long term trial studies' but do this:

In the gastric bypass surgery on Tuesday, doctors had to cut his stomach, creating a pouch. The stomach was stapled and sewn shut. The small intestine was then cut and attached to the pouch to ensure that the body absorbs less food.

Because there are heaps of long terms trials on that butchery!!! wtf ?????

Would there be more long term data on obesity surgery than there would be following a low carb diet ?????

[wayless]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I agree with you 150%, LC_Dave! I have run a weightloss forum (not very successfully, but alas, I digress...) for several years on the premise of NATURAL weightloss through diet and exercise--we don't discuss bariatric surgery as an option on my board.

Of course, that's a personal decision that I would never criticize, but I do think the procedure is greatly overused. Unfortunately, some people think it's going to be a magic solution, but instead they find out afterwards that they STILL have to diet and exercise (my mother-in-law had this done so I am quite knowledgeable about it). The bad thing is she is still overweight, albeit smaller, and her diabetes is no better.

[fr1endly2]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I will add here i had the GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY! I am a member of the ADBB and i follow the atkins rules. GASTRIC BYPASS surgery is only a tool, it still has to be used
correctly to loose successfully.
I will also add this was not an easy choice or an easy way out as many people think, but for some its the only way to successfully achieve better health. ITS only a tool.
IT can be used wrong.
PEOPLE can gain weight back after surgery. FOR me the bypass surgery gives me the appetitie of a NORMAL person and i life ATKINS style with my tool and have been an
above average looser.

LISA

[Mary-chan]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

Way to go, lisa, you rock!!!

People have to find what works for them. There is no shame and nothing wrong with getting the surgery, especially when you have the right kind of outlook about it like lisa does.

I know you were pointing out the hypocrisy of our culture, when society says atkins is unhealthy but let's all try something really drastic instead, but we have to remember that what works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else. I know a few people who lost a lot of weight just doing low-calorie, low-fat diets who told me I "just need to eat less and exercise".. well that didn't work for me, sorry!! To each their own

[wayless]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

Lisa (and anyone else who has had GBS),

I certainly hope you didn't take offense to my comments. As I said, I would never criticize anyone who opts for the surgery. That is a personal decision. Kudos to you, Lisa, for making that choice. I just feel in the case of *some* people (I was very careful to use that word in my original post, "some." It was not an accident), they have unrealistic expectations about the outcome which is dangerous. For others, we are just scared of knives (that would be moi).

I absolutely don't believe GBS is an easy way out. That's what I was trying to point out in my original post. I said, "some people think it's going to be a magic solution." I fully understand that there is pain and work involved with GBS.

In the case of my mother-in-law, she still overeats, which from what I understand about GBS, can be MORE dangerous to continue overeating after GBS, than it is without the surgery. For some, dealing with underlying food issues might be more appropriate to try first. Otherwise, you can go through a lot of pain with the surgery for nothing, and even wind up with complications.

Peace out.

[fr1endly2]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

OH wayless no i wasnt bothered by your post. I just felt it was a good opportnity to say i had it for any who didnt know.

FOR me it was what i needed. I now get full and find i can eat like a normal person
to get to that SATISFIED feeling now. I go to many support group meetings to help
keep myself on track since surgery. ITs very easy over TIME, to go back to old habits.
BUT for me i have taught myself a good way to eat and live and thats following the rules of atkins. So i hope to be a success and not gain back but the fear is there for me.
FOR me the risks of surgery were well worth cause at my highest weight over 300 lbs i was a walking heart attack or stroke waiting to happen. I had an awesome surgeon who offers great post op support for patients so i hope to remain a sucess.
THANKS and NO one waid anything offensive even the orginal post but just felt it was an opportunity to come forward of my surgery that i had june 1.

lisa

[wayless]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

OK...glad I didn't offend you cuz:

We're here to support!
Not thwart!
Love!
Not tug!
Cheer!
Not jeer!
Illuminate!
Not Obfuscate!

Now, to all my brothahs and sistahs in the struggle [for weight] with me, join hands and let's sing, "Reach out and touch! Somebody's hand! Make this world a thinner place...if ya can!"

<<wayless takes bow>>...thank you! thank you, all! My speech giving ability courtesy of the Reverend Jesse Jackson! LOL

[slimndown]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I have an acquaintance who had GBS. She said it was a necessary evil for her. She's about 5'2" at the tallest and was over 300lbs and was on an oxygen machine every night because of the weight. She is only in her 40's but was afraid she was going to die in her sleep. I never asked her if she actually tried Atkins but she did say that she chose this avenue because she needed to lose the weight fast - per her DR - if she was going to live. In my research, it is the fastest way to lose weight because it basically starves a person so that they are only taking in a few hundred calories a day. Often there are pills that have to be taken to keep the body from thinking it's in mal-nutrition mode and shutting down organs like kidneys.

It's not an easy choice to make, but I definitely think that for some it may be a positive choice if they are in a situation similar to my friend. She did say that she can no longer enjoy any food because it makes her feel awful. She does stay away from breads and sugars because those are the worst on her tummy.

When I heard this, before I started Atkins this time around, I realized that I needed to get serious and not put myself in the position of actually NEEDING the surgery like that.

