| If you've had gastric bypass surgery, you'll hear it all | | | | long run. |
| the time: you took the "easy way out." Some even | | | | 4. Complications. There are lots of potential |
| feel guilty for taking this option when they see | | | | complications and some unpleasant side effects. You |
| others struggle to lose weight. | | | | can develop infections from surgery. You could |
| But weight loss surgery is anything but easy. And it | | | | develop gall stones and need your gall bladder out. |
| can be maddening to hear others dismiss your | | | | You could develop a stricture (incredibly painful!) and |
| sacrifice as an easy escape. | | | | need more surgery. You can develop reactive |
| So here are 7 reasons why gastric bypass surgery is | | | | hypoglycemia, have food blocking the exit of your |
| NOT the "easy way out": | | | | pouch (again very painful!) or become constipated. Or |
| | | | you could just have painful, smelly gas. |
| 1. Hell Week. The days immediately following surgery | | | | 5. Vitamins. With gastric bypass, the part of your |
| are the most intense, miserable experience you can | | | | intestine that absorbs much of your nutrients is |
| imagine. You have been through major surgery and | | | | bypassed. So you must take a range of vitamins |
| your body will not let you forget it. The pain is bad | | | | every day for the rest of your life. This can mean |
| enough, but the fatigue is worse. Then there is your | | | | anywhere from 4 pills up to 12 or more, each and |
| sudden withdrawal from food. You see it | | | | every day. If you don't take vitamins, or if the ones |
| everywhere: your family's meals, in commercials. You | | | | you take aren't good enough, you can develop |
| will experience cravings that drive mental anguish to | | | | life-threatening deficiencies. You may wind up having |
| new levels. Hormone levels go a bit haywire, and | | | | to take regular shots or get regular blood |
| depression is common. So are vast mood swings. | | | | transfusions. Either way, it's no walk in the park. |
| You may well feel like you're just going insane. All this | | | | 6. Protein and water requirements. In addition to |
| leads to a serious case of buyers remorse. Why on | | | | constantly popping vitamins, gastric bypass patients |
| earth did I do this to my body? Of course, this | | | | must get 60 - 80 grams of protein and 48 - 64 |
| regret contributes to the mental anguish. Hell Week | | | | ounces of water every day into a pouch that holds |
| can be as short as a few days or as long as a couple | | | | about 1 cup at a time. Lets just say that's not easy |
| of weeks. And everyone goes through it. | | | | and requires constant effort. |
| 2. Dumping. Most gastric bypass patients will | | | | 7. You still have to watch what you eat and exercise. |
| experience dumping at least once, some more often. | | | | This is the biggest myth out there - that having |
| Dumping happens when food (which hasn't been | | | | gastric bypass surgery means weight magically falls |
| broken down as thoroughly as it was before | | | | off of you with no effort. And while you may lose |
| surgery) enters the small intestine too quickly. You | | | | some weight without exercise, if you want to see |
| start to sweat. You're nauseas and you may even | | | | real results you have to get moving. And you can't |
| throw up. Or you could have diarrhea. And then you | | | | just shove anything in your mouth, either. Even if you |
| are exhausted and want to sleep. It's the most | | | | happen to be one of the "lucky" few who can eat |
| miserable feeling you can imagine, and you will do | | | | anything without dumping, unhealthy foods will stop |
| anything to avoid experiencing it again. | | | | weight loss and start regain. Just like they will for |
| 3. Suddenly removing food from your life is traumatic. | | | | anyone else. |
| More so than you can imagine. And it's not like you | | | | So you see, gastric bypass surgery is anything but |
| can sneak around and cheat like you can on a diet - | | | | easy. What it is is a tool - a tool that helps you |
| at least not for a long while. It's as if a close friend | | | | succeed if you use it properly. If you follow your |
| has died. Then there are the emotional ramifications | | | | doctor's advice and work your tool correctly, you can |
| of this loss. You have to do "brain surgery" on | | | | indeed see fantastic results: better health and |
| yourself, discovering why you overate to begin with | | | | dramatic weight loss. |
| and how to change destructive behaviors. It can be | | | | And in the end, most will tell you it's more than |
| very uncomfortable, even though its healthy in the | | | | worth the effort. |