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Posts: 36
11/22/09 9:33 P

My boss had the lap band surgery and has gained weight. She weighs like almost four hundred pounds and is miserable. She never lost any weight since that surgery and it has been almost two years. She never exercises either. I get so frustrated with her but I am hoping she will finally see the light and decide to change.

current weight: 205.0

305 263.75 222.5 181.25

140

SparkPoints: (5,536)
Fitness Minutes: (1,885)
Posts: 298
11/21/09 3:21 P

All but one person I've known who has gone through it has gained the weight back because they didn't change their lifestyle, and their stomach just stretched. The side-effects are HORRIBLE, and I know I'd never be happy trying to eat just a tiny amount of food.

current weight: 268.0

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160

SparkPoints: (21,872)
Fitness Minutes: (23,951)
Posts: 768
11/21/09 4:47 A

my sister had lap band lost 70 lbs in the same time i lost 90 lbs with diet and exercise.

current weight: 190.0

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190

Posts: 4,094
11/21/09 2:56 A

My future brother-in-law has undergone bariatric surgery. He has a LOT of significant long term "side effects" (stuff like vitamin deficiency and chronic pain), has to eat a VERY restrictive diet (and always will have to eat said very restrictive diet), and is still struggling to keep the weight off.

If you're considering such a surgery, make sure you do a LOT of research and soul searching. People often go into these things without a full understanding of the negatives of surgery. And there are big negatives. I do believe there's a time and a place for bariatric surgery, and it may just be the best option for you. But make sure it really is the best option before you commit to it.

current weight: 108.0

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105

Posts: 5,084
11/20/09 3:05 P

I have seen a couple of friends go through this.

It is definitely not a quick fix and is difficult to recover from. From what I have witnessed Spark People would be easier. At least while you are on Spark People if you slip up and over eat. You just get back on the wagon the next meal. If you have surgery and over eat, then the consequences are horrible.

I think that surgery should be an absolute last resort.



Edited by: MANDIETERRIER1 at: 11/20/2009 (15:07)

Pounds lost: 20.5

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Posts: 258
11/20/09 11:46 A

Surgery has crossed my mind, but I thought that I would give natural weight loss a go. I have lost approximately 80lbs by exercising and watching my calorie intake so I don't need to consider the surgery route but I can understand how surgery can help people.

If I had gone for the surgery route I was worried that I would end up with a smaller stomach but I would not have changed my lifestyle which caused my weight problem. Another issue for me is that there are always risks associated with surgery and did I really need to expose myself to these risks.

Hope this helps.

Ciao.

Pounds lost: 7.0

0 5.75 11.5 17.25

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Posts: 290
11/19/09 11:49 P

thx for response not sure which way I'm goin have tried on jus about everything pain keeps me from doing alot but workin on that

Posts: 11,344
11/19/09 10:19 P

You still have to learn to eat healthy, the stomach is a muscle and it can be stretched large again, not to mention it is a legal form of starving the body.
I would never use it, it signals for me a person has no form of self control left and is the final humiliation..
I don't want to be victim of all the side effects people just elegantly jump over and don't mention shugging off as starting problems like vitamin and nutritional deficiencies, dumping syndrome, anastomotic leak, malabsorption, and chronic abdominal pain... These words kind of have me worried.
I tried a weight watcher concept and listened to the consultant about putting my mindsets to one side.. I got 176lbs off and have kept it off without surgery... Also because I did it face to face and took all the information with serious thought I also got the one thing they promised me.. Satisifaction from my food.. If you eat and are satisifed you don't feel like straying. To have a operation a great deal of preparation to meal sizes has to be done anyway as to avoid pain efter the operation.
I eat more now with better calorie economy than when I was 176lbs. Education has stopped my overeating, actually knowing what to eat and why is better than just handicapping the stomach. We eat 90% with our brain and eyes. Don't have to be a professor to say how many lapbanders end up on sparks anyway, as the weight returns even with the operation.. They have shrunk the stomach but not the brains way of thinking- this is more important..

Edited by: RENA1965 at: 11/19/2009 (22:25)

current weight: 145.0

306 265.75 225.5 185.25

145

Posts: 290
11/19/09 8:17 P

has anybody had or thought about gastric bypass or lap band surgery if so wat r ur thoughts