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Got a question, hope someone can answer... What am I doing wrong Medifast Diet? Thanks in advance for any answer. Another quick question... Just curious, I know so many people who are getting or have a gastric bypass. Some have a lot less to lose than I do.. |
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Good question... I dunno what is the answer. I'll do some research in Google and get back to you if I discover an anything. You should email the people at Medifast as they probably could give you help..
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I don't want to cut out a part of a major life-sustaining organ. It can never be repaired, reattached (they can open back up the pouch on your stomach sometimes, but in RNY they remove a portion of the intestine for good), or undone..
That isn't meant to be tongue-in-cheek or snarky. I can see why others choose it. I did a ton of research for it for a final project in school (hour long independent presentation, compiled metastudies, etc), and it literally is cutting out a big part of your intestine, which is a vital organ in your body to sustain life. I'm just not comfortable with it. That project was before the lap-band, which is totally different, but I still am not really down with changing my anatomy surgically.. I'm glad I found MF. Everyone has to find what is right for them... |
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In January last year I was desperate, and was researching lap band surgery, I thought it would be the only way that I could eventually lose this excess weight that I'd been carrying around for years. During the search I came across the details on Medifast, because people were using it before and after surgery, and suddenly there was another option, just do Medifast and leave out the dangerous uncomfortable surgery bit..
So I did. And it worked.. |
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Oh and I forgot to add about my Mom's gas! I am sure that has to do with all the stuff they remove and block off. I can't tell you how horrid it is. Like those cartoons where the remove fills with green fog! I am not kidding. I don't know how my dad lives there. Even my niece and nephew joke about it. They are 5 and 8!..
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I know several people who have had some kind of surgery. They all have some negative experiences, but Medifast was my last-ditch effort before starting the process of getting my insurance to approve surgery. Don't misunderstand: I HATE going to the Dr., but I was desperate, and in spite of the issues my friends have had, I was willing to go that route myself..
Friend 1: had lapband and paid out of pocket because she didn't want to wait for insurance to approve it. She lost a considerable amount of weight then got pregnant and they had to completely deflate the band so she could eat properly for her pregnancy. During pregnancy, the band slipped way down, so now even completely filled up, it's like it isn't even there. She has been told the only way to correct it is surgery to remove the faulty band, then a total replacement (all out of pocket expenses since insurance regards her first surgery as elective). So she has decided to do nothing for now.. Friend #2: Had lap band two years ago, but failed to lose much weight. She just had gastric bypass and has lost 26 pounds in 3 weeks. Time will tell what her eventual success and/or issues might be.. Friend 3: Had lapband about a year and a half ago and has lost close to 100 pounds. She just had a baby, so hasn't been actively losing for the last 9 months. She seems to have minimal issues with the band - just trying to get the fill fine tuned for the best results.. SIL: Had gastric bypass surgery about 7 years ago. She lost a LOT of weight the first year, but she was sick all the time. Her hair started falling out and she had other continual issues, including gall bladder, dental problems, and throwing up when eating anything with sugar. She ended up in the hospital 5 years post-op because some part of the bypass had herniated or ripped. They did a revision and she's feeling better now. Her hair is better, and her dental problems have subsided. I am SO GLAD I found MF! I know for some, WLS is the only solution, but if there is any way to lose the weight and keep it off without surgery, that is what I prefer to do! Even with surgery, there is no guarantee that one will lose the weight or that it will stay gone. We all must create new healthy habits in order to make this weight loss stick... |
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Thank you EVERYONE!!! You have all mentioned all the reasons I have been hesitant to have gastric surgery! I really really want Medifast to work..
Thank you all for your support, I really DO feel better.. Oh, Pam, one of my friends who had a gastric says her gas clears the house, even the dogs run away. Wallpaper curls :-) Though I have had a bit of gas myself with MF>. M.. |
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I was toying with the idea of gastric or lap band because I was getting desperate. I didn't do anything, though, because I hated the idea of going under the knife for elective surgery which would not teach me anything about developing healthy habits anyway. I'm so glad I chose Medifast instead of surgery. Last month I had knee replacement surgery and let me tell you that even though my recovery is on track and going well, I think it has been hell to live through. The idea of surgery to make me thinner is now something that strikes me as completely untenable, now that I've been in a hospital, had anesthesia, been in pain, etc. etc.
This surgery was not elective. But now I know that I would never, ever, have elective surgery. No facelift, no lap band, no gastric bypass, no thank you... |
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Me too. I have some but mom's. I think it should be studied. Maybe as a WMD?..
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I know 5 people who have opted for GB and 2 with the band..
Based on what I see, the band folks have lost nothing. One of the band people does those puke burps all the time eeewwww gross, is still morbidly obese and yet still eats nothing but crap all day long. The 2nd person I don't see very often and as far as I know does not do the puke thing but he also eats crap, just in small frequent batches. Both of them are a few years out of surgery.. The GB people I know range from this past January to roughly 8 years ago. The one thing that all the long timers have in common is they still struggle with their weight. 1 of them has never gotten out of the morbidly obese category and has just learned to eat around her restrictions and has severly stretched her pouch. She is contemplating having the pouch redone back to a small size. Another lost a chunk but has gained most of it back.. 2 lost significant weight and have kept a good portion of it off. 1 is still losing as expected. My friend that did the surgery in January was heck bent to do it. She saw how I was doing with Medifast but that was too much work, she wanted easy and something that was "beyond her control".. I researched the band a few years ago but honestly I have not seen enough good statistics that I was willing to go there and GB has too high of a mortality rate, plain and simple it scared me. Plus the permanence was a deterent to me also. MY friend 8 years out still pukes regularly from fat and sugar. Sure, she can't eat a piece of cheese cake in 1 sitting but if she takes a bite here and there throughout the day she can polish it off just like I can. What really then is the difference?.. |
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I had GBS 10 years ago actually and I have gained 90 lbs back. I am not saying more story is normal, I just never learned to change my behaviors with food and so I started to make the wrong choices again because I thought I could and the weight stopped falling off and instead the scale started going the other way..
