Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Bob
what reasons are there for them not to eat that same reduced amount without resorting to surgery?

My husband had the surgery and lost 120 pounds, so I'll try and answer. He had been seriously overweight since he had been five years old. His stomach was huge, the doctor told me it could easily hold 48 ounces, so it took that much food for him to feel full, and for his brain to get the message he was full. Also, he was so overweight he could not excercise effectively. After the surgery his stomach was initially 4 ounces (which eventually expanded to 8 oz where it stopped) so he felt full after just a small portion. Now he eats "normal" size meals and is satisfied. Before, he had to eat huge amounts to stop feeling hungry. He has started an excercise program now that he can move, and is continuing to lose although its a lot more slowly than it was at the begining.

I will say this operation is emphatically not for everyone. I am losing my weight the old fashioned way, because any of those surgeries are painful and have long term health implications and side effects. (There are four different kinds of bariatric surgeries, the Wilson/Roker one in my opinion being the most dangerous and least effective long term) Bariatric surgery is indicated for those who have ALWAYS been overweight, since they were kids, and have two or more SERIOUS obesity related illnesses (diabetes, sleep apnea, joint degradation, circulation problems, heart disease, etc.) For me, even though I know it will take another year to get down to my goal weight, surgery is not an option. But I have a normal size stomach and can excercise. For my husband, it has literally saved his life.

You might be interested to know both my husband and I are annoyed at everyone thinking the surgery is some kind of magic bullet and that it's easy. My husband still has to watch his diet, must take dietary supplements for the rest of his life, and needs to excercise. If you drink alcohol you will gain weight no matter how small your stomach is. And you have to excercise once you can to keep up your muscle mass. But the surgery will help you be able to eat normal-sized portions and feel full, which is the real hurdle for those who have been obese since childhood.

58 posted on 05/25/2004 1:33:54 PM PDT by justanotherfreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies ]


To: justanotherfreeper

Thanks for your reply. It wasn't my intent to 'put down' or mock anyone who needs these procedures. Serious abdominal surgery, though, strikes me as an extremely dangerous way to force someone into making dietary/lifestyle changes.


59 posted on 05/25/2004 1:45:27 PM PDT by Bob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson