indyfabz

My secretary had some sort of surgery several years ago. She was morbidly obese. She lost a lot of weight but has now put much of it back on. We had a departmental outing yesterday that involved walking. She had trouble doing the 2.5 miles of slow walking with stops. After lunch she took a cab back to the train station rather than walk another 1.25 or so miles of flat city streets.

scrming

Yep, I know people that have had great success with WLS and I know people that initially lost weight only to end up putting all the weight plus more back on... Also, I had one friend actually die from an infection she developed while in the hospital... it was a very harsh reminder that there is no such thing as minor surgery.... again, I completely understand that for many folks WLS is a last resort and is an absolute life saver..

bassjones

Completely false. A lot probably depends on the surgeon, and some procedures are a slightly higher risk than others, but it's the difference of 1-4% and 3-7%, and many of those small percentage of complications are minor nuisances not major complications. Acid reflux/heartburn is a common one - add Prilosec to daily regiment. Gal stones from losing weight so fast, but now they usually prescribe a preventative for that following surgery. Death is extremely rare - less than .1% - and that usually involves people who ate or drank something extremely stupid following surgery. Alcoholism is another because obese people often have food addictions, and often trade one for another. An occasional glass of wine or beer is okay after a year or so post-op, but if you have addiction issues, I'd avoid it.

Jarrett2

Yeah, all but one person I know that has had weight loss surgery has either gained it all back, spent extensive time in the ICU due to complications or have died as a result. I do know one person that had it done and is doing ok, but he's on Weight Watchers now to keep his weight down.

FrenchFit 

Lots of questionable info in this thread. OP, talk to qualified doctors or those who have been through the surgery you are exploring, (there are decent blogs out there with first person experiences, private chats) get your answers there. My wife went the doudenal switch route, 3 years, normal BMI now, not much talk about though she does have to supplement her diet with protein bars, etc... and that will be forever. I think she would say the surgery was the best decision she's ever made, (after marrying me of course).

nfmisso

My wife falls into this category. She has lost more than 200lbs, for her surgery six years ago, when she had to be on oxygen continuously. If she had not of had the surgery, she would have did more than five years ago.

Any sort of WLS is a tool, one of many in a person's weight management tool box, it is not the end all, just one of many. Those who think that it is the end all solution are doomed to failure. Those who view it as an additional helper to the many other things that they have to manage will be very successful. WLS, healthy quantities of food, water (lots of water), severe cut back in sugar, fat & salt, and responsible exercise are some of the weight management tools that need to used in concert to achieve the desired outcome.

Cheese Head

^^^This^^^ Or feel free to PM me or anyone else who has had the surgery. There are many options with new ones being developed as we speak. Do your homework. Read, ask questions find a reputable surgeon in your area who has performed a lot of procedure and go to their seminar.

Mithrandir

I would just like to state my opinion, which is:

You don't need surgery. I've lost 104 pounds this year just by biking and watching what I eat.

It was tough at the start, but once I got into the routine, it was easy as, well... cake. Which I no longer eat. Because I feel a million times better, and no piece of cake on the planet feels as good as I do now, compared to where I was 6 months ago.

Surgery isn't necessary. Mental willpower is.

Midtown

Nicely done!
How many calories do you eat now and how many before you had the surgery?

bassjones

I'm more than happy to talk to anybody. I will say, if you're weighing surgery, I HIGHLY recommend the Sleeve.

I'll repeat, I'm more than happy to talk to anybody about my experience.

that depends... I had other complications that had my family doctor and two other specialists strongly recommend the surgery option. I couldn't be happier that I listened.

I eat around 1200 calories a day now, about 1500 on days I ride more than 20 miles and on the day before long ride days (50 miles plus), about 1500 plus anything I take in on the bike.

Pre-op, I followed a 1200 calorie diet and was barely losing any weight. Before I started trying to lose weight, I ate 2000-2500. Even with the low calories now, I'm rarely, if ever hungry. I do get side effects of hunger if I forget to eat - headache, and I had some mild pre-bonks on a couple of 4 hour rides before I got my on-bike nutrition dialed in.

arex

I consume about 1200-1500cal/day. The hard part, I'm finding, is keeping calorie intake down and protein intake up.

I'm told that if you don't consume enough protein, your body goes into starvation mode and starts hoarding calories, which causes weight-loss plateaus.