So when looking to changing my lifestyle and doing small meals a day, I found MF... |
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Jennifer, from the research I have done, your story.
Is. Normal... |
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Yeah I am sure it probably is more normal then I think, but having my ten year anniversary this weekend with the GBS and I have many many many many friends who followed me and had surgery and when I see them all still being so successful I think to myself sometimes, why wasn't that me, and I start to have my little pitty party. But then I wake up.. LOL ... and realize what a small population I really am looking at and as long as I dont give up this battle, this fight to win back my life, my story has not ended...
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I had lap-band surgery at little over 3 years ago (as did my husband - same day!) I lost around 50 pounds, and then the weight loss just completely stalled. I also went through a period where the band was poorly adjusted (too much fluid) and I ended up on the ER FOUR times with extreme pain around the band. No one, including the surgeon who placed the band, could ever figure out what was causing it, but removing some of this fluid seemed to alleviate the problem. With the lap band, you also have the added fun of someone sticking a great big needle in your stomach to adjust the fluid. Once the weight loss dwindled down to nil, I continued to gain/lose the same 5-10 pounds for months. It was very frustrating and demoralizing.
ARGH! I had the surgery because I THOUGHT I had tried everything, including Weight Watchers, and never had any real success.. I wish I had found Medifast before having surgery, but honestly it's difficult for me to say whether or not I would have been as satisfied with the food as I am now, given my smaller stomach. However, given that most users are in a mild to moderate state of ketosis, that seems to help most with hunger issues.. Oh, by the way, hubby initially lost around 60 pounds, but he's gained about 10 of that back and STILL needs to lose about 50-60 more pounds. He's a bit frustrated too.. My boss had Gastric Bypass Surgery about 8 months before I had my procedure done. She has lost a lot of weight, but is still technically overweight. So far she has maintained the loss, but she has a lot of food issues (nausea, dumping syndrome, stomach pain). She recently went for a Endoscopy and Colonoscopy to make sure there isn't something else going.. I alternate between glad I did the surgery (grateful for the 45-50 pounds I did lose pre-Medifast) and annoyed that this procedure was not as effortless as advertised by the surgeon. There was also very little in the way of counseling to address psychological issues with food. There were some group sessions, but I've never been one to talk about my issues in a room full of people (hence the ineffectiveness of Medifast meetings). I've gotten more support and guidance in my 3 months of Medifast than I did the 3 years since surgery... |
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I strongly considered weight loss surgery. I even went to a consultation a couple of months ago. They gave me a ton of info to read and one thing really stood out to me. At the bottom of several pages it said "even with every precaution death may occur during or following surgery." Or something close to that. For my part I am completely healthy other than being overweight. So for me it didn't make since to risk death when I could get off my butt and do something about my weight without the surgery.
This time I didn't have as many problems getting started. I have still had some slip ups but I just get back on the wagon and keep going... |
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Because, at least for me, my weight problem has very little to do with my stomach and everything to do with my screwed up relationship with food..
The problem is with my head, not with the size of my stomach. They figure out a surgery to fix my head and I'll be the first to line up. Until then, my weight is just a symptom of a problem, not the problem itself... |
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Wow, I also considered having GB like almost four years ago but well I never fell through with it, and I also looked into getting the band but then again never fell through with it! There is no quick fixes to losing weight and maintaining it! I think that we as "obese" people will always have a battle with food n o matter what, but I can say that you have to over come that battle and not give in and fall into your old habits again!.
I can say that If it werent for Medifast idk where the hell I would be, but I'm glad that I have found this program and I'm able to afford it and do it now to get to a healthier me!.. |
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I have 3 family members who went the GBS route. My cousin was 440 lbs & lost 250 lbs, had skin surgery & nearly died several times. Then she became a CHEF. Guess what? She gained ALL the weight back & she's now deformed because the fat did not evenly distribute ...her upper arms are like balloons & her lower arms are like sticks..
My sister lost 92 lbs after her surgery. Three years later, she still 'dumps' most of her food but has managed to regain 60 lbs. She suffers from malnutrition & can't absorb the nutrients from food. She's lost her hair & wears a wig. A day does not go by where she isn't suffering from some after-effect of the surgery.. My SIL had GBS 3 years ago. She made up her mind that she wouldn't stop drinking afterwards, as the doctors told her she'd HAVE to, and that she could still eat what she wanted 'in moderation'. She's stopped losing weight & is on the road to gaining it all back.. Gigi said it all here: If we don't fix our relationship with food, weight loss is only a temporary thing. Many people who have surgery think it's the easy way out, that they can still eat like they used to but smaller portions. In reality, the only way to achieve permanent weight loss is to change our eating habits. The 5/1 WILL do that for all of us when we commit ourselves to the program. All GBS & WLS will do is put a band-aid on the problem & offer a temporary fix.. When a person has surgery, he doesn't learn new eating habits & practice them day in & day out for months at a time like we do here at MF. How then, is he expected to 'change his eating habits?' It's unrealistic. It doesn't work for a large majority of people for that very reason.. I reached my goal here in 29 weeks; I've kept the weight off for 18 months (94 lbs). All my internal organs are intact & I take NO medications. I eat 6 small, healthy meals per day & that keeps me at goal & feeling satisfied. I work on myself from the inside out.....when my insides are in order, my outside takes care of itself. The 5/1 taught me a whole new way to eat & keep the weight off & it can do that for YOU as well. If you read some of the My Pages around here, you will see people who have taken off 350 lbs. There are people here who have maintained their weight for years, without drugs, without surgery and without horror stories. It's doable here, one day at a time.. Whatever you decide to do, best of luck on your journey... |
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My MD tried to talk me into gastric bypass when my first daughter was about a year old - I had ballooned up over 300 and she was sure I would qualify. I researched and found a 5% mortality rate!!! That was almost 9 years ago and I know things have improved a lot. BUT with a new baby, I was NOT taking chances..
