Butterthebean

This was pretty much the deciding factor for me. That little bit of extra weight loss with the RNY was not worth the potential complications.

That last paragraph in that article kinda cheesed me a bit and really showed the anti WLS bias. Stating that this is a "known complication" of bypass surgery makes it sound like everyone goes around eating themselves to death after surgery. It's these kind of articles that make it even harder for the public to understand why anyone wants to have WLS. The case in point, this woman didn't even tell her own family she had the surgery, and these kind of articles make it even harder for the next person to open up about surgery. Having said that, I'm wondering if this woman just had a food blockage that she didn't know about and kept eating like she was supposed to, and it slowly filled up her esophagus, or if she just suddenly went on a food binge.

So, during the boot camp, you don't eat any red meat?

It's funny, but people do have to ask that question, don't they? I have complimented good friends in the past when I've noticed their weight loss, I figured it was good positive feedback. But I never asked how they did it. I didnt have to. I knew how they did it. They ate less and exercised more. Now that I look back, I can only think of one person who lost enough weight, and lost it fast enough, that he might have had WLS, but I never asked him either way. Never even occurred to me to ask. But in the past when I've lost weight....and I lost 110 pounds once....I got asked every five minutes. My answer was always the same...duh, I exercised like a madman and starved myself. I honestly got tired of being asked. It was like people we're hoping that I might say I found a magic pill or something. They always looked so disappointed with my answer. Like I dashed their hopes by telling them it was hard as hell.

That's cool. I'm gonna break mine out and get back to using it.

I got mine from REI but I noticed yesterday that Academy had some as well. Most sporting goods stores, especially the places that sell outdoor type of stuff, like cycling and hiking. They are really great and come in many different sizes. The small ones are just a Water bladder, but some are more like a full backpack. Get one to fit your activity and water consumption needs. I think mine holds 90 ounces. And yeah, my NUT made a huge deal about never drinking from a straw again, but I know some NUTs don't have a problem with it.

A small back pack that has a water bladder in it with a drinking tube that comes over the shoulder close to your mouth. Allows you to carry quite a bit of liquid and drink easily. Lots of people wear them while cycling or hiking.

What I should have said to you is this....if you read the entire thread you will see that I already admitted to being judgemental and I stated I would try not to do it again. That doesn't change my desire for more people to be open about their surgery, and I will still encourage people to share their story. But I recognize that it is each person's right to keep it private.

What's childish and immature is you attacking and name calling because myself and others said something that you don't like. So many people say "this" or "that" is not a lie. I disagree and say it is. Your opinion.....my opinion. Why is that a problem? Am I not allowed to call BS when I hear it? Am I not allowed to challenge people to do something outside their comfort zone? I'm going to guess that everyone who has had WLS had to step way out of their comfort zone the morning they got on that operating table.

Go you. I'm loving mine too. Lost my first 50 lbs. But what you said hit the nail on the head for me. I considered having WLS for many years, but never acted on it because of all the misinformation out there. People still believe (as I did) that the mortality rate for WLS is somewhere between 1% and 5%. Then one day a coworker told me that he had lost 150 pounds after having bypass surgery a few years ago. I had no idea. His openness inspired me even as much as his success. If it weren't for that one simple conversation I would still be suffering with no hope of change. I hope someday I might help someone else in the same fashion.

Look I'm not trying to criticize or judge people. Having WLS is one of the best decisions I've made in a long time, and I'm owning that decision. I'm proud of it. But I'm also troubled by this stigma surrounding the surgery. It's like admitting we're weak or need help, or we're too lazy to lose weight the old fashion way. I think the only way to improve things is by educating people who don't know anything about WLS. I'm just trying to encourage others to do the same. But also, having WLS is no small component of my weight loss, so by keeping it a secret I feel like I am living a lie, which I can't do. Now, I fully understand why some people want to keep their surgery a secret, but that doesn't mean I won't encourage them to speak out.

uh...so if I don't agree with the topic I should just keep it to myself....sorry but no. I have a right to post my opinion just like you do. You don't have to agree with it, I'm okay with that.

We have a refurbished Lifefitness model that came from a gym I think. It has a book holder on it but I put my iPad up there and watch movies while I work out. A good movie really makes the time go by.

I can't wait to hear the answers to this because I can't understand why anyone would go out of their way to keep this surgery a secret. I can understand why some people don't raise their banner and announce it to the world, but to actively hide it baffles me. I think of it this way, even if everyone I know is against it, a year from now when I'm lean and mean no one will have a thing to say about it.

I miss PB&J. What kind of bread are you guys using?

30 sleeves does sound like not alot of experience. Are you limited to just that Doctor? Couldn't you seek out a second opinion from another bariatric surgeon? It can't hurt anything. As far as the hair loss, I'm not sure what you meant, but I believe there is a likelihood of hair loss with either surgery. But if you eat healthy, you can at least minimize the odds of losing any hair. Good luck either way with your decision.

I Had surgery on 5/10 and still have 2 more weeks before I go back to work. Because of the nature of my job I got 6 weeks off. We moved into a new house a week before surgery, 4 acres in the country, so I've had plenty to do around here. I've been doing what I can as I feel up to it. By now I pretty much feel up to anything. I've also had plenty of time for exercise. Our new place is 20 minutes from some great hiking trails. I've been taking my dogs there 2 or 3 times a week for some nice long hikes. Basically enjoying life.

BINGO!!! That is the truest thing I've read on this forum in a while.

There is nothing wrong with grazing as long as you monitor every single bite and don't go over your allotted calories for the day. But if you don't count every single morsel of food you put in your mouth, then yeah, that's where grazers can get into trouble. I have something about every 3 hours. I take in about 1000 calories a day and I'm rarely hungry unless I miss a meal. A big meal for me is 150 cal. Some of my other "meals" are 80 cal of Protein shake (1/3 of a shake). I try to get in 3 of those a day. I've lost 31 pounds since my surgery on 5/10 and I haven't stalled at all.

Rootman, every time I read a statement like this from you or anyone else, it makes me wanna run upstairs and jump on the elliptical for 45 minutes. You are an inspiration. Nice job.

The RNY is best in terms of pure weight loss, but not in terms of quality of life after the surgery.

I did not have a drain. For the leak test they made me drink that barium stuff then immediately lie down on the X-ray table. That was not comfortable.