The American Struggle and Tunnel Vision Diets
Dec 20 '02
The Bottom Line If you consider any weight loss surgery: Think about what you are doing. It can be great, but it can also be the worst thing you ever did.
The American Struggle and Tunnel Vision Diets
When it comes to dieting everyone thinks they have the answer, but no one does. I can tell you without doubt that no one does, because if someone had the all inclusive answer to everyone’s weight loss needs they would be multi-trillionaires.
Even though I can easily say no one has the answer, and you probably agree with me, that somehow doesn’t stop anyone from acting like they have the answers. Everyone can throw out a million diet tips when it comes down to it.
“Exercise”
“Eat right
“Low Carbs!”
“No Carbs!”
“Protein”
“Exercise, Exercise, EXERCISE!!!”
Okay – I give you one hundred percent permission to rate me with a “Not Helpful” this second without reading any further if you have never heard those phrases.
Okay, I know you are still with me, so moving on:
Everyone thinks they have the answer. People define “Diet” as nothing more than what it means to them and expect that same definition to fit for friends, family and anyone else.
This tunnel vision approach to dieting and fitness is why The Atkins Diet, Slim Fast, and Weight Watchers all exist. It’s a common fact that diets fail. Most women can also tell you that they end up a few pounds heavier after a diet than they were to begin with. This is the American struggle… How to take weight off, and KEEP it off
I was a fat kid, I’ve written about it here before. I struggled for years with weight, and I’m not talking ten or twenty pounds. I’m talking hundreds of pounds. Morbid obesity is when you are 100LBS or more overweight. I was morbidly obese.
Please note that I said was.
I tried everything. Every trend, every work out routine, every pill (some of which I regretted, note Fen Phen). Growing up in a family with money I was even privileged enough to have a personal trainer, and when my PT wasn’t there my mom was a size 8 aerobics instructor. So believe you me, there was no cutting corners…I ate right, I worked out constantly…and I stayed fat.
What I Did
April 10th 2001 I underwent a popular procedure called “Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass” It’s a highbred stomach stapling procedure that eliminates most of the problems formerly associated with weight loss surgery. It is done laparoscopicly, which means it is performed through 6 tiny incisions rather than one large which eradicates any major hemorrhaging and/or wound infections.
The actual surgery is the stapling of your stomach into a 1oz pouch. Then they “bypass” a couple of feet of intestine, divide the intestine and attach the intestine to the 1oz stomach pouch then reattaching the bypassed portion of intestine to the functioning intestine so that any digestive fluids in your stomach are still accessible.
Many people argue with weight loss surgery because of the many complications that can occur. It’s true, there is the chance of infections, leaking, blood clots, and anything else associated with major surgery. Just because it is a voluntary surgery doesn’t mean that any effects of major invasive surgery don’t exist.
In my opinion getting the surgery and spending five days in the hospital on a morphine drip was the easy part. The psychological side effects that happen the second you get back into your usual routine are what take their toll on anyone who has underwent this procedure.
For the first month all consumed food must be ground to the consistency of apple sauce. To top that off, imagine the amount of food you can eat now. Think about it. Envision a dinner plate, filled with food. Now let me tell you that I would blend my food, fill an ice-cube tray. And for every meal I would pull out a single ice-cube, heat it up and spend a ½ hour eating that.
Also sugar became a big no-no. Anything that had sugar in the first three ingredients causes what we gastric-bypassers know as “Dumping.” Sounds lovely doesn’t it? Basically what happens is now that you have a shorter intestine sugar absorbs too quickly into your system causing your body to overload you with insulin. In the simplest terms: You will feel like absolute crap, and you will want to die for 20 minutes to an hour.
That is just the beginning of everything I went through. Your birthday – no cake. Thanksgiving – no pie. Easter – No candy. All things that are easy to do once, but believe you me, they take their toll.
To get this surgery and have it work, you must be willing to work with it. It is a LIFE LONG CHANGE. Some people don’t take this into consideration. Or they do, but don’t envision being the one drinking water when friends drag you out for ice cream or coffee. Most people don’t understand the hatred they will grow for the Keebler elves, and all their elf happiness.
This surgery also will not work by itself. You can easily stretch your stomach out, and gain back all of the weight you lost. You have to work out on top of everything else you are struggling with physiologically. And as if that’s not enough, you must also take a regimented amount of vitamins daily, for the rest of your life because of the mallabsorption factor. It’s hard, but it works. Me—I’ve lost over 160 lbs. through this procedure. Would I do it again? Yes. Is it for everyone? NO NO NO!!! Ultimately you have to know 100% what you are getting yourself into, and if you are willing to work with it and understand all risks involved you too can be successful, but think long and hard about what you are doing, because if you aren’t dedicated to the cause you can hurt yourself more than help yourself.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Most patients immediately lose weight rapidly and continue to do so until 18 to 24 months after the procedure. Although most patients then start to regain some of their lost weight, few regain it all.
Surgery improves most obesity-related conditions. (Diabetes, Sleep apnea, sever pain from arthritis, etc…)
Cons
10-20% of patients require follow up operations to correct complications.
Over 1/3 of obese patients who have gastric surgery develop gallstones. Gallstones can be prevented with supplemental bile salts taken for the first 6 months after surgery.
Almost 30% of patients who have weight-loss surgery develop nutritional deficiencies such as anemia, osteoporosis, and metabolic bone disease. These deficiencies can be avoided if vitamin and mineral intakes are maintained.
Women of childbearing age should avoid pregnancy until their weight becomes stable because rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can harm a developing fetus.
In conclusion
The one thing that the fast, extreme weight loss did do for me was offer a sight into the shallow American society. Women are more caddy then they ever were, and men – well men make me sick. A year and a half ago 99% of the men who hit on me wouldn’t have given me a second look and 50% of them would have made my 350 pound body into a joke.
I believe a lot of diets and obesity are caused by women’s place in society. I think most girls my age and a good portion of women older than me, still are told by our society that their looks equate to their importance. As ludicrous as we all know it is, we all know it is true.
All too often (even in my history) Dieting is not caused by a personal need or want, but one that is reinforced by those around us. All too often our driving force is the opposite sex. Everyone can say it’s for them self, because yes it is. Because it feels good to be more attractive – but why is thinner more attractive?
I don’t think any diet will ever be successful until your heart is right. Your mind has to be healthy and you have to want it for yourself. Because if you do it for any other reason you can go ahead and add whatever diet it is you are on to your own personal list of failed diets.
Also if you consider any weight loss surgery: Think about what you are doing. It can be great, but it can also be the worst thing you ever did.
I’m very happy with my decision to get Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. I never wanted to be thinner, I just wanted to be healthier. I’ve gone from a size 28-30 to anywhere from a 12 to a 16 (depending on the store) which isn’t bad for a girl who is 5' 10” But the best part is I can walk up the steps to my apartment without being out of breath.
Thank you ladies and gents…on that note I shall take my leave of you. Good night and good luck.
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LaurenMarie
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Location: Virginia
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I don't do repeat performances. I don't do repeat performances.
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