stomach surgary

I'm not a doctor but I'm a medical device engineer that's spent the last 5 years of my life working on the next generation of tools for minimally invasive gastric bypass surgery. I've talked to a bunch of GI docs, patients and have even done some of the procedures myself on animals.

JG is absolutely right. It is a tool that makes it possible for many people to make a change. I've talked to a lot of people who tried hard for a long time to lose weight unsuccessfully but when they got the surgery it pushed them over the edge and they were able to do it. They did have to work hard at it though, no part of the process is easy.

I would recommend the surgery to many people because of the alternative: being Morbidly Obese shortens your life, it causes diabetes, it causes heart disease and even increases the risk of cancer. Compared to the risks associated with the surgeries, most people would live much longer lives with much higher quality of life after losing weight with the aid of the surgery.

As far as which one, I totally agree with Dr Hess. The lap band has a lot fewer complications associated with it.

Feel free to PM me if you have any technical questions.

WALLY! WALLY! WALLY! /the crows roars

You've been in my thoughts today Wally. I know you can do it!

I can foresee a GRM Diet Challenge evolving out of this...

We all kick in $20.11 and weigh in on a given date. Three months later, we all do it again. Whoever loses the highest percentage of their starting weight wins free pizza and milkshakes for a year!

Woody wrote: I can foresee a GRM Diet Challenge evolving out of this... We all kick in $20.11 and weigh in on a given date. Three months later, we all do it again. Whoever loses the highest percentage of their starting weight wins free pizza and milkshakes for a year!

I like it, but you'd need to have different height and weight classes. Someone who is 5'10 210 should lose a good amount of weight, but has no chance against someone who is 5'10 360.

Well, the way it is done in industry is by percent excess weight lost. So you find out what your ideal weight is. You calculate how much over that you weigh and then you measure what percentage of the excess you've lost.

It's still not perfect for a competition though since if you are 5lbs overweight and you lose 5lbs, then you get 100% excess weight loss...

Klayfish wrote: This is where I'm with exactly what Giant Purple said. I'd suggest figuring out why you're considering invasive surgery to let you eat like a normal person. Have a normal size portion of food and then walk away. If you're still hungry, there are a million healthy choices out there. Doing that will accomplish your goals...and it'll be cheaper, healthier and better in the long run.

You make it sound so easy. I got serious about diet and exercise about 3 years ago. I lost 90lbs and it was great. I did really good for 2 years then this past year i put 25 back on not putting the effort into my health. I am beginning to refocus now, I have to be tough on myself and say NO. It's lovely that I have the means to eat any and everything I want but I have to have limits and I don't need more than a normal portion.

It's a lot of work mentally and physically, its going to be painful work if you have surgery or not. Like others have said its easy to sabotage the surgery, I think the numbers show that more than half do end up sabotaging.

I would recommend psychiatric help to find out why you are unable to control your diet. Why cut your stomach, its your head that's doing the eating.

I love the irony of free pizzas and milkshakes for a year to the winner of a diet contest.

I'm down for a weight loss event, as I still have pounds to lose and the eating holidays are almost upon us. I would set my current long term goal at 25 lbs.

I need to lose 100#. Without insurance I think meth may be my best option.

John Brown wrote: I need to lose 100#. Without insurance I think meth may be my best option.

Recipes are available online, Do you already have false teeth?

If I lose the 25#, then I will have lost 90#. I wish I had thought of the meth thing earlier.

I was tight w/ a gal from work who was overly obese for 20+ years since I met her. She had the staples done and lost 70+ lbs, problem was she thought the surgery would be a 'cure all' and never changed her bad diet/ non-existent exercise habits.. nothing but lack of discipline there. She was well over halfway there but never followed through, she coulda been back to a healthy weight, yet alone awesome.

If you choose that route, don't rely on surgery alone, it takes a lot of dedication and discipline to see full results... but they are worth every sacrifice you'll make.

Good luck Wally

John Brown wrote: I need to lose 100#. Without insurance I think meth may be my best option.

The doctor at work suggested AIDS and Heroin. If you can try to do it now because the second 100 comes on pretty quick real drags you down.