Nagging Questions - Need Answers/Insight
When I went to the info meeting last week, the Program Director emphasized the program requires a permanent lifestyle change of your eating habits, taking supplements and adapting an exercise regimen - for he rest of your life - or the weight would come back.
I asked myself: Isn’t that what anyone is supposed to do in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle? Why go through surgery?
Can folks who’ve been through RNY or Lap Band, share why they chose a permanent lifestyle change through surgery? Does a properly adjusted Lap Band really take away that overwhelming hunger urge - permanently?
Thanks,
wfmeyer
I asked myself: Isn’t that what anyone is supposed to do in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle? Why go through surgery?
Can folks who’ve been through RNY or Lap Band, share why they chose a permanent lifestyle change through surgery? Does a properly adjusted Lap Band really take away that overwhelming hunger urge - permanently?
Thanks,
wfmeyer
Hi there,
We all had nagging questions when we started this process!! Trust me its not something I entered lightly. I have dieted my entire life..lost weight just to gain it back again and then some..I was tired of yo yoing my life away. Could i diet and exercise to take off the weight..yes... could i keep it off...No.
A year ago I had the RNY. I have learned to eat better. How to Plan better. How to really take care of my body. Not to mention with this "tool" I am able to defeat binge eating, and the carb demons. Do i still enjoy food ? Yep I sure do. I just enjoy less of it. There are things I can't eat and there are things I wont eat. I have learned not to Deprive my self of anything in moderation. My tool helps me do just that.
The journey is not an easy one for the first 6 months or so. There will be lots of things you will learn about yourself along the way. I don't regret one minute of my decision. One year later I am sitting here 125lbs lighter. I can do EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING i want to do. I have changed both inside and out for the better. Not to mention I still have an entire life ahead of me to enjoy SKINNY and FIT!
If you get a chance come down to the PRH support group meeting the 4th monday of the month at 630. There are a lot of Post ops there happy to share their stories and answer any questions you could have.
Good luck on your journey. There are lots of good people here to help you!!
K8
We all had nagging questions when we started this process!! Trust me its not something I entered lightly. I have dieted my entire life..lost weight just to gain it back again and then some..I was tired of yo yoing my life away. Could i diet and exercise to take off the weight..yes... could i keep it off...No.
A year ago I had the RNY. I have learned to eat better. How to Plan better. How to really take care of my body. Not to mention with this "tool" I am able to defeat binge eating, and the carb demons. Do i still enjoy food ? Yep I sure do. I just enjoy less of it. There are things I can't eat and there are things I wont eat. I have learned not to Deprive my self of anything in moderation. My tool helps me do just that.
The journey is not an easy one for the first 6 months or so. There will be lots of things you will learn about yourself along the way. I don't regret one minute of my decision. One year later I am sitting here 125lbs lighter. I can do EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING i want to do. I have changed both inside and out for the better. Not to mention I still have an entire life ahead of me to enjoy SKINNY and FIT!
If you get a chance come down to the PRH support group meeting the 4th monday of the month at 630. There are a lot of Post ops there happy to share their stories and answer any questions you could have.
Good luck on your journey. There are lots of good people here to help you!!
K8
Start 260/ Surgery 249/ Goal 140/ Current 135 5.8"
I think all of us have the same story as K8 in the beginning. I could lose weight, I have probably lost over 500 pounds in my lifetime. I could not keep it off. I would regain what I lost and then some. I also did not go into this journey blindly. I read, researched, went to several general support groups, listened to others, and asked questions.
I had lap band surgery on August 15. Before then, I was living as closely with the program basics as I possibly could. I was starving all of the time, but I was determined to make it work. You have to make permanent changes. That is what this is all about. The lap band is not my ticket to being thin, it is a tool that I use to change behaviors, and live a healthier and better life. If you are not willing to make those changes, then the tool you are given, either the band or the RNY will not work for you. I could not do what I am doing without the best tool in the world for me. You cannot let it be the answer to your prayers, or think it will be easy. I have lost a lot of weight, but I have a lot more to go, and it is slowing down, and getting harder. I am, at times, struggling with old habits, but determined to use the band to its fullest. To go throught the surgery for me, was to give me hope that I can live a longer, better, healthier life, and that is what I am accomplishing for the first time in my life.
When the band is adjusted correctly and you are in the "green zone" or "sweet spot" as Dr. Gens says, you are usually not hungry, unless you have not eaten in a while. Will you get there immediately? No. Could it take 6 months or more to get there? Possibly. I am lucky, I am there after two adjustments or "fills". I just have to keep in mind that I need to eat slowly, and chew well. Will you never be hungry again? Absolutely not. Does it take away the hunger urge? Well for me it has toned it way down. I also do not crave the foods that I once did....well except for ice cream. For the most part, I am not usually hungry, and if I am, it is because I have not eaten for a while.
You should come to the Portsmouth meeting. I went to every general meeting I could between my initial appointment, and my surgery. I listened to everything everyone had to say. I asked questions, and the same answer I heard from each and every speaker, whether it was a lap bander or a RNY, you have to make changes, and they have to be lifetime changes. You must be willing to do that, or you will not be using your tool that has been provided to you the way it was intended.
