# Talk me IN to having a "luxury" gastric bypass **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689 "2010-05-25T11:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/181 "2010-06-08T22:20:47Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Yes, in a gastric bypass the stomach has usually stretched in about a year or so. It is supposed to, or you would always have to eat like in the first days after surgery. However, it is not supposed to stretch back to what it was originally. It’s not _supposed_ to stretch to original portions, no. And if you’re being vigilant about your food volume, it won’t. But if you’re not being vigilant, if you’re pushing things to the limit on a regular basis, it can and does happen. Slowly, insidiously, without you realizing it. Just the way it happened the first damn time. I understand about not wanting to track calories. Having to stop and think about every single goddamn thing you put in your mouth, writing it all down, looking it all up, doing the math–it just all bespeaks a level of fixation on food that I find disturbing. I don’t want to have to spend that kind of time and energy fussing with it all. _And that’s exactly why I could never have a gastric bypass._ Because it requires you to think about what you’re eating damn near constantly, especially early on. My mom had a RNY in Feb '08, lost 160 pounds and has so far kept it off. It’s the best thing she’s ever done for herself, and I’m proud of her for having the guts to tackle something so difficult and scary. But the plain and simple fact of the matter is that for the first 6-8 months after surgery, her entire life had to revolve around what was going to to go into her mouth when–managing to get all the pills and supplements and water and protein bars down without making herself puke was a serious feat of logistics, especially if she intended to actually eat at meal times with the rest of us. Even now, she has to stagger her meds and plan around it all, though it’s now a relatively minor pita instead of a baffling ordeal. Still, it would drive me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/182 "2010-06-08T23:36:10Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > This. My weight loss over the last month is pretty obvious- even though I’m a big fatty with a lot to lose, I’m a short fatty, so my face thins out in a snap (I think I lost 15 lbs in my chin, actually! :p). Everyone- and I mean _everyone_- is asking me what I’m doing. When I say that I’m using and loving [MyPlate by Livestrong](http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/), they pooh pooh and say that they “can’t” count calories. Myplate is seriously the most brainless thing I have done this year- it takes no effort on my behalf! And with the Blackberry App (that cost $2), I can keep track throughout the day, compare restaurant lunches, etc.- all without interfering with my day. I love you! I signed up for livestrong/myplate 9 days ago at your recommendation in this thread. I’ve lost 4.5 lbs and I am having no trouble staying within my calorie allotment. In fact, I am having trouble meeting 2/3 of my caloric allotment! This is the easiest weight loss I’ve ever experienced and I just log everything into the computer (which is super easy since I’m always right there on facebook or the dope or whatever anyway) and it has everything! I can use it to track my ovulation cycle! How awesome is that?!? ---
**Author:** ![Gruntled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/34f0e0/32.png) [@Gruntled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gruntled)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/183 "2010-06-09T00:06:30Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > It’s not _supposed_ to stretch to original portions, no. The OP seems scarily misinformed about this. ---
**Author:** ![Gruntled](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/34f0e0/32.png) [@Gruntled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gruntled)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/184 "2010-06-09T00:18:41Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > It is supposed to stretch back so the patient can eat like a normal/slim person, but not like an overeater. Wait, what? You stridently deny that you ARE an “overeater”. So that means you don’t know how overeaters eat, right? Nor do you know how a normal/slim person eats, since if you did, you wouldn’t be obese. There is absolutely no doubt here that you are looking at this surgery as a magic bullet to fix your eating problems without a shred of commitment, work, or self-discipline on your part. You will gain it all back. And more. And you will have risked your life and wasted over $7,000. How about just knocking off the excuses, limiting yourself to the number of calories you need to lose weight safely and putting that money into your child’s college fund instead? