« Rocherty Picnic | Main | Kurt Weaver »
August 2, 2004
Neighbors & Stomach Stapling
I don't talk to my neighbors across the street much. Not that we do not get along, we do, we are just from different worlds. However when the occasion arises we can chat it up. Tonight I started talking to the neighbor lady, it was actually the first time we chatted since last fall. After some small talk she finally asked the question she had been waiting to ask. 'Not to be nosey, I just need to ask you how you lost your weight,' she blurted. I told her low carb & exercise. She had said her husband and her had been wondering. They had seen me full size in the fall and due to the winter had not seen me again until I started doing outside work in the spring. So they have been wondering for months how I lost weight and pretty much had decided that I had my stomach stapled.
She is not the first by far to assume stomach stapling. In the last few months I have had a good handful of people slip me the question. It doesn't offend me, to be honest, a doctor at my local practice threatened me with a stomach stapling/belt on several occasions over the past few years. I looked into stomach stapling by using my secret geek super powers to search the internet. What were my findings? Well, while it seems to do the job when successful, it also looks risky with some very awful results and even death as a possibility. So after I 'weighed' the facts I decided that a stomach operation was out of the question for me.
(side note: while I am on this subject I want to say that I truly believe that this type of surgery is for morbidly obese people, which i did qualify. Recently, I have talked to a few people who have considered this for themselves who are and were nowhere near my obesity. I can't believe people who are not in a death threatening position would even consider this. It is their right, but I want them to know by my example that you can do it without an op. Actually, the bigger struggle is controlling self-perception and not food consumption. OK, I said it.)
So it turns out that low-carb and exercise has worked great for me and I am glad I can say I did it that way and I pray I will never be in a position to even consider a stomach operation.
Posted by smitty at August 2, 2004 8:10 PM
Comments
Jess and I were told about an employee (possibly a teacher) at Annville who had her stomach stapled, one of the staple came loose and caused a staff infection which then caused a heart attack and the woman died. I believe this was most recent. I am glad you did not go that route.
Posted by: Darren at August 4, 2004 6:58 AM
With all the "Extreme Makeover/Nip Tuck" etc going on...people seem to think getting in shape is like driving thru the fast food line at Mickey D's. Don't you agree that it's not only the end result, but knowing you stuck it out through the process that is so rewarding. Once again I have to say...great job, Brian.
Posted by: stacey gagne at August 4, 2004 9:43 AM
Well I have a bunch of feelings about plastic surgery too. I have been writing my thoughts into a blog entry now for over a month. I hope to post that soon.
As far as Mickey D's comment I would rephrase: getting out of shape is like driving thru the fast food line at Mickey D's. :) (actually that is totally unfair cause I eat at MD's a lot, a good bacon ranch grilled chicken salad has helped me on my low carb diet road and my kids like the new milk and apple choices on the menu)
Posted by: Smitty at August 4, 2004 10:11 AM
at this point the closest thing I have thought of to that is teeth whitening...I know, not even close.
Posted by: stacey gagne at August 4, 2004 10:20 AM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)