Dateline with Stone Phillips: Al Roker on Gastric Bypass

The Dateline session on NBC was excellent. It spent a lot of time on gastric bypass for teenager, telling the story of a 17 and 18 year young adults and their journeys on deciding to to have the surgery and their life after the surgery. I still struggle with how young people should be before undergoing this surgery, but that is a separate discussion. The session also highlighted three other things. One, was that emotional eating prior to surgery is not cured just because your stomach is smaller. You still need to follow the program as closely as possible. Limit your portions, exercise till you hate your trainer, and don't eat things that don't belong in your body in any quantity. (I interpreted some of the things to justify my own journey). Second, the surgery has tremendous risks, including death due to complications. Don't take these lightly just because you get excited with all the rah-rah stuff you hear at the meetings and on the boards. Do your research. Recognize the consequences. Discuss the worst case scenarios with those you trust. Third, this is a life time investment! You can't take a holiday. You need to follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter, your nutritionists recommendations, and your personal trainer torture routines. I enjoyed this session. Watch it. Al Roker and I have a very common bond in the way he remembers his father. I got teary eyed at the end of the show (which I used to attribute to high blood pressure), when Al discussed his relationship with his family, and his interview with a woman who lost her spouse to gastric bypass complications. I had decided to not go down to Washington, DC for the obesityhelp conference tomorrow, but after watching this show, I've decided that I'm heading down, just to be hear some inspirational stories, and to share in the sunshine. I can wait till Sunday to do the leaves. Single Delaware ObesityHelp Rep, Rob

I missed the story... I forgot that it came on tonight. Have a safe trip to DC and thanks for representing us!!

Hi Rob, Got home at 7:56 last night and ran to the TV to watch Al Roker. Got a phone call at 7:58 from Tina to make sure I remembered to watch. I had my crystal lite @ Unjury ready. I am so intrigued by anything that discusses Gastric Bypass Surgery. I think Al is truely humble and does not enjoy the celebrity status associated with his journey. Seems like he really wants people to see both sides, good & bad. I was moved by both the young people featured in the program. I can relate to their plea for help. I question the fact that they are so young. Remember that this is for the rest of your life. It is an important consideration and people should know the risks. I was saddened by Mike's complications & death. So glad that his widow is willing to share this information with others. I applaud Al Roker for being so strait-forward in telling the advantages and the side-effects both physically and emotionally. I got teary when he spoke of his relationship with his father. My own dad's death due to obesity and co-morbity's was instrumental in my decision to pursue GBP surgery to become healthy. I hope folks will get all the facts and be informed before deciding to have WLS. It is a personal struggle to be obese with all its risks. I am a cheerleader that will encourage others and will support their decision and be an angel to help and guide afterward. Sorry to miss the DC convention today. Next time. Have a safe trip. Elissa

Ohhhh Rob ... (in a Laura voice *grin* "Dick Van Dyke Show") That is exactly how I felt last night while watching the show. I was so wishing that I was going to DC - all the while nursing a 101+ degree fever. Guess I was right to beg off earlier in the week. I knew I was not quite right, and since the baby had been so sick ... well let's just say it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that something may be amiss. I am glad that the fever busted out before the show ... or likely I would have tried to go after the show inspired me to go. And I would have felt horrible had I went and you had gotten sick also. Sooo have a great time ... get as much information as you can and stand in the gap for all of us back here at home. REPRESENT - my friend!!! Hugs, Tammy