How Many People Do You Know Who've Had Gastric Bypass Surgery?

[scrivener]

It won't be long before we all know someone who's had it. How many people do you know who've had gastric bypass (or similar) surgery?

[timkona]

How many people do you know who eat only 1 scoop rice?
How many people do you know who walk everyday?
How many people do you know who eat a raw salad 3 times a week?
How many people do you know who are overweight, gross looking, tired, lethargic, and hungry all the time?

Gastric Bypass Surgery is just a symptom for a disease known as "lack of self-control". It's easy not to be fat. It's easy to lose weight. It's easy to eat right. I know this because I lost weight and got in shape, without a scalpel, believe it or not. And I am certainly not special or gifted in any way, which proves clearly that anybody can do it.

[blueyecicle]

~ouch~~

:eek: :eek:

I know no one.

[tutusue]

[...]Gastric Bypass Surgery is just a symptom for a disease known as "lack of self-control".[...]
Scriv asked a simple question. Pontificating was not part of it that I could see.

To answer your question, Scriv...none.

[cynsaligia]

i know two.

one is male, in his fifties, and an executive in healthcare. the other is a lovely lady in her late twenties. i believe both struggled mightily with their weight for years but both had family histories of morbid obesity and all the complications it brings.

i hope scriv is wrong--that soon, we'll all know someone who's had the surgery. but with the rate of morbid obesity in america, he's likely right. :(

[scrivener]

Tim:

I think the fact that there's nothing exceptional about you is exactly the point. The surgery is not aimed at unexceptional people, at least in its purest intent. The people I know who've had the surgery are beautiful, wonderful, talented people who ARE exceptional: For whatever reason (call it any of the things you've called it, or call it something a bit less damning), they have spent lifetimes battling their weight problems.

A weight problem such as experienced by the morbidly obese is an all-consuming burden. Morbidly obese people, after a lifetime of dealing with seats on airplanes, desks in classrooms, the laughter of children, the jokes of comedians, rejection by the opposite sex, and millions of things I can't even imagine, suffer in a way I'd call exceptional. When you have tried and tried and tried and you're still two hundred pounds overweight, you question your ability to do ANYthing. You question your value in ANY aspect of life.

My friends were strong, smart, faithful people who knew in their heads that the weight was only one small part of who they were, but in their hearts they couldn't help feeling like utter failures. That's not fair, really. I'll forever be a failure as a basketball player, but that failure doesn't color every other aspect of my life.

Moreover, it doesn't threaten my very life itself.

I told one of my friends, once she decided she was going to do it, that she wasn't going to be one bit more beautiful than she already was, and she knew it...at first, she responded logically, saying that she KNEW she was beautiful as she was, a child of God who had dedicated her life to helping other people. But then her heart took over and she couldn't stop crying -- and this after probably already crying a million tears over the decision.

I wasn't sure until that moment how I felt about the surgery, but then I knew she had to do it.

[Lei Liko]

I have one friend who's been through it. She was 25 when she had the surgery. She wasn't morbidly obese, 5'3" and a little over 200 lbs maybe. She's not a heavy eater and from what I recall tried exercise, diets, everything. She just chalked it up to having bad genes.

I knew that emotionally she was not stable. Once I heard that she was having surgery, I couldn't help but think that she was doing it for the wrong reasons. I know that I'll never know how it feels to be the butt of jokes, rejection, etc. but her life wasn't being threatened, she wasn't hundreds and hundreds of pounds overweight, she has a trusty group of friends...but she had been dumped by several men for other, more slender women.

So she did it. And I've never seen a recovery so painful like hers before.

The result? She worse off than she was pre-surgery. You can't really tell the difference as far as size goes and she's more screwed up in the head than ever and we haven't heard from her in months.

[Pomai]

As some of you know, Mike Buck of KHVH AM afternoon talk radio had this done. The first time I seen him in the elevator after the surgery, I recognized him only by his voice, then it hit me, that's Mike!. All I said was "Mike, you look great!". He smiled and said "mahalo!".

Another gal I know had GBS done after fighting obesity for most of her adulthood. Even when she was heavy, she was beautiful, but you look at her now and she's even more beautiful. No question being at the proper weight helps appearance. Fortunately she didn't have too much problems with loose skin, at least on her face and arms where everyone can see. She never had complications like Lei's friend. Then again, my friend was always a happy person, even before the surgery, so that could have helped.

[Cameron]

I know of only one and unfortunately he was one of those who simply just lacked self control (up past the 300 mark I believe). He got the surgery and stopped eating so much. With one addiction controlled for him, he moved on to the next, and then the next. He was my best friend, but he knew I didn't approve of what he was doing so he just stopped talking to me. No clue where he is now.

