Question:
If mentally/emotionally ready 4 gastric b/pass....why then even go under the knife?
I am seriously considering GBS but I can't figure out the answer to this question: If one is ready on a mental/emotional level prior to the surgery, why do the surgery at all? Why not take one's 'readiness' and go back to WW-tummy intact? — quest4 (posted on August 28, 2010)
August 28, 2010
A friend of mine had RNY. At the time I thought I could lose the weight
myself. Took five more years and lots more pounds added for me to be ready
for surgery. Now I'm nine months post-op and my only regret is not having
the surgery sooner. I feel most of those five years were wasted time I
could have been healthy and happy.
If you think you might be able to do it on your own, then give it a go
first. But if you find you can't do it or can't keep it off, don't wait as
long as I did to have the surgery. God bless.
Janell C.
— Janell C.
August 28, 2010
WHY NOT TRY THE GASTRIC SLEEVE? IT IS LESS INVASIVE. ONE INSICION AND THEY
PUT A SLEEVE ON YOUR TUMMY. OUT PATIENT PROCEDURE. I HAD A GASTRIC BYPASS
IN 2004 I have kept my weight off. I lost a 130 LBS. I can't tell you how
awesome it is to be thin. Shopping anywhere instead of just three stores.
You will not regret it. The bypass is harder look into the sleeve.
— Kimberly Ten Kate
August 28, 2010
Please don't think I'm being a smart a**, I'm really quite serious, but I'm
going to answer you question with a question.
You feel confident? You know how to lose weight? So did I, but the reality
is- I didn't know how to keep it off. How much weight have you lost in your
lifetime? Didn't you feel in charge all of those times? I certainly did.
But the truth was all I had on my side was willpower, and that always ran
out.
I had rny bypass 16 months ago. I've lost all of my excess weight and then
some. I've had ulcers and persistent nausea for the kast araias months. BUT
I can also RUN a 5k, and I'm training for a 10k. I will never love to run,
but I enjoy what I feel like once I've hit the mile marker, and even more-
I love crossing another day off on my exercise calendar. I have learned how
to keep connected to a support group that will help me when I get tired of
this journey. I have figured out how to eat like a thinner person,
learning how to act (I still think about hitting the plus size section when
I'm a size 4 now) and I've learned that taking care of me includes seeing a
counselor to deal with all those reasons I've been fat all those years.
Your band, bypass or sleve is a tool, one that you can screw with, abuse
and find ways around-just like every diet you've been on. The tool is there
and is that reminder when my motivation wanes, it sets me up for the next
"pull up your big girl panties" event so that. I can deal with
the regular routine.
Ok, I don't want to bore you but go back to those questions I asked at the
beginning and consider them carefully. Can you stay the course without the
tool? Yes-do it! Good for you. No-that's why we have these tools
available
Good luck with whatever your choice is. We'll always be here to bounce
questions and concerns off from.
— scootermedic
August 28, 2010
Please don't think I'm being a smart a**, I'm really quite serious, but I'm
going to answer you question with a question.
You feel confident? You know how to lose weight? So did I, but the reality
is- I didn't know how to keep it off. How much weight have you lost in your
lifetime? Didn't you feel in charge all of those times? I certainly did.
But the truth was all I had on my side was willpower, and that always ran
out.
I had rny bypass 16 months ago. I've lost all of my excess weight and then
some. I've had ulcers and persistent nausea for the kast araias months. BUT
I can also RUN a 5k, and I'm training for a 10k. I will never love to run,
but I enjoy what I feel like once I've hit the mile marker, and even more-
I love crossing another day off on my exercise calendar. I have learned how
to keep connected to a support group that will help me when I get tired of
this journey. I have figured out how to eat like a thinner person,
learning how to act (I still think about hitting the plus size section when
I'm a size 4 now) and I've learned that taking care of me includes seeing a
counselor to deal with all those reasons I've been fat all those years.
Your band, bypass or sleve is a tool, one that you can screw with, abuse
and find ways around-just like every diet you've been on. The tool is there
and is that reminder when my motivation wanes, it sets me up for the next
"pull up your big girl panties" event so that. I can deal with
the regular routine.
