Saturday, April 24, 2021

How I lost 100 pounds without bariatric weight loss surgery

Hi guys! If you've been following this blog, you already know how I lost 100 pounds. But you may not know, if you just tuned in, how I lost 100 pounds without weight loss surgery. I'm still surprised how many people assume that weight loss of that kind required lap band or other bariatric surgery. 

I don't recall many people talking about bariatric surgery until the 90s or even later. I doubt most even knew the word "obese." Most people who sought weight loss did it the old-fashioned way, with diet and exercise. But then obesity wasn't so common either. Now, the rates are just staggering. That there are reality TV shows like TLC "My 600-lb Life" prove it. 

According to the CDC in 2021: "the prevalence of obesity was 40.0% among adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.8% among adults aged 40 to 59 years, and 42.8% among adults aged 60 and older." That's not just overweight (BMI or body mass index of 25 to under 30. That's obese with a BMI of 30 or over.  Adding in the overweight numbers it's like 70% of the population. 

So with high obesity comes more bariatric surgery options. BUT, unless you have morbid obesity like the "My 600-lb Life" folks, you can lose weight with diet and exercise alone. And even then, Dr. Now expects his patients to lose weight prior to weight loss surgery. 

Usually the "My 600-lb Life" folks are too overweight and unhealthy
for Dr. Now to perform surgery safely. They also have to prove they'll do the work required and not just wait for a lap band to fix them. Also, and most importantly, weight loss surgery will NOT lose weight without diet and exercise. 

One "My 600-lb Life" participant only lost 15 pounds after surgery. She wouldn't even get out of bed after surgery. She had a lot of excuses for Dr. Now, but what it boiled down to was that she was not willing to participate in her own recovery. In 2015, the last update, she was still 500 pounds and told TLC she didn't care.  

And that, my dears, is how I lost 100 pounds with diet and exercise alone. Not because I'm some kind of Wonder Woman. I'm not, just ordinary lil ole mar. But I cared that I was obese. I wanted to lose weight and was willing to do what it took. I'm grateful to my Higher Power for giving me the desire. 













No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive