Hi I am a nutritionist, and have to agree that mindful eating is so important, coupled together with going back to basics with eating. That means using produce that is in season, learning to prepare food again instead of eathing junk, microwaved, prepacked and long shelf life food. Not only does this bring a feeling of satisfaction but health and wellbeing will improve. Which in turn has a knock on effect on illnesses that can invade our bodies by eating the wrong things. For several years I have been holding workshops on this subject and we always finish with making and eating nutritious food.The feedback received from the many people who have attended the courses  has proved this is a fact.... I am passionate about what we put in our bodies this has been proven time and time again that we can stop illness by what we eat... I watched my husband die of cancer and I only wish I had the same knowledge then as I do now I could certainly have at the very least helped reduce the symptoms from the medication if nothing else... sermon over... Jean Sampson. therightlifestyle  

Thank you for writtin this article.  I've seen bariatric surgury ruin a loved one's life.  

 

Why go through that when you can lose just as much weight following the "Eat Stop Eat" advise? I fast two days a week by not eating any lunch or dinner. The weight came of at about two pounds a week and stays off! Much cheaper and easier than barriatric surgery. I've lost 40 lbs since January and have to buy all new clothes for fall.

Well, the only thing ommited in this article is to mention that surgery is surgery, and it comes with serious risks ... even death, especialy when we are talking about someone who is already over-weight.

Those who consider taking this step need to understand that all bariatric surgery does is to reduce the size of your stomack, meaning that less food will fit there at once. But if you are eating because of emotional issues (for many people their eyes are bigger than their stomacks), you will end up more frustrated, and in serious emotionam trouble. Consider this scenarion ... you have had a horrible day, and your way to deal with it is to go for a hudge potion of junkfood. You start eating, in your normal rithm, and 2 minnits later you find out that you are full, but you brain tells you to eat more. You will end up frustrated because now food is no longer doing the trick.... and probably also with a tummy ake.

Finally, when you have such a small stomack you can only fill it with the stricltly neccesary nutrients, or else you will become anemic and malnourished. Yea, you heard well, studies show that many of those who go through bariatric surgery end up with serious nutrition problems due to lack of key nutrients.

Bariatric surgery should only be used as a last resort, life saving measure. It is not an over-the-counter quick fix but rather a serious medical procedure that has both phisical and psichological consequences.

 

Fasting for two days is not exactly a sustainable life style. I've lost 60 pounds since feb and have already had to update my wardrobe significantly. I did this through eating mindfully, small portions that taste great. And counting every calorie so that I know that my progress is a given. I fell upon this life style by reading everything I could on WLS and deciding that the surgery was less useful than the life style itself. The article is spot on.

My grandfather is a cardiologist who works with several dietitians. I've done some dictation for them, and they do suggest bariatric surgery for SOME patients. However, it's always a last resort. It's always done in tandem with a pre-and-post surgery meal plan and exercise regiment. It's absolutely not a quick-fix, and without mindful eating and careful diet and exercise, it can cause more harm than good. However, for the patients that receive the surgery, all else has failed and it can prove effective as a TOOL.

I may take a beating for this comment, so let me first preface it by saying that I respect everyone's right and everyone's decision to do whatever they feel is in their best interest in terms of their health and fitness goals.

That being said, it seems to me that  bariatric surgery helps people lose weight because their stomach subsequently holds only a couple ounces of food rather than what they normally ate before surgery.  

So theoretically, why wouldn't they have lost weight without the surgery if they could have limited themselves to smaller amounts of healthier foods in the first place?

The major problem I have with surgery is that most of my friends and people I have known or heard about who have had either gastric bypass or lap band surgery have put all or most of their weight back on (in some cases even more weight than they started with) because they really didn't learn that much about clean, mindful, lifestyle eating that requires the time, patience, perseverance, and willingness they simply couldn't muster up.

So now after all the side effects of their surgeries - - the trauma, pain, complications, life threatening infections,  and weight gain, those who survived the ordeal up to now are back to square one---feeling more depressed and more helpless than ever before.  They not only have to deal with the weight gain but with the residual effects of the procedures that will most likely be permanent.