A year later, I took a new job that was no longer sedentary, started exercising with my daughter and lost 90 pounds over 18 months. I was even able to keep it off fairly well. I gained about 30 pounds after a miscarriage from depression eating but lost it all after a successful TWIN pregnancy. BUT after my father died 2 years ago I gained almost 90 pounds from stress/depression over the course (ironically) of about 18 months!. So, here we go again... My moms doctor mentioned Medifast to her about the same time as my own doctor recommended it to me. We figured it was a sign that we were both told about it within a few days of each other. We are doing this together, which helps A LOT!. My girlfriend is around 450+ and slightly over 5'+ (she is so cute, 2! despite the weight) and she is going through the months long process of qualifying for gastric bypass. She really wants it and feels this is best for her as she has tried just about every diet (has not done MF!) and rarely loses weight. I tried to talk her into Medifast but she really can not afford the diets where you have to buy the products. Her hubby totally supports the surgical option so we are all getting on board to support her now - no matter how scary it is to us.. I know I can't even think about it for myself. I always figure Gd gave us these organs for a reason - up to us to learn how to live with them! LOL!.. |
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It sounds like a lot of these surgeons did not do what they should be. My surgeon has a 6 month program which includes exercise classes, monthly visits with a registered dietician at which time they teach you what you need to do after surgery as well as let you ask all the questions you want. They have monthly seminars so anyone can come in and learn about the surgery options and what life will be like for you after, They don't pull any punches either. After the seminar they have support group which you can attend even pre-op, so you can talk to the people who have gone through it and what their experiences have been. They explain about the bad things that can happen, but most importantly, they explain it as a lifestyle change. If you dont change your habits it will not work for you.
If anything it's a crutch. WLS only works when you work with it. You have limited space, but you still have to choose the right food to put in your body. There are some foods you will have to give up forever. Many patients who have RNYGBS become lactose intolerant, for life. WLS patients are told that their meals should be no larger than their palm, they should only eat 3 times a day and they must eat their food in the order of protein, vegetable, fruit, dairy, grains. If you dont get in enough protein your hair WILL fall out, that is why the protein supplements are so important. Ideally you should be full after the vegetable and not be putting anything with high sugar in your body anyway. The way I see it is that you should eat like a diabetic, even if you dont require medication. My surgery is in 11 days. Every body is different and WLS v Medifast is a personal choice. The most important part is that you are making the choice to get healthy. WLS isnt skinny surgery, it's a way to help you get healthier because honestly, you will have a lot less health issues when you arent carrying around as much weight. People who go into it as a quick fix or just a way to get thin will be disappointed. You need to change your lifestyle, your eating habits, and your mindset no matter what route you take.. I applaud all your Medifast users who can do this without the surgery, but some people cant. I feel that if they are making an informed decision, then they will succeed. I know I will... |
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Jenna, I by no means meant to imply that all WLS patients fail. I am sure many succeed. I attended the pre-op meetings with my mom. I supported her thru the surgery. I bought her a billion types of protein shakes to help her through it. She chose to do the things she has done.
I think he is a surgeon. Once he cut, he is done. I also sincerely doubt she is honest with him about what she eats and doesn't eat. Truthfully, she probably isn't honest with herself either. I honestly hope your surgery goes smoothly with zero complications and you achieve your goals!.. |
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I believe you. I also know that A LOT of people fail WLS, and A LOT of people get it that shouldnt. Thats where you have the surgeons who are in it for the numbers. I lucked out a found someone who is in it for the patients, he even holds the seminars and stays sometimes for support group!.
The thing is, I used to be one of the people that though WLS was the easy fix, so now that I know better, it frustrates me to see that mind set in others and I try to set the record straight. Weight loss and maintenance a hard hard battle and I wish everyone here success no matter which route they end up taking.. Thank you so much, I will certainly try my best. Its great that you gave you mom the support whether she took it or not. My mom was considering the surgery but got too hung up on all the things shed have to give up, and just focused on them instead of the end goal. Shes one of the people that probably shouldnt do it because all shed have is regrets no matter how much weight she lost... |
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For me the prospect of WLS is what scared me into MF. I was doing serious research in LB and was convinced it was my last option. Even though two fo the three people I know had problems with it and had to have them removed, I was prepared to go forward. I was researching what the post op requirements were like and it seemed similar to a protein shake diet I had done a number of years ago. I wasn't prepared to do it again because I just put the weight back on after. Somewhere along the way I stumbled across MF.