Ok, I don't want to bore you but go back to those questions I asked at the
beginning and consider them carefully. Can you stay the course without the
tool? Yes-do it! Good for you. No-that's why we have these tools
available
Good luck with whatever your choice is. We'll always be here to bounce
questions and concerns off from.
— scootermedic
August 28, 2010
Please don't think I'm being a smart a**, I'm really quite serious, but I'm
going to answer your question with a question.
You feel confident? You know how to lose weight? So did I, but the reality
is- I didn't know how to keep it off. How much weight have you lost in your
lifetime? Didn't you feel in charge all of those times? I certainly did.
But the truth was all I had on my side was willpower, and that always ran
out.
I had rny bypass 16 months ago. I've lost all of my excess weight and then
some. I've had ulcers and persistent nausea for the last few months from
constipation. BUT I can also RUN a 5k, and I'm training for a 10k. I will
never love to run, but I enjoy what I feel like once I've hit the mile
marker, and even more- I love crossing another day off on my exercise
calendar. I have learned how to keep connected to a support group that will
help me when I get tired of this journey. I have figured out how to eat
like a thinner person, learning how to act (I still think about hitting the
plus size section when I'm a size 4 now) and I've learned that taking care
of me includes seeing a counselor to deal with all those reasons I've been
fat all those years.
Your band, bypass or sleve is a tool, one that you can screw with, abuse
and find ways around-just like every diet you've been on. The tool is there
and is that reminder when my motivation wanes, it sets me up for the next
"pull up your big girl panties" event so that. I can deal with
the regular routine.
Ok, I don't want to bore you but go back to those questions I asked at the
beginning and consider them carefully. Can you stay the course without the
tool? Yes-do it! Good for you. No-that's why we have these tools
available
Good luck with whatever your choice is. We'll always be here to bounce
questions and concerns off from.
— scootermedic
August 28, 2010
Please don't think I'm being a smart a**, I'm really quite serious, but I'm
going to answer your question with a question.
You feel confident? You know how to lose weight? So did I, but the reality
is- I didn't know how to keep it off. How much weight have you lost in your
lifetime? Didn't you feel in charge all of those times? I certainly did.
But the truth was all I had on my side was willpower, and that always ran
out.
I had rny bypass 16 months ago. I've lost all of my excess weight and then
some. I've had ulcers and persistent nausea for the last few months from
constipation. BUT I can also RUN a 5k, and I'm training for a 10k. I will
never love to run, but I enjoy what I feel like once I've hit the mile
marker, and even more- I love crossing another day off on my exercise
calendar. I have learned how to keep connected to a support group that will
help me when I get tired of this journey. I have figured out how to eat
like a thinner person, learning how to act (I still think about hitting the
plus size section when I'm a size 4 now) and I've learned that taking care
of me includes seeing a counselor to deal with all those reasons I've been
fat all those years.
Your band, bypass or sleve is a tool, one that you can screw with, abuse
and find ways around-just like every diet you've been on. The tool is there
and is that reminder when my motivation wanes, it sets me up for the next
"pull up your big girl panties" event so that. I can deal with
the regular routine.
Ok, I don't want to bore you but go back to those questions I asked at the
beginning and consider them carefully. Can you stay the course without the
tool? Yes-do it! Good for you. No-that's why we have these tools
available
Good luck with whatever your choice is. We'll always be here to bounce
questions and concerns off from.
— scootermedic
August 28, 2010
All the ladies in on here responded well to you, if you can lose the weight
on your own you should, to tell you the truth I wish I could have. Kim
really put it all in a nutshell. When I had my surgery, insurance didn't
offer the GVS, I wish they would have but, I can't cry over spilled milk.
It has been a rough year for me as far as throwing up, not finding protein
which I can tolerate and such. Now if you asked me if I would do it again,
I would reply, IN A HEART BEAT! This is a tool and must adhere to a eating
plan, not a diet, better a new way of eating for the rest of your life.