THERE IS NO MAGIC BULLET, MY PEEPS!   I take life one day at a time and focus on getting slimmer and healthier each day by eating healthier foods in smaller protions and moving my body as much as possible---no excuses, no delays. If I don't have my health and a body I am comfortable in, NOTHING else matters to me. 

 

I am so sick and tired of people, particular those who haven't had it, knocking bariatric surgery!  I had the full gastric bypass surgery 8 1/2 years ago and I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I had messed my body up SO much from years and years of yo-yo dieting that I couldn't break through.  GBS was my tool to do so.  It has added years to my life as it has to others.

Now, what people need to understand - especially those considering the surgery - is that it is not a quick fix, it is not an easy out.  It is a complete and total lifestyle change that requires continued diligence, just like any other lifestyle change one may encounter.  You cannot have this surgery unless you first tackle the reason you are so overweight.  If you cannot attribute your obestiy to a medical condition you are likely obese because you are addicted to food.  You are addicted to food just like someone who smokes, does drugs, gambles, is an alcoholic, etc.  You MUST face that problem before you have weight loss surgery is you are to be successful.  If you do not you will have problems - you will either gain the weight back or replace your addiction to food with another.

I do hold the doctors somewhat accountable here.  Most insurance companies and most bariatic surgeons only require people considering the surgery to see a psychiatrist once for an evaluation - this is not enough.  I have had many people talk to me about the surgery and there is only one over 8 1/2 years that I have recommended they have the surgery because she was the only one truly ready.

So, please people stop presenting bariatric surgery in such a negative light.  It is an awesome tool for those of us who have health issues because of our weight and truely cannot loose it any other way.  It is not the easy way out, it is not a quick fix.

I don't think Bariatric surgery is the issue.  The issue is once people have the surgery they still have to change their lifestyles and eating styles or they will gain the weight back.   I don't think that, "You will still have to change your lifestyle and eating style," is emphasized enough in the advertisements on TV. 

I considered Bariatric surgery until I realized it was not a magic bullet and saw the people who had it, gain the weight back.  A degree of personal effort is involved.  So I'm changing my lifestyle ... it's cheaper - but harder to do.

 

Actually, fasting once a week would be a way to keep the weight off after my weight loss goal is reached. I'm too busy to eat most of the time anyway. Surprisingly I have stopped feeling hungry during my day at work and it even gives me mental clarity. I like that I never get that shaky feeling anymore as I did in the beginning. This is a perfectly cut and dried way to maintain the weight after it's off. Ten pounds to go!

I'm working towards a Bachelors Degree in Human Services with a specialization in Addiction Counseling, and more than once have I learned about people who have this type of surgery and then later develop other addictions such as alcohol, drugs, or even gambling. I agree with

kimjoanmc that the problem is not the surgery itself, it's the lack of identifying the original problem, food addiction. This of course is NOT the case for everyone and many people have the surgery successfully without developing some form of addiction, however, there is a significant number of people who DO. Without dealing with whatever is causing their addiction these people will likely go through some very rough times.

Thank you msmariele.  I have spent the last 6 months training myself how to eat healthier with the help of a dedicated dietician in preparation for bariatric surgery.  The decision to do this has not been a fast or easy one.  I resisted the suggestion when my primary care physician first mentioned it a few years ago. This year I finally decided that something drastic has to be done to get certain health issues under control. I have all but one of the morbidities that are on the list for approval for bariatric surgery. I have done the yo-yo thing to many times.  I have lost weight in the past just to have it come back with an additional 10-20 pounds every time.  The surgery I am hoping to have is NOT going to be a quick fix but a TOOL to help me live a better life. 

Sorry, I was thanking the wrong person for positive comments about bariatric surgery.  Thanks kinjoanmc.   

msmariele, you are correct. Surgery is not a magic bullet and lifestyle does have to change.  Some of us just need a little more help.

Wow some people on here need to learn more about bariatric surgery before they comment on the surgery,yes it is a lifestyle change and if I had to do it all over again I would in a heart beat and as for frinndships and people's marriage if they are strong to begin with they will survive.

In my opinion, I think msmariele is right about Bariatric surgery is not a magic bullet. I think it boils down to controlling and disciplining ourselves.