Review – Life after weight loss surgery
Life After Weight Loss Surgery: Achieving and Maintaining Massive Weight Loss, John Simone, 2010, ISBN 9781886289000
After trying every diet and weight loss plan on the market, you are now thinking about having weight loss surgery. This book looks at the things you need to know ahead of time.
If you need to lose just a few pounds, forget about weight loss (bariatric) surgery. It is only for those who are morbidly obese. Find a doctor who specializes in bariatric surgery, not your regular family doctor. The book discusses the different types of bariatric operations; most are not reversible.
A common misconception is that, after surgery, you will be able to eat as much of what you want, and still lose weight, and that you will eventually look like you did in high school or before you had your first child. The size of his stomach has been greatly reduced, so the amount of food he can eat at any one time is also greatly reduced. He may be able to reach the weight he was in high school or before he was a kid, but Mother Nature has ways of letting you know those days are gone forever.
You may become intolerant to foods that you enjoyed before surgery. Digestion problems, along with sudden eating disorders, are very possible, so regular check-ups with your bariatric doctor are essential. With the much reduced amount of food you eat, you may not be getting enough vitamins and minerals every day. Your bariatric doctor will then prescribe nutritional supplements for you to take daily for the rest of your life. It’s stupid to have weight loss surgery and then end up in the hospital with, say, a vitamin deficiency, because you didn’t feel like taking your supplements.
Exercise is also required after surgery. Some people can join a gym, while others prefer to work out with a personal trainer. Make sure they know about your surgery. Your relationships with others will probably change. Your spouse may fear that once he loses weight, he’ll look elsewhere for companionship. Friends and family may be jealous that you are actually doing something about your weight problem while they are not. If you lose weight too quickly, your body may not be able to keep up and reabsorb all those fat cells. So, get ready for plastic surgery to get rid of all that excess skin.
The author, a veteran of weight loss surgery, has put together a very comprehensive book. For those considering such surgery, he does a good job of answering your questions before you even have questions. This is very worth reading.