Yes it can...but only if you want it too. Remeber that GBS is onlt the ctalyst in this equation the hard work must come from you. I broke my affair with food, and yes as much as I hate to admit it it was an affair of the worst kind. To day I am 6 and a half months post op and I am 106 lbs down....I can have small quantities of just about everything, ice cream, chocolate, cakes and cooldrinks...hell even alcohol.
Yes your eating plan changes but so does your life. I went from an BMI of 47 to 29 in 6 months. I went from a size 48 pants to a size 36... For it was worth it... I hope that you find teh courage and strenght to make teh right decision for you. Whatever it is Good Luck my Friend.
God Bless
Via

The surgery works for almost everyone. I do know one person that only lost 50 pounds - wait...did I just say ONLY 50 pounds? It is a persona decision and it really isn't for everyone. I think society has sort of gone with the idea that one MUST have the lap band or GBS in order to loose weight.

I can tell you that what I feel has personally made the difference for me is that GBS is a portion control tool. I am one of the people that can eat anything. And at first, I was upset about that but later found that MOST Gastric Bypass people never get dumping syndrom.

So what is left if you can eat any type of food that you want? Portion cotrol. While I can eat WHAT I want, I can't eat AS MUCH as I want at one time.

Weight loss surgery is by far a magical fix to obesity. You can have weight loss surgery and still be obese. We have all seen or known people that prove it.

If you don't eat stuff now that makes you obese, and you can loose weight on your own - you probably should re-think your motives for wanting the surgery. Do a lot of homework and searching the web for people's stories (good and bad).

It is a hard decision to make. I have made the decision NOT to do the surgery (3 years ago) and I have made the decision to have the surgery (1 year ago). I can tell you that for me, choosing to have the surgery was the best decision for me.

Hang in there.... YOu will get this all figured out. There is no rush. Take your time with this and at some point you will know what is the right thing for you.


Janet

Sorry - I mean to say "Weight loss surgery is by far NOT a magical fix to obesity."

This decision is a very personal one and everyone has to be mentally ready. It took me years to get there.

I didn't become morbidly obese on sweets or alcohol or french fries either. I just ate too much too often. This tool for me was all about portion control and becoming conscious of what I put in my mouth.

Nothing has made me sick so far (3 months out) but my affair with food, as Arivia said, is now over as well. It doesn't consume me. I eat to live not live to eat. A much smaller serving of food does for me what plate fulls never did before.

It has given me my life back. It has enabled me to lose weight without having to restart my diet every Monday. It has become my way of life not some sort of punishment. I feel a sense of peace at being able to watch others pig out knowing I don't even care to anymore. It changes hormones and something in your brain and releases you from the clutches of food controlling you....any food not just the bad ones.

If your portions are normal and your food choices are healthy ones maybe you need to look into other issues that may be contributing to your wt. like thyroid or some other metabolic issues. Maybe something as simple as exercise is all you need to add.

For me, food (even good food) was my drug and I was addicted. This program of surgery and support saved me from years of chronic knee pain, high trigylcerides and cholesterol, back pain, sleep issues,fatigue, inability to keep up with my family, etc.

I am 53 and haven't felt this good since I was in my 20s. I would do it again in a heartbeat but before June of 2008 I just wasn't ready.
I postponed my surgery once cuz I wasn't ready. You can do the same if you must.

Don't get me wrong, I still struggle and must work at i. I am still tempted by snacking (albeit healthy snacks) I don't need to eat or grazing just for the sake of putting something in my mouth. I still struggle with wanting to skip the exercise but the difference now is I am finally playing on a level playing field and my mistakes are little ones not monumental ones. And, mistakes and all I managed to lose 54 lbs in 3 months trying to figure it all out.
Good luck!
Donna:)

I never ate a whole pizza either, and i'm not huge on sweets myself, but I got fat somehow and excuse me for saying so, so did you. And i would venture to say it wasnt from eating small portions of healthy foods.
Bottom line is the decision is your, and its not an easy one. I went back and forth a dozen times before I made my final decision and then went back and forth again up until i was on my way to the hospital. And now I know it was the best choice I could have made.
But, until you get real with yourself about what got you to this point, you may have some problems even after the surgery. I think the emotional adjustment has been harder then the physical, so be prepared and it will go alot more smoothly. I wish you the best of luck in whatever your decision is and am here to support you.