I googled it anyway and then ran into all the MLM/pyramid article and almost bailed there before even trying. I saw all the centers and knew that wasn't right for me either and almost bailed again. Then I realized there are no centers in NJ and realized I could just order the food in the box and have it show up. That definitely sounded like me. I decided to give it a try rather then pursue the surgery option. I thought I was just doing another diet. I didn't anticipate getting all caught up in the blogs, boards, and comments. I feel like I've opened up about this for the first time ever. I'm talking about things I've never talked about. It's changed the way I'm dealing with things in real life, not just here. Part of that is just the rush of losing weight I know. But I think part of it is also the healthy way I'm dealing with myself and others now. I'm not looking to judge or change anybody else's decisions. I do know I'm very happy that I came here and that I've allowed myself to change... |
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What a wonderful post! Thank you so much. I thought about Lap Band for about 5 minutes. NEVER did I consider Gastric bypass. There are so many success stories here and this is my first day. I am sure this is the best choice for me...
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I know 3 people who have had GBS over the last 3 years from work.The first 2 lost all of their weight(they weren't even.
That. Overweight in my opinion), 1 kept it off for a couple of years, the 2nd started gaining weight after a couple of months. The 2nd one has already had her gall bladder removed since the surgery. The 3rd, just had her surgery about 6 months ago and is still in the process of losing. However, she is eating total junk 24/7, so not sure how far she'll get.. I'm much more overweight than any of them, but I know my problem is using food as a comfort, as a friend, as a way to dull my pain and rebel against life's reality. I'm always going to have a problem with food as a crutch, so until I alter that part of my psyche it will be too easy to slip back into that self destructive behaviour. I'm hoping this is where Medifast will make a difference in my life. It's only week 2, but I feel better than I have in years.. JoJo.. |
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I am on the list for gastric bypass and hoping Medifast will work before I am called. Down 20lbs...
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I will say a little more. I got up to 225 after I broke up with my fiance and finally did Medifast 20 years ago. I got down to 140 and was a new person but it was hard to hold on to the loss. The next two years I tried to keep it off by being on and off the product. A few years later, I got up to 250 mfed to 190. I went to graduate school and gained that back.
Okay now I got up to 281 and am mfing and lost 20lbs. This history is why I am considering surgery still. I felt so ashamed to go from 140 to 280. At first, I was reluctant to do things because of my embarassment about the weight gain. I missed weddings and funerals. I never want to lose weight and go through the shame of gaining again. I said that the first time I lost 80 lbs with mf. I said to myself, if I ever start gaining, I will go to the hospital and have IV antidepressants. But of course that is not an option. Also, I tend to gain when I have to much to do and am overwhelmed and nervous. I try to relax daily even though my job is very stressful. It is hard to figure it all out. I studied so hard to get a good career which made me gain weight. Now the career is challenging and I gain weight. If I could just live a calm peaceful life this would be easier but it is hard to find that life. In both arenas, I feel like I can lose ground easily. I am doing okay with Medifast now. I had a hard two weeks, but am okay now. I am hoping for a real change this time... |
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I like many was considering it as an option of last resort. As I read the stories, I was alarmed at the side effects and by the fact that it wasn't a true solution for many. In the end I reasoned that if the surgery was done tor restrict my calorie intake, that I could do it myself. I also realized that even if I did go the gastric bypass route, the biggest challenge will be to keep off whatever I lose via either method. I have been trying to lose weight on my own since the beginning of the year. I gained 8 pounds, but lost 2.5 in June.
I thought about it for a day, talked it over with DH and place my order. I'm happy with my choice! It's easily adjustable and adaptable to my lifestyle. I don't think the same could be said for WLS.. |
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Like the others have said, I only know people who are on meds, consistent discomfort and, worst of all, everyone I know has gained back practically every pound. I say Medifast is the way to go if you are feeling desperate. This program is drastic enough without slicing and dicing your internal organs. JMO..
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I HAD a gastric bypass and I'm still fat. People don't tell you the one big secret to weight loss surgery: You STILL have to diet and exercise and stay on plan... You still have to learn how to make good, healthy food choices. You still have to work on your food addictions and emotional issues that led you to gaining weight... and if you don't, you will gain it back..
I lost 140lbs from surgery... and even at that, I was still 125lbs away from my goal weight of 125. Ten years later, I've gained back 80. If I had known about Medifast before surgery, I would have given it a try before doing something like this to myself.. I don't mean to sound doom and gloom about WLS... But this is the ugly side of it that no one talks about. No one told me that I would still have weight issues afterwards. No one told me that if I didn't get rid of my food demons and deal with my depression/emotional triggers for eating, I would gain back the weight. If feel that if someone - ANYONE - had told me from the get-go that this was a even a possibility, I could have prepared myself better and made a more informed decision.. If you're thinking about it yourself, just know that it's not THE ANSWER. It's basically like Medifast - it will work if you stay on the plan. You can still cheat. You can still mess up. You can still make bad choices - it's up to you to work it. The difference is that with MF, you didn't subject yourself to a painful and scary surgery to have your insides rearranged... |
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Personally, I've only known people with bad experiences with WLS. It was recommended by both my former GP and my former psychiatrist. I checked it out (went to an information session with a good team), read through the application and materials and insurance BS, and read online. I got rid of the two doctors instead..
It's like diet drugs everyone's looking for the miracle cure. There are some things that just can't (and maybe shouldn't) be cured. I took Phen-Fen and had great success and was so disappointed when they took fenfluramine off the market. But it didn't deal with food issues (otherwise plain phenteramine would have worked too) it dealt with the mental issues I had. Like the psych drugs I took did. In fact, the best of the new crop being reviewed by the FDA is a combination with a psych/epilepsy drug.. My opinion is 'if it's not broken, don't fix it'. Our GI is not broken. It's not what needs to be changed.. Emma.. |
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I was scheduled for gastric bypass surgery for April 26th. I had gone to the seminar, the nutrition session, and met with the surgeon. The first red flag for me was the rushed meeting with the smug nutritionist who asked if she could do two of us at once because, well really, isn't gastric the same as the band post-op food wise, and she had somewhere to be. RUDE. Next, I wanted some more time to look into the process. I was confident that the surgeon I had approval from my insurance company for is the best.
