http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/chris_cuts_waist_oAUDrJ8Sm1fY6awWgFY6nN

It doesn't mention that he considered anything else but the bypass. I know that the lapband is still popular, but only observing anecdotal reports it seems to have a high rate of failure and complications. Why do people still pick it over the sleeve?

It is interesting to read the last quote in the article "...even if I don't give a crap about myself." Is that not how we all felt before getting WLS? We gave up on our self image as a result of our struggle with our health. As the weight comes off' date=' we start to have a much improves self image.[/quote']

I learn something about my husband! Maybe you and others had a poor self image, but I actually feel pretty good about myself most of the time (women all have times they feel less confident or unsexy no matter what their size). I look forward to having my outside reflect the person I already am on the inside. That's a pet peeve mine in weight loss ads- the person who has lost weight can't believe they looked like that, they say they feel sorry for her, etc. Like your life and who you were when you were fat didn't matter and your life started after the weight was lost. I am a wife, sister, daughter, obsessive gardener, nature loving, active, travel loving, hostess with the mostess, damn good dresser, musician etc now and I will continue to be after my sleeve too!

I love the fact that Christy went public with his procedure. Plus this goes to show how the RnY are pushed and the Lap Band. Now a bariatric specialist at Kaiser reports that those procedures are in the past. It just goes to show that Christy or his spouse did not do the research they needed to do. It was the blind leading the blind.......Hope he does well...I do think we should all send him and email and let him know about the sleeve for when his Lap Band fails......Just like the previous poster stated..........

Or perhaps the lap-band lobbyists got to him

Ok! ok! I'm done!! I promise!

Glad he's doing something!

I love the fact that Christy went public with his procedure. Plus this goes to show how the RnY are pushed and the Lap Band. Now a bariatric specialist at Kaiser reports that those procedures are in the past. It just goes to show that Christy or his spouse did not do the research they needed to do. It was the blind leading the blind.......Hope he does well...I do think we should all send him and email and let him know about the sleeve for when his Lap Band fails......Just like the previous poster stated..........

Interesting perspective on how your analysis points to Christy or his researcher did not do their research. Not good or bad, just an interesting analysis! Thanks.

Or perhaps the lap-band lobbyists got to him

Ok! ok! I'm done!! I promise!

Glad he's doing something!

BA da bump...and another one liner from Laura for the VST crowd.

Maybe you should do stand up!

I think the decision was more political than not doing the research. The band is removable, but the VSG and RNY are not. These surgeries would be held over his head as some type of significant health issue (not really, but you know how the media does stuff), if he ran for President. He gets the band, drops the weight (possibly) then gets the band removed, and wham bam, jam and ham, he's all good and there's nothing that anyone can slam him for (at least regarding the surgery). I'm glad he did it, I hope it works for him. I don't think he has a real political future, but I am glad for anyone that takes the initiative to get healthy and live a better lifestyle.

Really' date=' who knew? I was just looking at him in the news yesterday thinking how WLS would benefit him. I am happy to hear he has taken a positive step in getting his weight under control. He will be a good example for the citizens who look up to him in NJ and other places. Politics aside, I like his approach to whatever position he takes, very strong and assertive.

It is interesting to read the last quote in the article "...even if I don't give a crap about myself." Is that not how we all felt (or at least some of us) before getting WLS? I certainly felt this way. We gave up on our self image as a result of our struggle with our health. As the weight comes off, we start to have a much improved self image.

Kind of disappointed that HIPPA did not protect his medical procedure from the public or even from the media in this case. Very tasteless of the media to violate HIPPA. How would you feel if the same thing happened to you? For one, there are grounds for a lawsuit. And two, someone is going to get fined or be brought to justice in some other way. Violating HIPPA is a big deal.[/quote']

I couldn't agree more!!!

Media organizations aren't subject to HIPAA...only medical entities such as doctors, hospitals, managed care organizations, etc. Would be interesting to know if there was a leak at the hospital (which would be a violation of HIPAA), or if he just decided himself to go public with the information.

Didn't he reveal the surgery to the Post?

My understanding from the discussion here is that his doctor (or someone on the WLS team) who did the procedure discretely at his home (to avoid media coverage) leaked the information to the .media. Chris Christy was forced to confirm the information with the media by doing a press release in order to not be perceived as "hiding" the information from the public. Honestly, I think disclosure of WLS is up to the person having the WLS. Since Christy did not originally disclose the information that was held by the medical institution, there are grounds for a HIPPA violation. Do you agree?

The band is an extremely attractive choice for a lot of people. This forum is bias because we all made the obvious choice that we did, but I can tell you from experience that before I had this surgery I had the band. Mostly because I was talked into it by my surgeon at the time, but also because of the relative safety of the operation You can reverse a lapband and be no worse for wear when its all said and done. We CANNOT get our stomachs back.

I have not read a VST story yet here where a member has said they love the band. In fact, most VST folks who were banded say they HATE the band passionately. It really makes me think the band is NOT a viable option AT ALL given all the long term complications that have been documented here.

I have not read a VST story yet here where a member has said they love the band. In fact' date=' most VST folks who were banded say they HATE the band passionately. It really makes me think the band is NOT a viable option AT ALL given all the long term complications that have been documented here.[/quote']

Well you probably wouldn't read about happy lapbanders here. We're Sleevers. Those that were lapbanders converted.

But I bet if you go to the lapband forum you'll find tons of supporters with just as compelling and passionate arguments pro band and anti other forms of WLS.

It's seemingly a "no lose" proposition for him.....if he loses a bunch of weight, he becomes healthier and a more attractive public figure. If he doesn't, he can cite the band failure rates and how hard he worked at it...for his family (of course).

Really, who knew? I was just looking at him in the news yesterday thinking how WLS would benefit him. I am happy to hear he has taken a positive step in getting his weight under control. He will be a good example for the citizens who look up to him in NJ and other places. Politics aside, I like his approach to whatever position he takes, very strong and assertive.

It is interesting to read the last quote in the article "...even if I don't give a crap about myself." Is that not how we all felt (or at least some of us) before getting WLS? I certainly felt this way. We gave up on our self image as a result of our struggle with our health. As the weight comes off, we start to have a much improved self image.

Kind of disappointed that HIPPA did not protect his medical procedure from the public or even from the media in this case. Very tasteless of the media to violate HIPPA. How would you feel if the same thing happened to you? For one, there are grounds for a lawsuit. And two, someone is going to get fined or be brought to justice in some other way. Violating HIPPA is a big deal.

I like him, I was hoping HE would be the one who ran this time, but alas, maybe he'll give it a try next time. It may not have been a medical professional at all. It could be a friend of a friend or a family member who let it slip or 'outted' him. Of course he'd have to tell eventually, when he starts losing vast amounts of weight, people assume you've had WLS or you are sick.