Stomach surgery...cheating or not

[Brackneyc]

Just wondering what the bbers think of this.

[chodan9]

not sure if cheating is the right word.
I know how hard it is to moderate food intake and clean up a diet, so I can understand someone who has gotten to the point of being morbidly obese wanting to take drastic measures. If anyone is cheated it is the person themselves. Losing weight and getting fit feels great, and getting it done because of grit, determination, discipline and hard work gives me a sense of accomplishment that someone who took a "shortcut" might not get.
I can't see getting congratulated and told what a good job I was doing when I have made most of my stomach unable to process food. My mind would never feel like I deserved it.
Not criticizing those who have had it, I'm just saying how I would feel about it.

[maximus1239]

I think people should try eating clean and lifting first. It's a pretty brutal surgery and a high risk of death and problems.

[erinlee01]

I can't say as though I'd call it cheating. Hopefully the person who undergoes this commits to a lifestyle change to never get back to where they were. But who am I to judge?

[drarmament]

My mother-in-law die getting stomach surgery to loss weight. Thats how my wife started to train with me after that. I would never get it or recomend anyone to get.

[taf1968]

I'm not sure what I'd call it . . . maybe lazy? If a person is so motivated to finally lose weight that they will consider surgery (which can result in death in some cases and with some of the more intrusive procedures) then why the hell can you not just suck it up and stop eating so damn much and start moving??

People just want the easy way out . . . they don't have the willpower and motivation to control themselves so they need something that physically prevents them from eating as much. But then you hear stories about the people who had gastric bypass who put the weight all back on again and then go through another procedure later. Just step away from the donuts and pizza and get to the gym!

[DubfromGA]

It's a highly personal choice.

I will not pass judgement on those that have it.

It can be a short-term live saver for folks whose every attempts have failed. For them, most likely their failures were more to do with mental health and well being than the weight. The weight simply became the more visible malady.

My younger sister had the surgery after college. The change was phenomenol and the follow up skin removal surgeries were scary and extremely painful for her. She's maintained her weight for the past ten years. She seems truly happy. She was miserable throughout her late teens-early twenties.

Her eating habits are now strange, at best. I fear that her macros are way out of balance. Lots of sugar and sweets still comprise her diet in large proportion to low protein intake. I worry that future dangers with diabetes and other complications are brewing.

I had the option for this same surgery last year. My insurance company would have covered a large amount of he expense. In February 2011, I informed the surgeon that I was no longer interested. I did not want the issues that came with a procedure....I did want, however, the pride freedom that would come from doing it myself. On March 1, 2011 I began to make extreme life changes that have led me to 100+ lbs lost, muscle gains and an improved overall health. Surgery, for me, was not required, just priority changes, dedication, education, sweat and extreme time management.

I'm not half the man I used to be....but one day I will be.

[taf1968]

I had the option for this same surgery last year. My insurance company would have covered a large amount of he expense. In February 2011, I informed the surgeon that I was no longer interested. I did not want the issues that came with a procedure....I did want, however, the pride freedom that would come from doing it myself. On March 1, 2011 I began to make extreme life changes that have led me to 100+ lbs lost, muscle gains and an improved overall health. Surgery, for me, was not required, just priority changes, dedication, education, sweat and extreme time management.

Repped!

In the end, it all boils down to this regardless of whether someone gets surgery or not. There's no getting past the fact that the person MUST control their eating and make a lifestyle change. There is no success at all without that piece in place.

[Iceman1800]

I've posted before that my wife had gastric bypass surgery. All I can say is that is someone is considering it, talk to those who have had it. Search yahoo groups and places like that. Its less invasive now than when my wife had it but there are serious pros and cons to it. It definately isn't nor should it be the first choice.

[itsagoodday]

My hope is that it wouldn't be anyone's first choice. As others have said, surgery has so many risks involved. It someone treats the surgical option like a quick fix, where they don't commit to the other lifestyle and dietary changes necessary... well, I'll use the word cheat but only because they're cheating themselves. They are likely to gain their weight back or develop other health problems.

[DubfromGA]

Thanks Eomrat & Taf1968. I'm no "bodybuilder"....just a fat guy doing work that's improving every aspect of my life.

Some of the folks at work, the gym, this site and other tools like myfitnesspal have really helped along the way. Fun journey that'll continue even well into the nursing home in 'bout 40 more years....Lord willing.

[dungeonmistress]

I don't think I'd call it cheating. I might call it the easy way out tho. It's because I see ads on buses and billboards for the "fast, easy way to weight loss." It is pretty fast, but really most of these people grossly overeat so any cut in their daily calories will result in a relatively fast weight loss. What I do see this as, is a way for those who have zero discipline to lose weight in a way that prevents them from eating very much and even still, they look unhealthy and some even figure out how to cheat the surgery and stop losing and gain the weight back. Advertising the surgery the same way that weight watchers and Jenny Craig does shows where this society has gone and it's a pretty sad/sorry way to be.

[djflex]

I really would not consider it cheating.

My only comment is i hope the medical community makes every effort to use this as a last resort. Our soceity often goes for the quick fix, rather than solve the root problem.

Also excellent post dub, repped

[BillReilly]

I have mixed feelings on it. I think if science can provide a way to make you healthier, you would be a fool to deny yourself the procedure. On the other hand, eating to excess is not a disease. It is a symptom of some other issue. I'm thinking a psychological issue that results in gluttony. Simply shrinking the stomach to treat the symptom seams to be avoiding the main issue. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but it seems to be what they say about extreme obesity.

[mwilson49]

It depends on what kind a surgery it is also. I had a friend who had the lapband surgery 4 years ago and he said he used it as a tool to help him achieve a clean eating lifestyle. With the lapband you can over eat and end up worse off than before surgery the same with bypas you can stretch out the stomach just the same. It all comes down to willpower a lot of times.

[pvsampson]

I commented on this subject in another thread recently.

If a person needs the surgery for a genuine medical reason,then I do not consider it cheating.

A 25yr old woman who is 30kg overweight and won't put the fork down,and accepts all the pats on the back saying what a wonderful job she has done?? That is cheating.

[SP1966]

Unless there is some sort of competition I don't see how it can be considered cheating. You would hope something that invasive would be a second or third option, but it cannot be classified as cheating in any regard.

[hammerfelt]

You can cheat the surgery by eating one M&M at a time. So, even with the surgery, it is not a cake walk.

[Big_Sky_Guy]

Is life a "test" that can be cheated on?



A person must deal with the cause of the overeating, or they will still ultimately be unhappy.

[Nikonguy]

I have no problem with it if someone does it and it changes their life for the better and they make it stick. I refuse to judge them.

[bakedNOTfried]

i wouldn't rule it out

[Nalu]

I can't say as though I'd call it cheating. Hopefully the person who undergoes this commits to a lifestyle change to never get back to where they were. But who am I to judge?

Very well said. I have had a few friends that have had the surgery with great success but the key is as you said, " Hopefully the person who undergoes this commits to a lifestyle change to never get back to where they were."
I will not judge either.