I'm Better Than All Of You...

Brian, I commend you and have the upmost respect for your decision to postpone your surgery. Sometimes looking back, I wonder if I had really tried as much as I think I did. I admit to doing all the diets and exercise programs, but the one thing that never really seemed to be addressed was the emtional issues and addiction I had with food. This surgery forced me to deal with these issues that still haunt me. I wish I knew then what I know now. You can do this and there are more and more people doing it on their own and keeping it off by changing their lifestyles and eating habits. Stick to you guns and if you can avoid having surgery, more power to you. This isn't a quick fix and it doesn't make the emotional stuff go away. Change comes from within and then reflects on the outside. I admire you for giving it one last shot!! I wish you the very best of luck and I am confident that you will succeed if you put your mind to it!! Dawn

I hear you sir, this is something I also think about more than 1.5 years post op. There is part of me that realizes that it was up to me not the surgery if I was truly going to change. This doesnt get talked about much here, but the experiences are obvious. WLS doesnt "solve" obesity any more than any other diet in the long run. If you are already not eating well nutritionally and have this surgery you could do alot more harm to yourself also, if you dont change. On the other hand, this surgery can alter your life for alot longer that elective behavioral changes. To some people that alone is a success. They can show themselves the ARE capable of living a different life style for an extended period and they can no longer count themselves among those who see their obesity as fate. This can be liberating enough to make you want to keep up with your new life even when it is boring. I feel basic bottom line that first of it is an individual issue. That being said do I think WLS is "the answer"? NO, not for everyone. Not even for alot of people who had the surgery. There is not one "successful" WLS long term post op who only relied on WLS to change. THEY changed, because eventually the benefits of the restriction wear off. Eventually the body compensates for some of the lack of digestion. Eventually one is able to eat most or all of the same foods pre-op and not get sick. Eventually the have to face the same issues again: When am I going to take control of my eating and my emotions around eating and how am I going to accept the changes needed to get to where I want to be?

Brian If your not sure your ready, then your not ready. I notice that you surgeon also does the Lap Band and with a BMI of only 38 that surgery would seem like a good fit for you. If you decide to have surgery you could consider a less invasive, safer and reversible option. Richard

Brian, I am really running short on time this afternoon but I want to tell you that there is nothing wrong with what you are feeling and if you do decide to be a non-op please stay! There are people that have decided at this time it is not the right decision or been denied that still need the help and support. I will be reposting my advice from the non-op later tonight and I want you to know that you are not alone! I am still going through this and I am not going anywhere...even though surgery is not for me at this time I know that this site is one of the tools that is helping me succeed. Tara