I hope this has helped. Others will reply also. Listen carefully, then make your decision. Hope to see you at meetings and here.
Martha
I had lap band surgery on August 15. Before then, I was living as closely with the program basics as I possibly could. I was starving all of the time, but I was determined to make it work. You have to make permanent changes. That is what this is all about. The lap band is not my ticket to being thin, it is a tool that I use to change behaviors, and live a healthier and better life. If you are not willing to make those changes, then the tool you are given, either the band or the RNY will not work for you. I could not do what I am doing without the best tool in the world for me. You cannot let it be the answer to your prayers, or think it will be easy. I have lost a lot of weight, but I have a lot more to go, and it is slowing down, and getting harder. I am, at times, struggling with old habits, but determined to use the band to its fullest. To go throught the surgery for me, was to give me hope that I can live a longer, better, healthier life, and that is what I am accomplishing for the first time in my life.
When the band is adjusted correctly and you are in the "green zone" or "sweet spot" as Dr. Gens says, you are usually not hungry, unless you have not eaten in a while. Will you get there immediately? No. Could it take 6 months or more to get there? Possibly. I am lucky, I am there after two adjustments or "fills". I just have to keep in mind that I need to eat slowly, and chew well. Will you never be hungry again? Absolutely not. Does it take away the hunger urge? Well for me it has toned it way down. I also do not crave the foods that I once did....well except for ice cream. For the most part, I am not usually hungry, and if I am, it is because I have not eaten for a while.
You should come to the Portsmouth meeting. I went to every general meeting I could between my initial appointment, and my surgery. I listened to everything everyone had to say. I asked questions, and the same answer I heard from each and every speaker, whether it was a lap bander or a RNY, you have to make changes, and they have to be lifetime changes. You must be willing to do that, or you will not be using your tool that has been provided to you the way it was intended.
I hope this has helped. Others will reply also. Listen carefully, then make your decision. Hope to see you at meetings and here.
Martha
I will second what others have said about the support group meetings the 4th monday -- you get so much information (it is more info than support IMHO).
Why go through surgery -- most people would not be considering surgery if you had successfully lost weight and kept it off without surgery. Many scientific studies have shown that weight loss surgery is highly successful in people losing wt and keeping it off vs. diet and exercise alone which has a poor success rate. I give a lot of credit to those who can do it without surgery, I am just not one of them, despite many attempts.
I had bypass because I am a grazer and sweet eater. I am two months out and have cut my BP meds from 160 mg/day to 40 mg/day; I have entirely gotten off another medication and have lost 54 lbs pre- and post-op. (90 lb below my highest weight). For me it was not as tough (yet) as I was expecting and I do not regret it one bit.
Good luck.
Why go through surgery -- most people would not be considering surgery if you had successfully lost weight and kept it off without surgery. Many scientific studies have shown that weight loss surgery is highly successful in people losing wt and keeping it off vs. diet and exercise alone which has a poor success rate. I give a lot of credit to those who can do it without surgery, I am just not one of them, despite many attempts.
I had bypass because I am a grazer and sweet eater. I am two months out and have cut my BP meds from 160 mg/day to 40 mg/day; I have entirely gotten off another medication and have lost 54 lbs pre- and post-op. (90 lb below my highest weight). For me it was not as tough (yet) as I was expecting and I do not regret it one bit.
Good luck.
wfmeyer:
I too was a yoyo dieter and had the worse eating habits in the world. I tried every diet out there and like K8 and Martha, I would lose the weight only to put it on again.
My decision to enter the program had more to do with my health than with my weight. Because I wasn't considered obese, I did not qualify however, because of my diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, I was a perfect candidate. My A-HA moment came when I was at my parent's house one day and I realized that I was taking the same medications as my dad.
I am happy to say that my "morbitities" have gone away and the weight loss was my extra plus. By learning to eat the right foods I am able to control my diabetes without meds. It was tough at first to get used to eat correctly but by following the plan and the amount of support you get from people involved in the program, it was easier to get through. As mentioned by my support buddies above, I have not regretted my decision at all.
Good luck in your decision in entering the program. And remember, only you can make the changes needed in your life to live a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Dawn
I too was a yoyo dieter and had the worse eating habits in the world. I tried every diet out there and like K8 and Martha, I would lose the weight only to put it on again.
My decision to enter the program had more to do with my health than with my weight. Because I wasn't considered obese, I did not qualify however, because of my diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, I was a perfect candidate. My A-HA moment came when I was at my parent's house one day and I realized that I was taking the same medications as my dad.
I am happy to say that my "morbitities" have gone away and the weight loss was my extra plus. By learning to eat the right foods I am able to control my diabetes without meds. It was tough at first to get used to eat correctly but by following the plan and the amount of support you get from people involved in the program, it was easier to get through. As mentioned by my support buddies above, I have not regretted my decision at all.
Good luck in your decision in entering the program. And remember, only you can make the changes needed in your life to live a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Dawn
Dawn
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