The thought never entered my mind. From how you describe your activity level it doesn't sound like you would even be a candidate or should be. I assume your referring to having your stomach stapled (I forget the technical term)? Unless you have a physiological problem (thyroid, etc) that precludes you from losing weight I am not a proponent of it. The bottom line is you have to change your life style either way.

ooohhh....gastric bypass surgery? I have a friend who had it done and she has kept the weight off but suffered some pretty severe side effects from it.

Unless you are morbidly obese and have tried everything else possible, I say please don't do it.

I know one man who had gastic bypass surgury- yes he lost lots of weight but he regrets having the surgury now. Even though he had a fairly easy recovery..he can only eat about a cup of food at a time. This is forever. You know, they cut out part of your guts and so there is just so much room in there.

Another lady I know almost died from complications. Even though, before surgury, you have an enema and clean things up in there, there is poop in the intestines and a scalpel cut into those intestines... Well, poop can make you mighty sick when it is in places it doesn't belong.

Did I mention I vote no?

it's a last option, but I'm way over weight and can't seem to lose it despite being as active as I can be .

Don't mean to be personal DT but are you really THAT overweight? Not tooting my own horn but with a plan, education (big one) and sticking to the plan I lost 50 lbs in 7 months. Wontquit lost over 100 lbs! If you could quit drinking you can do this.

Imagine yourself 50 lbs lighter right now. Would you still be thinking surgery?

Have you had a doctor run tests to see if there is something keeping the weight on?

what did you and wontquit eat while losing all that weight? caloeie specific? low carb? prepared deit meals?

The first 20 lbs I attribute to quitting drinking. Obviously alot of calories there. For me carbs were a big problem. Before losing the weight I ate lots of bread and pasta, pizza, bagels, etc. I never ate fruit.

I don't count calories but in the beginning did only to learn what foods where high in calories and boy was that an eye opener. Never did the prepared diet meals thing. Many of the foods I thought were healthy were loaded with fat or sugar and calories.

Now I eat fruit every day on high fiber cereal for breakfast, a salad or sandwich on wheat bread for lunch and pretty much anything I want for dinner. I snack on a handful of nuts or popcorn.

IN a nut shell I cut way back on carbs, cut way back on saturated fats (mayo, cheese, etc) added fruit and lowered my portions. Instead of having 2-3 servings for dinner I have 1 sometimes 2. I also make sure I get plenty of fiber.

I think Mando lost quite a bit of weight also. Hopefully he will chime in.

DT...have to agree with the others. WL surgery IS an extreme last resort measure. Seriously consider the combination of a South Beach type of LIFESTYLE change of diet and daily walking of 2-3 miles a day. The weight will not come off quickly but it will stay off if you do it faithfully. This is after talking with a doctor who specializes not in the surgery but in weight loss. I have know 2 women who lost and kept off the weight (100lbs+) with sensible diet (see above) and exercise and know a very obese woman who had the surgery and is still morbidly obese. Even if the surgery is covered by insurance and a treadmill is not...the treadmill is the better bet. It is the one exercise piece of equipment I bought and consistently use (bad weather). Lifestyle changes are not easy but if we can beat alcoholism we CAN certainly beat the weight battle. GL in any case, weight loss WILL extend your life as well as give you a better quality of life.

The most important thing I did was control my calorie intake and expenditure.

I started eating sensibly, cut all but the healthy fats, like olive oil, with the exception a wee bit of saturated fat (lean red meat), loads of fruits and veggies.

FRESH JUICES - NO SODA - a can of coke every week at the most.

Ate at home, NO RESTAURANTS, SPECIALLY FAST FOOD JOINTS.


That means no fried food, no chocolates, except for those with high cocoa content, no donuts.

I also reduced the sugar to minimal amounts, and exchange white flour for wholewheat.

Now, it is ok if you have a unhealthy snack now and then, but you have to make sure you compensate that calorie with exercise.

READ THE FOOD LABELS, SPECIALLY IN THE US WHERE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE MADE OUT OF FAT AND SUGAR.

I found out that, SPECIALLY AFTER A HEAVY WORKOUT, an OCCASIONAL, slice of REGULAR, TRADITIONAL CRUST, NORMAL CHEESE PIZZA IS OK, no toppings except for vegetables - easy on the olives -

NO FILLED BORDER, NO MEATS, ABSOLUTELY NO PAN/THICK/ WHATEVER PIZZA IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM.

Exercise is key, btw, do some weight training, even at home, muscle eats up more calories and exercise releases some feel good hormones.

Now, the bigger you are, the more calories you spend, which means as you get leaner, you have to exercise more or eat less.

NEVER, EVER STARVE YOUR SELF.

And, of course, NO BOOZE

Lou.