Well, turns out that surgeon was leaving the practice, something they didn't tell me until I wanted to push back a few weeks he wasn't going to be working there in a few weeks! (He is now at a major university teaching in the field). Without my permission, they re-requested approval from my insurance company with a different surgeon. WHAT? So in the mean time, I'm looking into the surgery more. I wasn't concerned with the 30 day post-op mortality rates (now around 1-2%, lower for those who are less obese than others)... what really made me worry was the lack of study on the long term mortality associated with MALNUTRITION. So I found Medifast. And just a few days ago, the clinic called me. They wanted to "Check up on me" since my decision to "post-pone" the surgery... I was happy to tell the snotty lady, "Thanks so much for checking, but I've lost 40 pounds on Medifast, so I seriously doubt I'd qualify for the surgery anymore." :-).. |
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My aunt had gastric bypass about 4 years ago. she did lose a lot of weight but as she got more and more comfortable eating she began to put on weight. She hasn't gained it all back but her habits are the same now as they were before surgery. She doesn't look at all healthy but I'm not sure if it's due to the poor eating habits or the surgery. I also have an acquaintence who had the gb surgery. Her weight loss has been good and she is really happy but does have some serious nutritional issues - vitamin shots etc required to keep her going. She is happy she did it but I think the risks of the surgery outweigh the benefits unless one's health is so far gone that the risks are a better option...
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"A recent study by researchers at the University of Washington found that 1 in 50 people die within one month of having gastric bypass surgery, and that figure jumps nearly fivefold if the surgeon is inexperienced. ".
Source.. |
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Do you think this is true? It sounds just terrible to me..
If this is true, does anyone know of another surgery which has such a high mortality rate within one month? I've read this entire thread and feel so very sad for those who have had this surgery and have been very sick because of it.. I hope and pray that all doctors are explaining these risks to their patients. If the statistics which geekrags posted are true, then it's an extremely dangerous surgery that kills one out of 50 and that's if it's done by a doctor who has performed many. If the surgeon is inexperienced, does fivefold mean 1 out of every 10 of his/her patients die within the first month? These are terrible odds!. Those who are put on Medifast or Optifast prior to surgery, how wonderful it would be if they realized that perhaps with some assistance and support, they can lose their weight without the surgery. I'd go to OA meetings (been there done that) get a good health coach (mine seemed more interested in the monetary aspect of the TSFL arm of MF) join a jym (done that too) get a treadmill (I've got one and I use it) find a good medical doctor for my PCP, go into therapy for my eating disorder (been there done that) WHATEVER - but no surgery... |
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I had gastric bypass surgery on Oct 2002 and lost 110 pounds. Since then I have regained 35 pounds. When I got on the Doctor's weight scale for my annual physical and saw those 35 pounds I freaked. Returned to Medifast and have since lost about 10 pounds. I never reached my goal weight even after GB. My Doctor told me about Medifast in 2008 and I tried it for a couple of weeks and lost 9 pounds.
GP works but you must change your eating habits and exercise or the weight will return. I started eating desserts and made bad food choices. I need to change my mind set and commit to a healthier diet. I want to reach my current goal of 140 pounds. My true goal weight is 107 but the number scares me so I'll start with 140... |
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I needed to hear from all of you tonight. I'm on day 2 of Medifast and night time is my hardest. My husband is skinny and can eat whatever, always could. I ate like him and I'm at 310..
My sister just had gasteric bypass a week ago, and I was very jealous, I wanted one to. For years I have wanted the surgery. You all have helped me to see differently... |
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I love my surgery and I would not have traded it for anything but there is still so much mental work I need to do for my surgery to effective. With Medifast it allows us to change the way we view food and react by using food. This is the structure I need now and I know I will be successful...
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My friend had lap band (wanted to lose 100 lbs) and never lost an ounce. Of course she never stopped drinking alcohol, either, or eating crap food. She didn't stand a chance...
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My story is a lot like cornflowerblue17. I had lap band surgery 6 yrs. ago. I lost 50 lbs the first 3 months. Then stalled. Whenever I got "fills" to tighten the band I would get horrible stomach pains so they had to take all my fill out.
Not much restriction. I still have problems with food getting STUCK in the opening causing me to experience horrible pain and then I throw up everything.. The two people I know that had the surgery and inspired me to get it have gained their weight back. One is almost as obese as she was before, the other about 25-30 lbs. came back.. Like so many have said...it is all about changing our attitudes towards food and developing a healthy relationship with it. Food can NO LONGER be our friend, comfort, stress reliever...whatever it was for you that made you abuse it. I have to look at it as just nutrition now.. Good luck!. ~Belinda. Week 1: -10 lbs. Week 2: - 6 lbs.. |
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That's exactly how I feel!! I don't want to get rid of something I might need later!!..
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Has anyone seen the show Big Medicine? I caught the last part of it the other day..
Http://health.discovery.com/tv/big-m...-medicine.html.. |
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I am definitely getting either the band or gastric bypass. I will always struggle with my weight, bariatric surgery or not. The surgery is not a magic pill. It is a tool. Just like medifast. I am 46, I have been weighing between 200 and 300 pounds since I was in the eighth grade and 13 years old.
It is not for everyone, and there are horror stories and success stories. Just with everything in life, there are obstacles to getting where you want to go. I hope that you all get where you want to go... |
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There are some benefits......