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/185 "2010-06-09T00:24:08Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > I love you! I signed up for livestrong/myplate 9 days ago at your recommendation in this thread. I’ve lost 4.5 lbs and I am having no trouble staying within my calorie allotment. In fact, I am having trouble meeting 2/3 of my caloric allotment! This is the easiest weight loss I’ve ever experienced and I just log everything into the computer (which is super easy since I’m always right there on facebook or the dope or whatever anyway) and it has everything! I can use it to track my ovulation cycle! How awesome is that?!? I’m so glad it has helped you! It really is stupid-proof, no? I’ve used calorie counters before and it has always been a huge pain in the ass- they never have what I’m eating preentered, so I have to go through the trouble of entering everything.. . . who has time for that? Love love love Myplate! ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/186 "2010-06-09T01:08:12Z")
> [@Gruntled](#): > > How about just knocking off the excuses, limiting yourself to the number of calories you need to lose weight safely and putting that money into your child’s college fund instead? Ruh roh . . . ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/187 "2010-06-09T01:15:24Z")
> [@Gruntled](#): > > Wait, what? > > You stridently deny that you ARE an “overeater”. So that means you don’t know how overeaters eat, right? Nor do you know how a normal/slim person eats, since if you did, you wouldn’t be obese. > > There is absolutely no doubt here that you are looking at this surgery as a magic bullet to fix your eating problems without a shred of commitment, work, or self-discipline on your part. > > You will gain it all back. And more. And you will have risked your life and wasted over $7,000. How about just knocking off the excuses, limiting yourself to the number of calories you need to lose weight safely and putting that money into your child’s college fund instead? She’s ignoring reason, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/188 "2010-06-09T01:22:12Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > Why is it relevant whether other people need this surgery and don’t have the resources? It’s her money and she can decide to spend it as she sees fit. Would it is also rankle if she lost the weight through willpower and spent the money on trip around the world? The same way it’d rankle to see your neighbor flying his helicopter to 7-11 a block down when your legs are don’t work and you can’t afford a wheelchair. Sure, it’s his money. But some things hit close to home and are hard to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/189 "2010-06-09T01:35:03Z")
I don’t know if this would work, or if anyone has tried it, but what if you got a metal chain belt, and hooked it so it was just slightly tight, and if you overate, it hurt? And then when it got looser, you moved it to the next notch? I have to say, I am certainly no expert at losing weight, but I think this could work. At least if you were stubborn and determined. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/190 "2010-06-09T05:28:56Z")
I’ll say one thing, my stomach has been hurting for reasons that my doctor can’t figure out for almost a year now - I’d give damned near anything to not have a stomach that hurts when it’s empty, hurts when it’s full, hurts when I eat the wrong thing (which varies almost daily). I wouldn’t do this to myself voluntarily (much less pay money for it). ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/191 "2010-06-09T19:37:00Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I’m so glad it has helped you! It really is stupid-proof, no? I’ve used calorie counters before and it has always been a huge pain in the ass- they never have what I’m eating preentered, so I have to go through the trouble of entering everything.. . . who has time for that? Love love love Myplate! I gained _mumble mumble_ last year as a result of some HUGE things that went down in my life. I’m using the WW online points tracker, which sounds really similar. The nice thing is that it allows me to calculate the caloric value of recipes (via their idiot proof points method) and fiddle with things to make them healthier. I’m not getting a smartphone till my tmobile contract runs out in December (boo!), but I’ve heard it’s comparatively easier these days because there are tons of apps that help you when you have to go out to restaurants etc. Anyway, I’m doing the same thing and am down 10 pounds down. I do exercise a crapton in addition to eating disgustingly healthy though. The hardest part wasn’t really eating healthy again or exercising, it was not repeatedly beating myself up for letting myself go when I was in fantastic shape at one point. ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/192 "2010-07-01T15:07:13Z")
IIRC **Maastricht** your surgery is planned for tomorrow. Good luck. Please keep us updated on your progress. I hope all goes well for you. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/193 "2010-07-01T15:44:05Z")
> [@DoperChic](#): > > IIRC **Maastricht** your surgery is planned for tomorrow. Good luck. Please keep us updated on your progress. I hope all goes well for you. Good luck indeed. Here’s hoping it all goes smoothly. (Hopefully it will be laproscopic, which I found to be pretty gentle.) ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/194 "2010-07-01T15:57:41Z")
