ATTENTION RNYer's: a POLL

Scott...I am glad DS was/is right for you! That's all that matters to each of us. I just find it hard to think of Bacon and other foods that are bad in general as "relatively healthy". It's still loaded with nitrates, salt, chemicals, cholesterol, etc. Same goes for sugary foods that are well-tolerated with a DS: are they really good for us? And is the ability to still eat larger portions really a good thing? It just seems (TO ME) like someone inventing a Vodka that really doesn't contain alcohol but still makes you drunk, and offering it to Alcoholics! Does that make any sense? Okeee...,well....don't hit me LOL. Thanks for the info...I find it very interesting. I do respect your opinion and all the others I have read! Hugsss Scottie! -Karen

Well as i said "relatively healthy" protein choice. My blood pressure is very normal (on the low side) and I don't retain water, so there is no reason for me to watch my salt intake...as for nitrates...well there are bacons made that have less nitrates and chemicals added to them, just avoid the ones that are made to sit on the shelves for months without refrigeration (YIKES!!!). As for cholesterol, DSers malabsorb fat, and that means cholesterol too. I've yet to meet a DSer who has high cholesterol, it just doesn't happen, and as for sugar....yeah sometimes it is good us. Whats wrong with eating a piece of sugary birthday cake at your birthday? Or having a fudge brownie or an ice cream sundae when the mood hits you? Normal peopel do, why shouldn't we? Actually, in my case (i can only speak for myself on this mater), I think it would have been more unhealthy emotionally to be stuck for years (dumping usually does end after a coupld of years) afraid that I'd dump if I ate too much fat or too much sugar. Yes I absolutely thing it would have been harmful to me, to have a WLS that I feel would "punish" me for having been fat, I would have looked at the RNY as doing that to me. It wasn't a good match (RNY and me). So yes, if I eat sugar once in a while, it's a good thing...i do seriously enjoy it!!!!..lol. The ability to eat normal was a good thing for me. I do attend a lot of social engagements for business and pleasure, and I didn't want to be the odd man out, eating 1 oz of chicken, a cube of cheese and an apple slice and being full. Granted over time RNYers can eat more, but at 6 months out I can eat normal (albeit small) size portions, and I'm still losing about 15 lbs a month. For the record, whatever surgery that you feel is right for you..have that surgery. I didn't post to make you change your mind, or to attack the RNY, but but to correct misinformation. At the same time, don't attack a surgery that has given me a 2nd lease on life to make yourself feel better. Regardless of whatever surgery you have Lap Band, DS, or RNY you will have to deal with the "food issues" you have, the dependency on food, and the emotional ties you have to food. There is no surgery that gives you a free ride forever. The platitude on these boards is "they operate on your stomach not your mind". Granted the DS has given me more "freedom" in what i eat, how much i eat, etc. The shortened common channel gives me statistically the highest chance of retaining my weight loss for the rest of my life, but even so I still had to deal with my issues, and I am and I will. For instance I eat much better then I ever did in my life, I work out, and I am dealing with the emotional issues that caused me to become obese. (THATS A LOT OF WORK!!!!) Regardless of the surgery, the RNY or the DS or the Lapband, eventually you will get to the place where you can out eat the surgery. Thats why you have to implement changes in your life before and after surgery to prevent that weight regain. Again even with the statistics being as high as 95 percent of DSers maintain a 75 percent loss of their excess weight at 10 years out, i don't want to be one of the 5 percent that doesn't!!!! Dont' take this reply as snotty, it's not meant to be....I hope that you have a quick and speedy recovery from your surgery. Scott

Hi Karen if given the opportunity I would definitely have an RNY. Good luck on Tuesday.