FrenchFit 

What you say is entirely correct & true, for you. When you try to apply this to 'everyone" or someone you don't know, it's just ignorance. Take a tip from people who have shared their lives with someone morbidly obese for decades, you are going to learn it's not about mental willpower for many.

ajbeck21

The more I research it and talk to people that had it done the more I feel comfortable with it. VSG that is I would never opt for something like gastric bypass, I think that May be where the 50+% of complications come from. I've had a few very serious surgeries including anal and sinus, the anal surgery is what may have started my down ward spiral as it kept me off my bike for over 6 months. The sinus surgery was absolutely brutal I was totally unprepared for that one....

bassjones

Yes; of my 1200 calories, I shoot for 80-90 grams of protein. That's per our nutritionist. That doesn't leave room for much else besides fruit and vegetables.

bassjones

Not all of the surgical options are as invasive as Roux En Y... The procedure I had didn't touch my bowels. It removed part of the stomach; that's it. And how dare you imply that those of us who opted for that route are somehow less responsible than you or more weak-willed than you, lacking in self-control or pushing snake oil. I weigh and measure everything; I know the nutritional value of everything I eat. I work my ass off on the bike and in the gym. I opted for surgery as a TOOL and it was the best option FOR ME. It jump started the process for me. My testosterone levels were insanely low, due to a childhood medical issue, and injections weren't raising it enough. This was a HUGE contributing factor in the weight gain and lack of weight loss and was also worsened by the excess weight. I also had knee problems from old basketball injuries and had to have a partial amputation on my right foot (5th metatarsal and pinky toe) due to a bone infection from stepping on a rusty nail 30 years ago. I couldn't run and even cycling was extremely difficult. Weight training was off the table because the low testosterone wasn't allowing my muscles to recover. The surgery allowed me to lose over 100 lbs while I was virtually immobile following the amputation. When I was cleared to ride, the knee pain was gone and the weight loss had helped stabilize my testosterone levels, so I was able to recover normally. This surgery gave me my life back, so don't you dare make accusations about situations you know nothing about.

WonderMonkey

I do know some who have used the surgery in place of their will power. Usually those types don't find long term success with the surgery either. However some DO have the surgery and get a boost of hope and "Hey, I can do this" and off they go. Others have worked very hard yet the surgery is an option they need for whatever reason.

I'm for the surgery if other "natural" options have been exhausted and plenty of thought and reflection have occurred. A "natural" option is up to the reader.

So... if the OP has gone through the process of making sure it is a good choice and not just a replacement for "trying" then I fully support it, as if my support is needed. And even if the OP HASN'T gone through what I would think is the process of making a good decision I support him anyways, and wish him success.

WonderMonkey

I see your point. I didn't do surgery either. Many do the surgery in place of resolve... hard steel resolve. And some I know have had that resolve because I have witnessed it personally and the surgery was the right thing for them.

I will say I think that more get the surgery than NEED to get it. What percentage is people who it is the right choice? It's lower than the number who actually get it but for those that should get it, then I wish them well.

Velocivixen

There are pros and cons to be considered.

Bottom line is that if one does not change their relationship with food, then no surgery will keep the weight off.

FrenchFit 

Point proved !

I love the "I manned up. I rode my bike." Cool signature, assuming you are 'tough enough'. Anyway, I was not speaking for myself, it was my observation about others. I have never been obese, I guess I am overflowing with that manly self-control you speak of.

Jarrett2

I also lost 153 lbs in the last couple of years without surgery. Granted I've hit a plateau that I'm working through, but I've still held the majority of the weight off during that time.

My girlfriend and I have these discussions occasionally. I have felt in the past that everyone could achieve what I've done, but she says that my ability to do it on my own is a bit of an anomaly and not something everyone could do.

Over time, I've come to see her point. Everyone is different and approaches things differently. Having literally seen friends have serious complications due to WLS and one relative die while others gained it all back, I've just maintained that it is not an option for me. I feel like I have to do it myself and I have, I am.

That said, I don't fault anyone for trying it. I know what it feels like to be 405 and have lost hope. I'm just glad I found something that works for me.

gabedad

I had the gastric bypass surgery 4 years ago Sept 2011

I had it all -
was 340+
type 2 diabetes
sleep apnea
high BP
high Cholesterol
7 diff meds.

I now am about 225-230 about 20-30 more than I want to be but went as low as 180. I am medication free and have none of the above ailments. no cpap either which I used for 15 years

The surgery and cycling saved my life. I am actually The bariatric success story for my hospital program from Lowell general hospital in MA. I was also the gomacro bar winner for my story. I have become a chairperson for recruitment for the New England classic ride for the American Diabetes assoc.

If you have any questions -let me know

ajbeck21

I learned a long time ago, to never talk down to people, as you have never walked in their shoes...

VCSL2015

Have you been able to lose weight and keep it off successfully lately?

Cheese Head

Thank you for this.

bassjones

You rock!