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I have read explanations of this counter-intuitive truth. One would think that burning more calories than one takes in would have to result in weight loss and that after the weight loss, balancing the calories in and out would have to result in weight maintenance. This is indeed true under most circumstances. However, once the obesity reaches a certain point it creates pathological changes in the body's chemistry and metabolism; the body is no longer functioning normally, and fewer calories are burned for a given activity and fat storage for a given number of grams of food is increased greatly. I do not remember the details of these changes, but this must be so for reasons given in the above post (why else would insurance companies be paying for it?). So the lesson I take from this is the enormous importance of setting good eating and exercise habits in childhood and also the enormous importance of combating any over-weight condition in adulthood before it progesses to obesity. So if the average obese person is really "at fault" for anything, it would be for not taking agressive action soon enough. Once they become morbidly obese, they are tragically and horribly trapped.
Right. They are tragically and horribly trapped...unless they get gastric bypass surgery.
Aggressive action beforehand is a hard call. Some others here and myself included did the dieting plans, i.e., Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, etc. only to fail, yoyo, and then balloon even higher.
Unfortunately, for people like myself and countless others with morbid obesity gastric bypass was the only last choice above dying.
There was a cover story in The Atlantic about this a few months ago. Seems one of their editors had it and seemed to recommend this as a quick fix to the obesity epidemic.
see that would bother me...
it certainly should NEVER be seen as a 'quick fix' for obeasity (or anything else for that matter)
it should be a last resort and its in no way easy for those doing it right...(and those not end up typically gaining it all back or making themselves very ill!)
I absolutely love it and have no regrets. Since 16 August I've went from 309 to 203 and I've never felt better in my life. I actually like exercising, looking at myself in the mirror, and going clothes shopping. All of that used to be on my most hated/do anything to avoid list. There are some issues like my changing taste for food and inability to eat several things, but I learn and adapt. I think I am near the end of the weight loss part now, though, as it is really slowing down. I still want to see what 185 is like and I'll decide my final weight from there. The only real issue I've had so far is my extreme hatred for the cold. I used to love cold and hated the heat and now I'm actually looking forward to a south Texas summer. Never thought that would EVER happen... and the best part is no longer being on all the diabetes medicines. Now I'm basically a 43 year old teenager as far as my blood work and blood pressure is concerned and I will never go back to where I was before.
People who are considering WLS need to do their research in all areas - from the surgery itself to the doctors to the hospitals etc. That being said - I did my research, I did everything I was supposed to do and more - I had the gastric sleevectomy in July and almost died. There is a thread on here about it if you want to know more.
Any kind of WLS has its pros and cons. Lapband and GBP have continual complications - and while the sleeve has less complications if a complication does occur it is usually more severe. They ALL have risks - they all have proven good results as well. I can honestly say I would not do it again. I am down 105lbs and I feel great, and I am healthy, thank God. I am learning new ways to eat and make healthier choices. And I don't know if I could have come this far without the surgery - it does make it SO much easier -But you have to do the work and make the commitment and it was not worth almost dying for. Not for me anyway.
I completely agree with the other poster (sorry can't remember who exactly) SURGERY IS A TOOL TO HELP YOU - IT IS NOT A SOLUTION.
I wish anyone considering this the best of luck. I hope anyone on the path of weightloss and healthy eating the best of luck too!
I am now close to 10 months out from my surgery. I have lost 93 lbs and feel great! My surgeon only does Weight Loss Surgery and the practice publishes thier complicaiton rates in the brochure you get at the intro seminar. Their numbers are below the national average. I am extremely happy I did it. I am off all my blood pressure meds and no longer need insulin - I take 2 pills a day for diabetes.
It is NOT EASY. I have vomited more then I expected, my food choices are still limited, and I had much more pain than I expected. I thought that "laparoscopy" meant less pain. Wrong! I sucked down elixir of Lortab like there was no tomorrow - well, not really as I take 1/2 the normal dose. But I used it every 4-6 hrs for 10 days. It hurt like hell.
Then I got a "pill ulcer" from taking some meds too close together. I can eat shrimp, fish, crab, hamburger, and pork. No steaks, no lobsters, no desserts, no coffee. Soups are good as is tea. For the rest of my life I am limited to 4-6 oz. of food per meal. No snacking. If I don't follow the rules, I will regain all the weight - about 20% of people who have the surgery do.
I had my Gastric Bypass "Roux-en-Y" procedure at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania just 3 and 1/2 weeks ago ... just before Christmas. It was successful and I had no complications whatsoever.
So far I have lost 28 or 29 pounds, so I'm dropping a pound a day. I am carefully following the guidelines in regards to taking supplements such as a multi-vitamin, calcium citrate, protein, etc. I am going to the gym every other day.
Bariatric surgery is restoring my good health. You see I was not that obese - I weighed 213 (my ideal weight should be 140-150 for my height) - so I was not a person who needs to lose 100, 150 or 200 pounds. Even before surgery I never had to buy clothes in a Big Men's/Tall Men's shop.
The insurance company agreed to pay for this expensive procedure because I had two morbidity issues: I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and also OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). This procedure has nearly taken away both problems. Can you believe it - my Endocrinologist has taken me off my diabetes medications already???!!!!!!! A second sleep study may prove that I no longer need to use a CPAP machine!!!!!!
Suddenly I feel great, I have more energy, I sleep better. Going to the gym is a pleasure not a chore. I had arthritis in my right hand - it was hard to make a fist (and this was negatively impacting my sex life ) - and it went away the day after surgery!!! Now if I drop a coin on the floor picking it up is not a problem.
So for me, gastric bypass surgery has been a blessing!
I had my Gastric Bypass "Roux-en-Y" procedure at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania just 3 and 1/2 weeks ago ... just before Christmas. It was successful and I had no complications whatsoever.
So far I have lost 28 or 29 pounds, so I'm dropping a pound a day. I am carefully following the guidelines in regards to taking supplements such as a multi-vitamin, calcium citrate, protein, etc. I am going to the gym every other day.
Bariatric surgery is restoring my good health. You see I was not that obese - I weighed 213 (my ideal weight should be 140-150 for my height) - so I was not a person who needs to lose 100, 150 or 200 pounds. Even before surgery I never had to buy clothes in a Big Men's/Tall Men's shop.
The insurance company agreed to pay for this expensive procedure because I had two morbidity issues: I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and also OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). This procedure has nearly taken away both problems. Can you believe it - my Endocrinologist has taken me off my diabetes medications already???!!!!!!! A second sleep study may prove that I no longer need to use a CPAP machine!!!!!!
Suddenly I feel great, I have more energy, I sleep better. Going to the gym is a pleasure not a chore. I had arthritis in my right hand - it was hard to make a fist (and this was negatively impacting my sex life ) - and it went away the day after surgery!!! Now if I drop a coin on the floor picking it up is not a problem.
So for me, gastric bypass surgery has been a blessing!
It's been one for me too. I'm SO glad I did it! Dropping a pound a day is about right for where you are at. Good luck with your journey.
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A second sleep study may prove that I no longer need to use a CPAP machine!!!!!!
) - and it went away the day after surgery!!! Now if I drop a coin on the floor picking it up is not a problem. 