Http://www.newsweek.com/2008/08/24/i...-diabetes.html. That story above was from 2005. The rates of death now, with newer technology, are about 1 in 100, which is about 1 percent. And, that includes people with multiple, multiple, multiple health problems, some of which weigh 400 plus pounds. The death rate from gall bladder removal surgery is estimated between .7 percent and 2 percent. 2 percent is 1 in 50... |
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I know about 8 or 9 people that have had it done. HERE is why I haven't had it done..
Person #1: My SIL got it right after I got married to my hubsand. She lost quite a bit of weight and looked great. I saw her a couple years later when I had gotten to my goal weight and she had gained back quite a bit. I saw her recently and she had lost quite a bit. She exercises frequently. Still eats like a horse. She runs.. Person #2. Her ex-husband got it done the same day. He lost quite a bit of weight but still needs to drop a good 60-70 lbs. His weight has not changed at all and he can't eat regular sized meals.. Person #3. Old friend of mine. She was doing WW wtih me and decided that WLS was the better route. She is fighting bleeding ulcers and is very underweight and malnutrioned. She has been in and out of the hospital several times for blood transfusions and feeding tube. There is nothing they can do because there isn't much stomach left to treat.. Person #4. SIL's mother IN law. She went to 15 different doctors before she got the approval to get it done. She has MANY issues to list and yet still wanted it. Now she is underweight, eats all the time and throws up often. She looks horrible and is losing her hair.. Person #5: She changed her lifestyle and has maintained the weight loss but just had a baby so that might be changed now.. Person #6: Her and I both worked on losing weight at the same time. She got to goal MUCH faster than me. She had a baby and gained 80 of it back. She is very uspet because her insurance won't do a revision because she gained it back. They told her do a different type of plan.. Those state out of 6 people that I know of, only one of them has really changed their lifestyle. I have fixed my food issues and now I will drop the weight. I have learned that food is not the answer. it is just fuel, not a friend, not a theapist and so on... |
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AND Person #7: She is close to goal but not clsoe enough. She exercised and lost quite a bit of weight. She has had many other health issues related to the surgery. Now she has a stress fracture in her foot and no exercsie for 6 weeks at least. She is eating junk again...
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Im sorry that you think that getting the WLS will solve all your "eating and weight" problems when it really wont! I think that you are better off doing Medifast and sticking to the plan to lose the weight, and if you feel you couldnt do it anymore then possibly look into this to finish your weightloss goals, but either way we are all at risk of gaining the weight back and I think that WLS is no quick fix! Either way, you may or may not lose the weight when you get it, and believe me, I have looked into that yrs ago and was going to get it myself, but for some reason never fell through with it and just got fatter!.
Either way I wish you the best. But I can tell you that Medifast has tought me a lot of food and I think so much differently now and wont FAIL this time!.. |
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IM GLAD THAT I FOUND Medifast AND THAT THIS IS ENABLING ME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT~!..
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The WLS will have with the binge eating..which means you will throw it all up...
I am a recovering binger and have made significant progress over the last year or so. IT isn't easy at all. Why do you binge around that time of the month? Are you hungry? Are the feelings jsut out of this world? What is the driving factor?.. |
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No surgery is without complications..
My daughter had the lap band and lost a lot of weight on it but did have to go in periodically to have it adjusted. When she got pregnant they had to deflate it due to her pregnancy. Through this, the band started leaking so after she had the baby she went to have it replaced only to find out that it had "eaten" into (eroded) her stomach. This is one of the potential complications of the lap band and, lucky woman, she had bot the leaking lap band and the more serious complication. She was in the hospital several days with an NG tube to allow her stomach to heal after they sewed her back together. I don't think she's going to get another lap band.. I know of a couple of cases where there have been serious complications from GB surgery. In one case, a coworker developed malabsorption syndrome and actually died. In another, the person also developed complications (cardiac problems, diabetes, etc) and ended up regaining his weight. He is now insulin dependent and has had major cardiac issues.. So.... no surgery is foolproof. I always tell patients that if any doctor guarantees he can make you better, get out of there quickly. For anyone considering either of these procedures, please listen VERY carefully to all of the possible complications, as your doctor for his percentage of not only successes but also of failures and percentage of complications, his level of experience (how long he's been doing the procedure and how many procedures he has actually done), and be very very sure you want this before you do it.. Linda.. |
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Wow, this is some heavy stuff here and I also saw on tv whre this stuff has happened too, and one guy couldnt even stop losing weight from GB and I felt so sorry for him! I was going to get the lapband, but glad that I didnt!. [/font].. |
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You mean that you are "bulemic"? (spelling) My sister is and she has rotted out her teeth from throwing up for along time, and it grosses me out, and also I wonder what her stomavh looks like from all that acid coming back up!.
Well, I hope that you will over come this disorder and you will reach your goal weight! Good luck to you!.. |
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Nope..I do not have a eating disorder like that. I will eat and eat and eat..and not stop. I will not throw up at all. I will just feel miserable..
I have thrown up a lot but that is due to the food allergies that I have. The wheat products make me very ill.. My binging was filling a void that nothing else did... |
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Hormones I guess. I just feel out of sorts and anxious and turn to food. Whether a person has surgery or not, one must deal with eating problems. I don't expect a quick fix. I expect a tool. To help me. That is all...
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Both of these stories sound typical for gastric bypass patients. Everyone should expect some gain after around two years. Nutritional deficiencies are part of it too. I think these outcomes, for me, are better than the high blood pressure, gerd, sleep apnea and the inevitable diabetes given my family history...
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Ahhhhhhhhhh...yes, I know what you are talking about....I had the same problem and I would actually eat and eat myself sick mostly on the weekends and get so sick and be throwing up a few days every week. It was horrible and yeah I had food reactions like that too. Well, since being on Medifast I havent fel into my old ways...and Hope that I never do again!..
