Hi - I'm a 38 year old female who currently weighs 320lbs at 5'9" tall. I'm married and have 2 kids. I've been browsing this site for a the last couple weeks and am quite impressed with everyone here. You've all done a great job!
I am sure these questions have been asked before, I hope you don't mind me asking. I've been overweight my whole life. I dieted as a small child, I was hungry all the time. My mom had me in every diet program known. I even resorted to taking speed at one time in my life to help me lose. I've done Nutrisystem (lost 50lbs and was only 20lbs from goal weight but gained it all back plus!
) In the past few years I've gone the LC route, lost 48lbs and haven't been able to shed another pound. No efforts work. I am currently having my thyroid function re-evaluated hoping to get that straightened out.
So that's my history (condensed version).
Can I ask, how do you find a good doctor that isn't going to "mess you up" so to speak? (worried about problems or even death!)
I've heard so many horror stories of folks losing their hair and becoming very ill, does that happen anymore?
In the long term does it all boil down to following the same type of healthy diet that everyone should follow anyway? What I mean is that I see some folks here saying what they eat, it seems healthy and that is what we're all supposed to do anyway. The surgery is mostly just for portion control?
Does the fast weight loss come from calorie reduction due to portion control? Do they tell you how many calories per day you should eat?
I like to drink at least a gallon of water per day...if I were to have surgery, how do you quench your thirst? My sister who was looking into it said you can't drink a glass of water all at once otherwise you'll get sick.
I read a disclaimer on the band procedure that some people don't even lose weight and that it has to be retightened often. Is that true? Seems like the lap band is less invasive.
What surgery did you have and would any of you say that one is better than the other?
I'm sorry I have so many questions. I've been contemplating this for a while and I don't know what to do. I feel like a failure at everything I try and feel like I'm not trying hard enough. Wondering if this would be a help or not.
Thank you all for listening and I hope to get some responses
