Hi all, I just saw a commercial for the Big Medicine show and they say they will return on WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12th. It did not say if it will be reruns or the new season. They changed the time they are on and now they have changed the day. Probably looking for a good ratings spot. It's a good show, I enjoy it. However, I am not an advocate of the surgery. I do believe if you can lose that 100 or so pounds to have the surgery, you can continue to lose the weight naturally. Willpower will keep the weight off. Even with the surgery, you need alot of willpower, so I say skip the surgery. I know some people think they need the surgery to lose weight and there is no changing their minds. I just pray that everyone who has it, knows of the work it takes to keep up with the program after the surgery. I think that's why I like the show, the doctors are very emphatic and really press the fact that there may be issues, consequences and other problems, so they should be sure they want the surgery. They don't push it on a person and I think that is refreshing. Take care.

Clearly you have never dealt with morbid obesity. Did you know that it has been clinically proven that morbidly obese people who lose weight through diet and exercise alone only stand about a 2% chance of maintaining that weight loss long term?

Weight loss surgery, in addition to curing obesity, has also been shown to cure diabetes and sleep apnea. Diabetes cannot always be cured with diet and exercise alone.

There are many very valid reasons why people chose weight loss surgery over doing it "the old-fashioned way". You don't have to agree with me, or my choice to have surgery, but your assumption that all it takes is willpower is completely off the mark, and I think you need to take into consideration that many people choose this route as a means to help cure their co-morbidities that cannot be cured through diet and exercise alone.

Martha you said it all in your post.. Well done! For the person who has posted this, I hope you never have to deal with morbid obesity yourself, because you will be in for a rude awakening. I have to add that I had "the surgery" as a last resort as most people who have it do. To those persons who have had gastric bypass or lapband, my hat is off to you all, because I have been there and I know how society is. However society doesn't walk in our shoes, we do.

hugs to you all

My hat is off to you as well, Jujubee. WLS is the hardest thing many of us will ever do in our lives. I am actually still a pre-op with just 19 days to go, but I know beyond a doubt that I need this tool.

I have seen my own husband go from being a very sick man to becoming a very healthy man in just 12 months because of weight loss surgery. He no longer takes blood pressure medication, no longer needs a c-pap machine, and was off his insulin pump 4 days post-op.

As for myself, I'm choosing to have the surgery before I start to suffer from severe co-morbidities. Just high cholesterol for now, but I know if I don't get my weight under control that I too will be headed for high blood pressure and probably diabetes.

It makes me angry that people who have never battled with trying to lose over 100 pounds feel compelled to put down the choice to have surgery. There is so much more to it than having willpower, but nobody seems to understand it unless they've been there.

Obesity is truly a disease, more and more studies are showing that there may well be a genetic component to it - - - proving once and for all that this really is something that for many people is beyond their control and that they need help to overcome. For many, that help comes in the form of weight loss surgery and nobody should condemn us for that or accuse us of taking the easy way out. There is NOTHING easy about going through weight loss surgery.

Tootbuc – As ___ said, I take it you have never been morbidly obese. If not, you can't understand what it is like to try to lose a lot of weight. It is not easy.

Martha – You said it very well. Good luck with your surgery and congratulations to your husband for doing so well.

Jujube – Congratulations on the surgery. I hope you are doing well.

I'm still in the very beginning stages of the process. My surgeon just sent the paperwork in to the insurance, so I figure I have a long ways to go. I've been reading books on the surgery and parts of it scare me. I don't know if I can do it, but I know I HAVE to do it or I won't live another 10 years. Yes, I can lose 50-60 pounds, but then I stop and it all comes back plus more. I have one sister that is upset because she weighs 160 pounds, the most she has ever weighed. Granted, to her it is a lot. To me, 160 pounds is my goal!

I once saw a show on weight loss surgery. One guy was saying how his brother couldn't understand why he needed the surgery. So he took his brother to a pet store and had him pick up two of the really big bags of dog food and walk around the store for about 5 minutes. The brother was huffing and puffing. He told his brother "This is what I go through every day because I'm carrying around that much extra weight." The brother then understood and supported his decision to have the surgery.

Oops, I meant to go back in and add in Martha's name. So it should say "As Martha said ..."

Hi all. No, I am not obese, never have been. However, in the last 9 years I have had a room mate that is. She weighs 500 pounds and she cannot commit to weight loss anything! That was one of my points, with or without the surgery, you have to be committed to a severe life change. I do think some people think it is a quick fix, and it is not. You will spend the rest of your life WORKING to keep that weight off. Look at Carnie Wilson, she got pregnant and gained 70 pounds, now I believe she has lost it again. That's what I mean, the surgery is not fool proof either. If you have to be so committed after, why not skip the surgery and commit yourself to a life of eating well and exercise. I do believe the surgery is for the very morbidly obese, they are in danger of dieing. Some of the ones at Brookhaven should get it, but again, they are too heavy to have it done. It's a vicious circle. To those of you who have had the surgery, I wish you well. I hope everything goes well for those who are waiting for it. Just because I don't like it, doesn't mean it's wrong, didn't mean to leave that impression. However, I am an inquisitive person. One thing I found out is that 70% of our immune system is in our intestines. On the drastic bypass surgery, those intestines are rearranged. You no longer use the acids in your stomach and your intestines are shortened tremendously. This leaves little room for digestive juices, because there are none. No one knows the long term effects of this surgery. I hope it is good. When I see 16 year old kids getting this surgery because they have made too many trips to McD's, I think that is wrong. They are still growing and now they are committed to a life of supplements and the loss of enjoying many foods, in moderation. Again, I wish you all luck, and best wishes. Take care.

Just want to add a quick note. I suggest you read a thread called Post Surgery Hopelessness. I found it interesting. Take care.

Thank you for clarifying. I agree, the surgery is a huge step. I've lost lots of weight during my lifetime, but I always gain it back. Every time when I lose, I tell myself "I'm never getting that big again." But then I do. I do think it is emotional/psychological, so I do need to get that fixed in addition to the physical part.

Our society has gotten into a sad state. The portions that are served in restaurants are enough to feed 3 or 4 people. Things have gotten out of hand and I have no idea how to fix it. Hopefully the surgery will help fix my part of the world.