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Well good luck with the surgery..
I get injections for B12 and drink Vitamin D supplement. I haven't had gastric bypass surgery but have absorbation issues due to Celiacs Disease... |
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Everybody chooses their own "forum" to lose weight, whether it's surgery, a certain diet, etc. It's just that some of these forums carry much heavier risks than others, but they all require the same thing: behavioral changes period. The beauty of it, is that YOU get to choose what you think works best for YOU. Not your neighbor, family member or friend. And judge whom you will for their choice and their results, but that's the great thing about it..we are free to choose according to our will which way is best for us..
(p.s. I need to fix my duplicate ticker!..ugh.).. |
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I did a lot of research into WLS two years ago, because I considered myself unable to keep track of the number of calories in different foods and so I didn't think I could diet. I was just ignorant that it is the ATTITUDE you have towards food that has to change. So, I went to some meetings where physicians described the procedures, and the condescending and frivolous attitude and the way they flippantly glossed past the mortality statistics horrified me. I found Medifast and it has saved my life. I was getting to where I considered myself a disabled person, and now I am vibrantly alive. In the interim I have discussed WLS surgery with many emergency room nurses and they have amazing awful stories of the people they have seen rushed in with complications.
NOT when I can conquer my bad food issues with mental will power and MF. I know several relatives who had the surgery and gained the weight back, I hear stories of medical complications that are so awful, I thank Medifast every day for the tool that has me well on the way to shedding off half my former body weight... |
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I had lap band surgery done in June of 2008, and here I am in October of 2010,.
Finally. Losing weight with Medifast!. There are people who have successfully lost weight with the lap band procedure, but statistics don't lie, and the truth is that the majority don't lose much. I knew those statistics before the surgery - the surgeon read them to me. But of course, I thought I'd be one of successful minority, rather than the unsuccessful majority.. There are many reasons why it didn't work for me, and I won't bore you with all the details, but at present I still have the band, but with no "fill," so in effect there's very little restriction from the surgery.. And honestly, doing something. That. Drastic to lose weight, followed by a complete failure to actually lose anything, left me feeling worse than ever about myself. After all, if. Surgery. Doesn't work, I must be completely hopeless, right?. Wrong! I finally quit feeling sorry for myself, and got busy figuring out what tools. Will. Help me successfully lose weight. And I discovered Medifast. It's just a tool, but it's a tool that's working for me.. This is the first time in many years that I've been able to say "No" to sugar for more than a day or two. It's been two months today since I started Medifast, and I'm not losing as quickly as some do, but I'm losing steadily, and I don't struggle day after day with the horrible, overwhelming cravings that have plagued me most of my life. Makes me want to do a happy dance!.. |
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Why not GB? Most of the reasons you all have listed. I had R-n-Y done in Autumn 2006. I lost over 100 lbs... I've gained it all back..
I did Medifast before my surgery to get the necessary pre-op weight off. I did all my surgeon's classes and seminars and studying and practising and calorie reductions and then the Medifast weight loss. All great, all perfect, I reckoned their teachings had really sunk in and I had the tools I'd need to succeed. I had my gastric bypass and never had a single (physical) problem. Ever. With anything. But I had no complications. And I also had no control. I was able to eat ANYTHING. Even sugar. Even booze. My stomach pouch was never one that limited anything. I never had the sense of control from it and so I never really changed my eating habits. Because I was ABLE to eat anything I wanted to, I assumed I'd be able to control the quantities, etc. I was still comfort eating. And I also dove dangerously towards being an alcoholic, able to consume huge quantities of beer. My weight re-gain is *entirely* my fault and being a failure is entirely my fault. I didn't change my HEAD or my HABITS. Fast food, lots of beer, etc, and the weight comes back even if you can't necessarily eat the same quantities.. So, re-starting Medifast is a way for me to try and jump-start everything again. Not only lose weight, but re-learn eating small meals, proper foods and honestly, enforcing me "getting on the wagon" and stopping the beer intake. I'll be pleased because I'm seeing weight loss results, and I'll be retraining my stomach pouch to take in small meals, spaced out throughout the day. I'll be knocking off the carbs and sugars. I'll be journaling daily, writing every bite, and really focusing on what and why I eat... all things I was supposed to be doing after my surgery and didn't. **sigh** **head-desk**. We'll see what happens. The holidays are coming, I start on Monday (November 1), I think I have my plans ready and ducks in a row. Sorry about the long-windedness of this, just wanted to get some stuff out.. ~ Percy.. |
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Well I have been struggling with this weight for 40 years...gained and lost...mostly gained and I have tried for the past 7 years to get GB and even though I am a nurse, had great insurance, I never had an insurance that would approve me and I couldn't pay cash. I've tried everything. I was scared of the surgery but I was desperate. My daughter had "stomach stapling" over 10 years ago and lost 140 lbs. She gained about 50 lbs and since has lost that and a little more but she has a hernia, and she also throws up when she eats a little too much. She also nibbles all day long, all the wrong foods, but she is thinner.