[TheLoser05]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

Hehehehe... Tracey's got mad skillz dawg!

I might sound a bit selfish... But I would never consider going under the knife or even taking diet supplements. I'm the kind of person who wants to rule out my OWN destiny... when I finally see that magical number on the scale I want to say "Yes I chose to be healthier... I chose to eat wiser and exercise more... I chose to have this body... and i got it." i guess it's more of an ego thing with me. I got this way MYSELF... therefore I have to get MYSELF out of it. I know i can do whatever I put my mind to...

Not knocking GBS. Some people might need it to get them started... so they can start eating less... and then exercise more. With that in mind I would like to say one more thing... "To make yourself healthier or not.... the choice is yours!" (Sorry it reminded me of a random quote we had to listen to for 4 years every morning in High School lmao)

<3Stephie

[LOWCARBINCLEVELANDOH]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

whatever works, whatever makes you happy, whatever keeps you alive....

I have seen lots of good and bad on both sides, including a death from a GBGB (Gastric BYpass gone bad) and a boss who became a lifelong bulimic after she had the surgery, because she never really changed her eating habits. She got skinny as heck, and she is now 52 and LOOKS 70!

The bottom line is: YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS NO MATTER WHAT!

For me....It's THIS WOE that continues to work

[hey_nelson]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I have a very good friend who is seriously obese. He probably weighs 600 lbs by now and sufferes from grotesque swelling in his legs so that now they have to be elevated at all times. Before Christmas I bought him the book so that he could prepare and we could start Atkins together. I am on my 2nd round of Induction now and he (God, love him) has not, nor do I think he ever will. About 1 yr. ago he did try to go to a Weight Watchers meeting...but they could not weigh him in because their scale could not accomadate him. He had to go to a recycling center for a weigh-in. He did start WW but quit after a couple weeks.
I'm so afraid he is going to die. He has 2 wonderful children and we have all spoken to him about his weight is killing him. Last night, he wanted me to get him some soda, and I brought home diet rite. He was mad, but I'm not going to contribute any more.

His dr. did mention gastric By-pass surgery for him, but he is too scared to do it. Unfortunately he is not doing anything for himself. Please take a moment and offer it up for all the men and women out there who are like him. Maybe our Mental Wishes will reach them and push them to take action.

Sorry this was long.
peace and prayers
patty

[TheLoser05]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

That just made me think so much... about how much i take my life for granted. My wishes and prayers are with him. And lots of hugs and support!

<3Stephie

[LC_Dave]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I have a very good friend who is seriously obese. He probably weighs 600 lbs by now and sufferes from grotesque swelling in his legs so that now they have to be elevated at all times. Before Christmas I bought him the book so that he could prepare and we could start Atkins together. I am on my 2nd round of Induction now and he (God, love him) has not, nor do I think he ever will. About 1 yr. ago he did try to go to a Weight Watchers meeting...but they could not weigh him in because their scale could not accomadate him. He had to go to a recycling center for a weigh-in. He did start WW but quit after a couple weeks.
I'm so afraid he is going to die. He has 2 wonderful children and we have all spoken to him about his weight is killing him. Last night, he wanted me to get him some soda, and I brought home diet rite. He was mad, but I'm not going to contribute any more.

His dr. did mention gastric By-pass surgery for him, but he is too scared to do it. Unfortunately he is not doing anything for himself. Please take a moment and offer it up for all the men and women out there who are like him. Maybe our Mental Wishes will reach them and push them to take action.

Sorry this was long.
peace and prayers
patty

That mirrors my own story a little, difference was I wasn't that large, but I had the edema thing, the can't be weighed at WW thing.

Let me set people straight about my post:

I fully respect people's choice to chose GBS and will not judge them one little bit!

Personally I am against it (in my case)

In the article I resent the 'slant' taken by the journalist that it was the only choice at that 'weight', because I believe WLS is Big Business these days.

Personally I feel too many super-sized people are just 'on their own' when it comes to complications, which makes it worse for them

[LC_Dave]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I will add here i had the GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY! I am a member of the ADBB and i follow the atkins rules. GASTRIC BYPASS surgery is only a tool, it still has to be used
correctly to loose successfully.
I will also add this was not an easy choice or an easy way out as many people think, but for some its the only way to successfully achieve better health. ITS only a tool.
IT can be used wrong.
PEOPLE can gain weight back after surgery. FOR me the bypass surgery gives me the appetitie of a NORMAL person and i life ATKINS style with my tool and have been an
above average looser.

LISA

LISA, you should be applauded for taking a very brave step and getting the surgery.

It's not easy to face up to reality and do something about our weight is it ?

I fully understand the difficulty of the decision. If I hadn't had any success last year, I would be in need of surgery myself.

I am the same weight as the guy in the article, so it still kinda scares me.

[wayless]

Re: had to undergo a gastric bypass to reduce his body fat

I am the same weight as the guy in the article, so it still kinda scares me.

Dave, not to put any pressure on you or anything, but you are *SO* a role model for so many of us on this board! You've done an amazing job, so far. You look GREAT in your pic. I have no doubt that you achieve your healthy weight goals.