Thank You All
I'm going to do some serious analysis of myself, my needs and GBS.
Thanks Again

I never ate a whole pizza, or drank alcohol, and tried to eat healthy, but weighed 344 anyway. Since surgery, I realized my problem was portion control, lack of exercise, and probably too many carbs. After 7 months I am 230 and feel great. The surgery helps me keep from eating too much at a time or eating when I really don't need to eat and I am just bored. It has been a miracle.

This can work for you. Everyone is right when they said it all comes down to PORTION CONTROL! I am one year post op and am down 120#. Today I can eat ANYTHING - BUT in small portions - ONE slice of pizza, 1 scoop of ice cream, even an occasional light beer or glass of wine. The thing is my brain is now telling me I am satisfied and don't crave or want more. It comes down to is this the right decision for YOU? Good luck!

Personal choice, of course.
But remember that you thought at one time it was right for you and your insurance co agrees. I do not think ins co take this lightly.
Could it be that you are frightened?
You have every right to change your mind. You could also shoot for a very far off date and continue to think it over. It is about a tool that gives you the upper hand on prtion control.
Best of luck in your choice. The ones we make with a clear head and just for ourselves are always the best ones.

I will be honest..on a few occasions I have downed a whole Pizza...damn good too!! But I don't think I have done that in like over a year. I am 4.5 weeks out from surgery. Over the past year I've cut out a lot of fried food out, almost all sweets, and any sugary sodas... My weakness is all things coffee, used to drink 5-7 cups a day.

Point being is I was going to the gym like a maniac starting 8 weeks prior to surgery doing lots of weight lifting and cardio, lost like 10 pounds, but granted was carrying a lot of muscle mass which is dense and weighs a bit...

Now since the surgery, and keep in mind i was not a one to pig out like some of my thinner friends did, I have lost 47 pounds. On September 8th, the day before my surgery I weighed 302...this morning 255lbs. And all this not having really hit the gym at full capacity since I cannot do lifting quite yet. It boils down to some numbers, right now I take in about 600-1000 calories a day, supplementing protein and vitamins and eating 3 protein rich meals a day. On an average day without cardio at the gym a typical person simply going throughout a normal routine is going to burn anywhere from 2000-4000 calories (granted that comes with various variables). The point being you are burning calories and weight, and hence it comes off quickly.

It is almost impossible to do this procedure and not have weight loss as a result. I dont think you have to worry about it too much.

Steve

You Guys are amazing.
I'm still on the fence about this I have a while to decide and am still preparing for the 27th so surgery is still an option then.
Thanks

I too like you worried about if this surgery would work for me. I was insulin dependent diabetic and so was very careful with getting the right foods in. So much so that my diabetes was in great control, which surprised everyone since I was almost 300 lbs. But I put on a good fifty after starting insulin. My husband said if he ate like I did he would die of starvation. lol But..6 1/2 weeks out and I've lost 33 lbs. My diabetes, high blood pressure, gerd and joint pain and gone. Believe me..it will work for you too!

Wow.. Discussions like these are the reason the GBS community on here is so awesome.. If I had ever had second thoughts at all, I certainly don't now.. thanks Donna & Steve!!!... you guys rock!!

I can't wait for my surgery date!!!

When people ask me why I had the operation (4 months ago - down 75 lbs), I tell them that I was dying! With a BMI of 49, walking with a cane, unable to tie my own shoes, out of breath after making the bed, etc., etc. this was a HUGE decision. There are days when I'd give anything to sit down to a great big dish of pasta, but overall, I'm really grateful that this opportunity was available to me. Make your own decision and don't feel pressured by anyone. It's YOUR life and, if you decide to go ahead with it, we'll all be here to support you. Sue
have been plenty of days when I reg

You will make the right decision, and when you do you will feel good about it!! I had it 8 weeks ago and feel great! Yes, their is some stuff I miss but I am still in the early stages. Just make sure your mind is ready for it, that is the biggest to overcome! I never gave up Diet Coke before like I was suppose to and now I am having a hard time with it. So I wish I would have given it up before hand :( Bad on my part.You will do fine, that's what we are all here for!
Take care