Humph! Finally last year my bosses felt sorry for me and they came to me and told me they do a fantastic surgeon (he is) and that they were sending him to me and they would pay, no strings. I was so happy. Went to the appointment and the newest procedure is gastric sleeve where they remove 60% of your stomach (no removing or rearranging your intestines) and will replace lap band soon. The 60% that they take out also is the part that contains the hormone that makes us hungry and so hunger is no longer an issue and those with diabetes are cured immediately. But hunger isn't our issue anyway is it? The weight loss success is tremendous and it's day surgery, maybe 1 night stay and about the cost of lap band. About two weeks before the surgery the bosses came to me and asked me if I would postpone 'just for a short while" due to some financial issues with the company. I was so disappointed but I will be honest and say that I was beginning to get apprehensive about removing so much of my stomach. After all, I am a nurse and I know about complications, plus like so many of you, I believe we have these parts for a reason. I also believe that this was my last hope for surgery and I believe that was a wake-up call to me to get up off of my butt and do something about it myself. I have 2 Master's degrees, a Bachelor's degree and one doctor asked me once if there had ever been anything in my life that I had attempted that I hadn't succeeded at, and I said, YES! One thing, trying to lose weight and keep it off. I do believe it is attitude. So I am determined to do this with MF. This is stupid but I've even considered telling people I've had surgery and using the Medifast as the follow up diet....just to psych myself into sticking with it haha. Anyway, pray for me. I have a wonderful man back in my life that I want to spend the rest of my life with and enjoy being able to do the things I should have been doing all of these past years... |
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"Finally last year my bosses felt sorry for me and they came to me and told me they do a fantastic surgeon (he is) and that they were sending him to me and they would pay, no strings.".
LOL, this line should have read:. Finally last year my bosses felt sorry for me and they came to me and told me that they KNEW a fantastic surgeon (he is) and that they were sending ME to HIM......lol...they didn't send him to me!!!.. |
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Debie,.
Thats just to funny... I was going to get GB last year.. Did all the requirements and at the last minute my insurance denied me.. I appealed and they denied me again.. all because 5 years ago my BMI was 1 point under their requirement. 1 LOUSY POUND. I was so mad, I had just lost 20 lbs for the surgery and after that I gained that 20 and 30 more. When I got on the scale and it was above 300 and I was spilling out of my BIG clothes I knew I had to do something. A friend of mine told me about Medifast a long time ago, and I just couldn't imagine just "having shakes" all day. Well I did a little research and found a little different story and decided to try MF. It had the same principles I would have with the GB without the cutting. I'm so glad that it has happened this way. I'm eating 6 times a day and sometimes I have to actually eat to the clock so I don't miss any meals. I get my sweet tooth fix and still get to have my yummy Steak once in a while. So to all of those who thought of Bariatric Surgery, try this first by all means. Lets celebrate control and a healthy way of living.. Barbara.. |
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Personally I'm not really against someone choosing surgery for themselves but for me it's a biological clock issue. My main reason for wanting to lose the weight is to increase my fertility. With Medifast I can lose weight quickly without having to wait 2 years to get pregnant. With GB surgery the recommended wait time to get pregnant after surgery is 2 years and with Medifast I can start trying when I decide. 2 of my very close friends have had GB surgery and 1has had the lapband. The 2 who had gastric bypass did so a little over a year ago and are doing fantastic and have both lost well over 100lbs and counting.
She was not happy with her choice and said she wishes she would have chosen GB instead of lapband... |
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Spent some time talking with an old friend yesterday and he asked me the intriguing question "When did you KNOW you were going to make this change, and how did you know you could do it?" I can pin-point the exact moment with my exasperation with being too heavy reached a critical point, and that I decided that somewhere out there I was going to find a WAY to fix it. I have a lot of faith in the power of the internet, and I knuckled down and started researching in earnest. Because simply counting calories was NOT getting me where I wanted to be..
Now, as to why I knew I could DO IT, that is easier. In my life I have made many decisions, such as changing careers, and simply gotten to work on making them happen. They say when Cleopatra wanted something she'd give the order: "MAKE IT SO." Allrighty then! That's what I told myself.. What interests me is the 5% statistic. Why most folks get sucked back into inertia and hopelessness. I am no less prone to the temptations of the flesh, and I certainly find that if I HAVE the off-plan foods in my house they sing to me until I eat them. But if I control my environment I can control myself, and the mental will-power comes from being an adult. A child can only think in terms of immediate gratification, and satisfies a craving whenever possible. An adult can say that a craving is counter-productive, and resist or substitute a more appropriate alternative.. I walk through grocery stores and there is almost nothing I can eat. The COST in calories and preservatives and toxic ingredients is so high. I go to the vegetable stand and it is filled with a world of possibilities, nourishing and exciting. So success depends on turning my face to the bounty of the Earth instead of whinging over the processed foods that sing their siren song to lure me into bad habits.. For anyone beginning MediFast the prospect of sticking with it and succeeding must be frightening. But it has certainly taught me the meaning of the AA phrase "one day at a time." You just do your best. And really there is nothing more important than your health, and recognizing that your mental health is dependent in such large measure on your physical. What really matters is to say you will MAKE IT SO and then proceed to succeed... |
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Let me share my experience. I had vertical banded gastroplasty 10 years ago, and lost over 100 pounds post-op. However there was no diet counselling, no exercise plan, no psychological help- basically no follow-up at all. My surgeon saw me every couple of months but all he did was take a new photo- to put up on "The Losers' Wall" in his office. So needless to say, I have gained most of the weight back. No matter what weight loss program you choose to follow, you must change your eating habits- you can NEVER NEVER go back to the old way of eating whatever you want.
I want this to be my very last time- I want this to be a lifetime change!.. |
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I know many will yell at me but....
I had the surgery 8 years ago and I gained most of it back when I got an abdominal hernia (from the surgery) and had no insurance to fix it. So yes your friend is still losing weight but sooner or later it will catch up with her that is why they have revision surgeries for people who have had it in the past. I chose this because surgery doesn't cure why you are over weight. You have to fix the reason you over eat... |
