socermom

I posted in another thread, but I have some of the same questions. I KNOW I need to lose weight, but don't have the willpower to stop eating. If I did, then I wouldn't be looking into surgery. I wish there was something to shut off the part of my brain that is telling me I need to eat. Physically, I can't even do light exercise because I can't stand on my feet for any length of time, I have Type II diabetes, and I'm 5'3, 250lbs. I even had surgery on my foot in December and now it is worse. Actually, I've gained 20 pounds in the past 6 months since the surgery because I can do less now then before. My main concern is with eating as a family. I don't mind having to only eat a cup of food if that is what makes me full, but can the family still go eat out? What if they DO want fast food? Can you still eat it, just in smaller amounts? My younger son is diabetic and I can't not have carbs in the house. How do you cook a meal the entire family will eat AND enjoy. I'm so tired of seeing healthy recipes with fish. I'm the only one that likes fish (only a little), so I'm not going to make two different meals. Just like another post above, eating IS an addiction, and I guess biggest concern is how is that going to change? If I'm addicted now, then how is the band going to get rid of that addiction? Does it just make you miserable if you eat over 1/2 cup of food? That just doesn't seem healthy or normal either...

Hi, I have just started actively looking into this procedure and if I do it, I will also be using Dr. Spivak. After looking at different alternatives, I think I would like the band since it seems less invasive, and has fewer complications. However, what made you decide to go with the band and not the bypass? I know someone who had the bypass and has lost A LOT of weight with no complications and NO sagging skin. My mom, on the otherhand, knows someone that had the bypass and has had to have heart surgery as a result of complications (infection and clot). I am planning on going to one of his seminars to learn more, but I would like to know a little from here before I go to that. I mean, if food cravings never go away, then what is the point of loosing the weight and then fighting food for the rest of your life. I absolutely hate being overweight and not being able to do the things I want to do with my children. My question is, if I could stop eating and lose weight on my own then I wouldn't need the surgery, right? So what is going to change so that I lose the pounds? Am I just UNABLE to eat? Is my stomach going to be full to the point where I don't WANT to eat anything else? What makes a good candidate? I would think that it is a safe bet that not 100% of people that get the surgery have medical issues that make them unable to lose the weight otherwise. I mean, I'm sure a vast majority of people are overweight because they love food sooo much that they just continue to eat regarless of the need. Is this surgery going to help with that "need" to eat? Is there counseling that goes along with this? I know there are a lot of question, but I really need to know if this is something I should consider to look into, or just go on another diet...