I thought of this this morning as well. Best of luck!! ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/195 "2010-07-01T19:39:01Z")
Ugh, I just came in here to tell \*\*Maastricht \*\*about a program a friend is on–physician-supervised fasting, ~800 calories a day. (If you’re going to do something drastic, might as well go for the one that probably has a lesser chance of killing or seriously injuring you, right?) But it looks like the surgery’s already going off. Best of luck. Hope you don’t kill yourself or undo the work of the bypass before you’ve lost the weight you want to lose. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/196 "2010-07-01T20:00:43Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Ugh, I just came in here to tell \*\*Maastricht \*\*about a program a friend is on–physician-supervised fasting, ~800 calories a day. (If you’re going to do something drastic, might as well go for the one that probably has a lesser chance of killing or seriously injuring you, right?) But it looks like the surgery’s already going off. > > Best of luck. Hope you don’t kill yourself or undo the work of the bypass before you’ve lost the weight you want to lose. Yeah, a friend did a 700 calorie fast thing (ate regular food, just small amounts) because a doctor suggested it. Lost 50 lbs in like, 2 months. Started eating actual food again and immediately gained 60 lbs. Good times. heh Not to say it doesn’t work for some- I’m sure it’s a great jump start for some folks. My friend just didn’t have the willpower. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/197 "2010-07-01T20:18:36Z")
Thanks for the well-wishes, all! I’ll be back from the hospital (and guesthouse stay afterwards) on Sunday evening, so hopefully I’ll be able to post Monday or so. I kind of expect that for two weeks afterwards, I’l regret it all and think OMG, what have I done. There are plenty of clips on YouTube of people just out of surgery in that state of mind. But then there are also clips of those same people waving cheerfully at the camera two months later and saying its the best thing they ever did for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/198 "2010-07-01T20:28:51Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Yeah, a friend did a 700 calorie fast thing (ate regular food, just small amounts) because a doctor suggested it. Lost 50 lbs in like, 2 months. Started eating actual food again and immediately gained 60 lbs. Good times. heh > > Not to say it doesn’t work for some- I’m sure it’s a great jump start for some folks. My friend just didn’t have the willpower. Let’s see, after week 19, my friend is currently at just under 114 pounds total lost, which is about a pound past the halfway mark to his goal (Start weight: 446; desired goal weight: 220). Besides the fasting diet, he’s also working out and lifting weights–I think he averages a bit under an hour and a half a day. > [@Maastricht](#): > > There are plenty of clips on YouTube of people just out of surgery in that state of mind. But then there are also clips of those same people waving cheerfully at the camera two months later and saying its the best thing they ever did for themselves. Is this the point where I ask a snarky question about YouTube clips of coffins? Try to stay out of that 2%, kthx. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/199 "2010-07-01T20:32:28Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Let’s see, after week 19, my friend is currently at just under 114 pounds total lost, which is about a pound past the halfway mark to his goal (Start weight: 446; desired goal weight: 220). Besides the fasting diet, he’s also working out and lifting weights–I think he averages a bit under an hour and a half a day. Yeah, that’s freaking great. He clearly is making a lifestyle change, too, though. I mean, the working out and such. He’s sounds a lot more dedicated than my friend was. All I’m saying is, that type of program requires a great deal of will power to maintain. Not hating at all 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689/200 "2010-07-01T21:16:38Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Yeah, that’s freaking great. He clearly is making a lifestyle change, too, though. I mean, the working out and such. He’s sounds a lot more dedicated than my friend was. All I’m saying is, that type of program requires a great deal of will power to maintain. Not hating at all 🙂 Yeah, the exercise is what makes me hope that he’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight once he’s back on real food again. Didn’t think you were hating, either–just wanted to share, 'cause I’m proud of him. 😃 And obviously not everybody who does a program like that would be so involved–but even seriously cutting your caloric intake without making any changes to how much you exercise is going to have profound effects for someone who’s overweight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-in-to-having-a-luxury-gastric-bypass/540689.md?page=11)