Also, if you are hesitant on getting the surgery, do not get it. Your
whole way of thinking about food has to change. Plus what Kim said about
going to counseling is right on the mark. After a year I started to really
worry about gaining, and I was obsessing about it, so now I seek
counseling, which is fantastic. Plus I go to my bi-monthly support
meetings at the Cleveland Clinic, which I find is a very important part of
recovery. Missy the surgery is just one part of your journey, if you
aren't committed to really wanting to lose, do not have this surgery. I
commend you for asking all these questions.
— FSUMom
August 28, 2010
Just as all the ladies have stated, if you have tried a previous diet and
it may or may not have worked the real question is did you keep the pounds
off? I found all the diets plans to try and tried them. I joined the all
girls gyms, workout centers, co-ed fitness centers and etc. But I gained
the weight back and more. The tool is what I need to keep the weight off.
I had surgery (GBS) 12-9-90, lost 130lbs in 8 moths so far, it is tapering
off now and I am working out and being so much more active, including
working and attending school full time at 51 yrs old! I feel better than I
have felt in a very long time. I wished I could have done it without the
surgery, only to say that I had the discipline, but I didn't have it. So
go with what you feel will work for you and go with God!
— Jrice423
August 28, 2010
Gosh I'm sorry my post showed up 4 times!! I was working the overnight
shift in an ambulance and was traveling while I wrote the post, in and out
of service it told me it didn't post, so I kept trying till I got a
positive report. Guess they all posted! Please excuse my faux paux!
— scootermedic
August 29, 2010
I agree with the others, just look back on your past and ask why dieting
hasn't worked yet and you will have your answer.
I do want to correct some misinformation, there is no sleeve put over your
stomach in a gastric sleeve, about 80% of the stomach is removed. It is
from what I am hearing an easier surgery, I certainly recovered quickly and
have no nausea because of it, just a very small stomach.
Attend a seminar given by the surgeon you think you want to go with and you
will understand better. Once you reach a certain size, there are hormones
in your body that make it just about impossible to lose weight and keep it
off long term. This is not the easy way out, but it is a tool for you to
use to lose weight and keep it off.
Good luck, for me it was the best thing I ever did and the only regrets I
have are not doing it sooner.
— sfmini
August 29, 2010
Luci, With all due respect, I believe you're confusing two issues. I think
your question should be rephrased, " If I'm mentally/emotionally
stable, why not just diet? To break it down, there is mental/emotional
stability for a more traditional method of weight loss, ie; different forms
of dieting/exercise. Then there is the stability to take a more drastic
measure which obviously changes your anatomy That's the thing I think, at
least it was for me. Under conventional means I tried and failed, tried and
failed for many years. Enough was enough. I knew I couldn't do it on my
own and need to take stronger measures. For me it was "what was
important to me?". At the time I was 48 years old and fairly sure I
wasn't going to see 50. I have two daughters I want to walk down the aisle
when the time comes. For me being mentally/emotionally ready for RNY was
"I WANT TO LIVE" and I'll deal with the rest. I did it 5 years
ago and there is not day I regret it. I hope you come to a conclusion you
can find peace in. Good Luck and Blessings to you. Ray
— Arl3rd
August 29, 2010
Being emotionally ready for life-changing surgery is not the same thing by
any means as being emotionally ready to voluntarily alter one's eating
patterns. The surgery is a tool, nothing more. Having it provides
mechanical support to the recipient to make the adjustments in eating that
are needed to lose weight and keep it off. There are many studies (never
referred to by Nutri-systems or Jenny Craig in their ads, other than to
assert that "results not typical -- your results may vary") that
demonstrate that fewer than four percent of all people who lose a
significant amount of weight by dietary means alone succeed in keeping the
weight off as time goes by. WLS is the tool that allows this to happen.
— MastoDon
September 6, 2010
Well said Don McKell.
— Pamela W.
September 6, 2010
Don't understand your question? I am also ready for the surgery its been 5
years.
— B_igbodybenz100
October 22, 2010
While I think "readiness" is important for any kind of weight
loss, "readiness" is only a state of mind, it is NOT a strategy
or a tool. If you're ready to do the work, then give yourself all the
necessary tools for success. WLS is a very powerful tool. If we could all
lose weight just by being "ready", we'd all be thin.
— zzzoeee
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