Newbie and Confused

I agree with the others that have posted that having information is the key to success!!  Look into finding informational meetings on the 3 most common weight loss surgeries and read on the individual boards on this site so you can make the best decision for you.  The 3 most popular weight loss surgeries (that I know of) are the band, gastric bypass (RNY) and the DS.  

I'm 7+ years out with the RNY.  Picking the right WLS is a personal decision and depends a lot on what kind of eater you are.  Someone mentioned Gina (Major Mom) posted that type of information in the past.  I wrote to her and she's going to look for it tonight and try to post it.

I know my weakness is sugar and fat and my RNY helps me control that.  It's called dumping.  Everyone reacts differently but early out if I ate more than 8 grams of sugar or excess fat I would feel overheated, shaky, and nauseated.  Most times I had to lay down and just let it pass. I learned fast to read labels and measure everything out.  If you learn your lessons you will be successful if you figure out how to work around them you probably won't keep your weight off.  With the RNY I have to take extra supplements every day because even at 7+ years out I don't absorb like I used to.  That might sound horrible to you but it really isn't that bad.

Good Luck! 

Hi there!  I think perhaps my surgeon is the only one that accepts that we are going to have a lot of trouble changing a lifetime of eating habits, good or bad. He basically asks you identify what kind of eater you are and then aligns your eating habits with the type of surgery that should help you be successful. The first is the "bloater". He defines this as someone who eats one big meal a day and rarely snacks. Many times this is an active male. Anyway, he says the band or VSG is likely the one that may help this kind of eater. The second is the "sweeter". This is someone who is addicted to sugar and carbs. They may or may not snack a lot. The surgery he suggests that may be enough for the sweeter is the RNY. Those of us who eat constantly and love protein he calls "grazers". Grazers need a surgery that is really strong and he suggests the DS will be the only surgery the person won't out eat. I was a lightweight but I got 70% of my daily calories in grazing and not at meals, so he went with the DS for me. I hope this helps with your decision.

--gina

Early out I thought I should have gotten the DS but I know now that Sugar is my biggest weakness.  Even though I graze it's on small bites of cheese or a few small carrots etc. I don't think I eat enough for the DS.