Bad choices and beyond

I have a friend that is very over weight and she decided to have bariatric surgery. I thought "good for her! She has made the choice to get healthy and get her life back!" She went to a surgeon and started her process. She did everything they asked her to, it took her a bit to loose the 10% of her weight but finally she got to the goal and it was sugary time over a year after her first consult!! She decided to have a Sleeve Gastrectomy, which a restrictive surgery where they remove 90% of your stomach, so you can only eat small amounts of food. Honestly after all of my meetings and seminars I went to that explained all of your surgery choices I believe she picked the wrong one for her situation. I know the reason she picked the surgery she did is because she was scared and she knew that surgery was successful for my situation but I don't believe it was the right choice for her. Also the doctor did not give good after care instructions, which are extremely important to success.

Another key factor is a support group where you can talk with others who are in your same situation, it was mandatory for me to go to these meetings and I appreciate it because I learned a lot and I got meet and talk with people in my same situation. I mean really who else can you talk to about when you tried sushi for the first time after your surgery you spent 45 minutes in the bathroom realizing that rice expands in your stomach so even after one piece you are barfing for almost an hour. And who else can laugh at the story when you tell them that the waitress was more concerned about than your friends and they looked like mean people when they said "Oh she is fine this happens all of the time." While they are finishing eating my food…. Yes it is true vomiting has become something I am accustom to and I know when I do not follow my eating instructions I will most likely be in the bathroom "taking care of business."


My friend was not given instructions as I was and I strongly believe that is her down fall. I am not saying I follow that "BOOK" but I use it as resource and a guide still to this day. Also I don't think she ever goes to group meetings. These are key tools in success with this path.

Make sure if you are going to go through all of the work to get the surgery that you use it as a tool so you can have success with it and not have it be in vain. Make sure you pick the best possible surgeon and that the program they provide both before and after surgery is one with plenty of support groups and after care. This is a life long journey not a quick fix.


Best wishes,
Zee Taylor