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"The healthy way"



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Being two years and about three months post op now, and totally at my three times adjusted personal goal, I have lost, and am maintaining at

210 pounds from a starting weight of 430.

Having a wide network of friends and business contacts, not to mention the drastic change in appearance over the past two years, everyone notices and comments. The most common comment, and one that bugs the crap out of me is the old, "Did you have surgery, or do it the healthy way?" My response was usually the healthy way followed by an explanation, stating that the surgery was the healthy way, having been under a Doctor, and Dietician's care and supervision. I'm not embarassed or ashamed of having the surgery, however its just getting a little old explaning, and have just started avoiding the question, or answering.

How has everyone else dealt with this?:paranoid

Life is good!

No regrets.

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Hi. I am considering lapband vs. bypass. One consideration is that I thought lapband was for people without that much to lose, so I hwas very heartened to see your starting and enidng weights. I've heard widely varying statistics on projected weight loss -- from 35% to 80%. I'm 5'1" and 320. Why did you go with the band? Thanks.

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I chose it for four big reasons. The first and most important was the down time, (minimally invasive). I had the surgery on a Thursday, went home Friday, and was back at work Monday. Second, I am a weenie when it comes to pain, (the minimally invasive thing again). Third, was the slower, more predictable weight loss with less chance of skin issues. I have done extremely well there, and would not even consider plastic surgery, having no major lose skin issues. Fourth is the lifetime maintenence issue, and being able to adjust at any time down the road when my body, and or metabolism changes with age, as it will.

I may also suggest you do your homework, and see how many people who have had the gastric bypass have faired. I personally work with four people who have had the gastric bypass, and their results were alarming to me. They are all from 2 to 4 years out, and what a rollercoaster ride for them.

Life is good, and I thank god each and every day for my transformation!

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During a support group meeting one member brought up the very same issue. Her response to the people how did you lose all that weight- was...."I decided to take control of my life and my habits" that was it. She said it works well everytime.

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During a support group meeting one member brought up the very same issue. Her response to the people how did you lose all that weight- was...."I decided to take control of my life and my habits" that was it. She said it works well everytime.

That's a great response. I'll file it away for when I am asked the same question.

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During a support group meeting one member brought up the very same issue. Her response to the people how did you lose all that weight- was...."I decided to take control of my life and my habits" that was it. She said it works well everytime.
That's a great response. I'll file it away for when I am asked the same question.

Ditto. I LOVE this response.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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