I know you guys didn't like Timkona's argument, but regardless there are alot of people who simply lack self control and determination, and when you've worked hard to maintain or get what you have it's hard to believe that others can't do the same.

[blueyecicle]

I know you guys didn't like Timkona's argument, but regardless there are alot of people who simply lack self control and determination, and when you've worked hard to maintain or get what you have it's hard to believe that others can't do the same.

Hard to believe that there are diseases and depression too but it is true. Look at how long it took alcoholism to be diagnosed as a disease.
I remember as a child the same arguments over alcoholics..."They just lack self control! It's not a disease"
Now days? It's a disease!
No one knows all the causes and affects that put people in that situation. No one knows all the issues people have to deal with.

One would think those who battled weight would be more sympathetic and understanding but instead they turn to judge and look down on others.
But such is life.

Some times it is easier to look down on people than have sympathy and be kind.
It makes one feel better about themselves if they have someone to look down on.



There are too many sides of the coin to call weight issues gross and lazy.
It's wrong and mean.

[Cameron]

Hard to believe that there are diseases and depression too but it is true. Look at how long it took alcoholism to be diagnosed as a disease.
I remember as a child the same arguments over alcoholics..."They just lack self control! It's not a disease"
Now days? It's a disease!

I have just as hard a time believing alcoholism is a disease, but then again I've never taken a sip of alcohol. Nor have I ever been morbidly obese. So of course I find it hard to believe. I guess better wording would be, hard to comprehend, as it's perfectly believable.

[Leo Lakio]

It makes one feel better about themselves if they have someone to look down on. Truth Of The Day.

[Kungpao]

I know 1 person who has had it done and had complications from it. Although I didn't know her too much, in my opinion, she didn't try enough things beforehand to try to lose the weight. She's definitely slim thesedays but I feel it's only a matter of time before she gains weight again because you definitely notice the lack of self control with her.

On the other hand, I have a co-worker who eats salad for lunch daily and goes home and does a whole buttload of manual labor nightly it seems. He's hasn't lost a pound and is asking his doctor why. I feel for him and think procedures such as this are for people who genuinely try but for some odd reason cannot lose the weight.

[Leo Lakio]

I would hope that any doc who agrees to this procedure for their patient has already exhausted other less-invasive options regarding changes in dietary habits, exercise, medications, etc. This isn't considered "cosmetic surgery," you know.

[Kungpao]

I would hope that any doc who agrees to this procedure for their patient has already exhausted other less-invasive options regarding changes in dietary habits, exercise, medications, etc. This isn't considered "cosmetic surgery," you know.

I'm with ya there. Unfortunately, the lady I knew who had it done, went "offshore" to get it done where the news makes it seem as though all the "doctors" there care about is money.

[Leo Lakio]

Unfortunately, the lady I knew who had it done, went "offshore" to get it done where the news makes it seem as though all the "doctors" there care about is money.OW! Medical care is one area where "you get what you pay for" can really come back to bite you.

[tutusue]

I'm with ya there. Unfortunately, the lady I knew who had it done, went "offshore" to get it done where the news makes it seem as though all the "doctors" there care about is money.
There also might be less stringent (if any) psychological exams offshore.

[Pua'i Mana'o]

The only guy I know who had this surgery is one who works out at my gym. He is very fit and disciplined, and I didn't know he had that surgery done or that he was about 150lbs bigger (he is older, maybe late 50s, so it isn't like I really check out his bod or anything). I saw his big scars horizontal above his shorts line, hooking around to his hips, and he told me those were from his skin removal surgery.


He did his G.B. back in 2000.
Lost over 150lbs
Exercises M-F, 5x/week
Did the skin surgery last year, removed 10-15lbs of skin.
He told me that his docs told him that 40% of those who get this surgery gain lots of weight back afterwards. The majority address their health/emotional issues, but an alarming amount do not.


He lost his wife before either one's 30th bday to cancer. He was depressed for almost 20 years. No sig/other, no children. Very likeable guy; always upbeat and smiling.

[timkona]

<with carrot drawn from holster, and pointing threateningly>

Put down the fork, and step away from the table. You have the right to remain hungry. You should associate the feeling of hunger with the notion of success. If you give up the right to be hungry, anything you eat may be held inside your body. You have the right to a gym membership. If you cannot afford a gym membership, a brisk 30 minute walk will do nicely. Do you understand your rights? Would you like a drink of water?

Scrivener is exactly right. Being overweight is an all-"consuming" burden.