by Mogget » Sat Aug 29, 2009 12:22 pm
Personally I would never consider lap band surgery - as all it does is restrict how much food you can eat to me it is far to clear that the issue is not a metabolic disorder or medical problem but a portion control issue. I just could not justify having surgery under those circumstances even though I got up to 130kg... It is crucial to find a way of eating that you can sustain for the rest of your life - diets, going on and off diets is just not going to work, you need a whole lifestyle change. So that's what I did. 40kg down and about 40kg to go - It has taken a bit over 8 months so far and may take a year or more to finish the loss but I KNOW it will never go back on because my way of life is just too freaking enjoyable!
I gained my weight originally due to emotion drive over eating, instead of surgery I invested time and money into getting my head sorted out, beating my compulsive behaviours and learning new coping strategies... as a result I am not just lighter smaller and healthier I am emotionally stable, medication free, eating disorder free, addiction free happy and confident with awesome self esteem. Surgery would not have done that for me.
Sometimes I feel hungry - that is GOOD, hunger is a normal physical cue we are supposed to experience hunger... but I never ever feel deprived or restricted or desperate. Because I no longer over eat I also never feel bloated, stuffed, uncomfortable...
I think it is appalling that surgery is being pushed as the only viable solution for the morbidly obese - I desperately wish the same push was given to getting the causes of the issues sorted out. I am on another board where at least half a dozen members are onto the second or third weight-loss surgery as they never sorted out the initial head problem and have overeaten to such an extent that they have re-stretched their pouches out, not just once but some of them several times! One person lost 200 pounds after surgery and then GAINED 300 pounds back... But they still go back for that "only viable solution" one more time... That just horrifies me.
My best friend is a doctor and he strongly supports weight loss surgery - he says it saves lives and saves the health system thousands upon thousands of dollars... he has 3 friends who have recently had WLS and says they have all lost a lot of weight... one of them now needs 60K worth of skin reduction surgery... he says he is glad that they are getting healthier and are not at risk of heart attack, but he adds that he is so much prouder of me because I have done it for myself, by myself in the way that ACTUALLY makes a difference too my health by having a healthy lifestyle and healthy mind, not just a healthy weight.
I don't think people opting for surgery simply lack will power, they also lack other resources, other qualities that they COULD access or learn with help, that would help them succeed without surgery... I do genuinely think they are taking a solution to the symptom and not the disease. If you don't invest the same dollars and effort into getting your head sorted out how can it be expected to last - everyone starts off with a small stomach that feels normally full in response to food, the emotion driven poor habits and lifestyle undid that once already - what has changed that will prevent it from happening again?
I never thought I would witness the destruction of a Universe whilst carrying a naked merchant banker...
just wanted to comment on the above. i know plenty of people who have had meal replacements medication and 'fad diets' who have kept the weight off. yes they help you lose the weight but its up to the individual to maintain it. sorta like what you are saying about the lap band surgery- its up to the individual to make conscious healthy decisions once it done. i dont doubt anyone when it comes to their decision to lose weight. so i dont knock other peoples weightloss decisions just as long as theyre the ones who are going to be responsible for their maintenance and so on. 
