Bariatric Surgery – The Pros and Cons

Are you are considering having a surgical weight loss procedure?  Some of the questions that Kiley and I pondered are listed below:

Linda – Pros Cons
Life Changing focus Its surgery and any surgery is a risk
Major weight loss Re-educate yourself majorly regarding eating and drinking
Happiness inside and outside Negative comments from friends and family

I have always considered myself an well thought out individual. Making decisions that I have really looked at both sides. With weight loss surgery, it was a no brainer about the pros of this procedure. I knew it would get the weight off, help eliminate or reduce the amount of medication and increase my happiness with my appearance. I was not obese growing up because in those days, we physically played outside and ate healthier foods that did not contain the amount of additives and growth hormones. My weight came on board post childbirth and I was never able to lose that weight or the gut that came with it.

Now as I reflect, I love being able to tell individuals about my journey and how I am in this great space of consciousness about eating healthier and how I can help them with information they needed. I never expected the amount of people that would say the classic line of “you can lose weight with diet and exercise. Well, I know say to them if that were the case, then why is 80% of Americans obese. Do you question your physician when he tells you that this medication is effective in fighting an illness or disease? I recommend having a relationship with your physician in which you can have open and honest conversations about what is best for you and your body. I say you and your body because the mind of you has to be on board with what is best for your body. Did you know that when you are trying to get approved for surgical weight loss, many insurance companies require a number of things to qualified for surgery including participating in a behavior modification program and consulting with a nutritionist. Both of these requirements, means that the mind has to be on board and then the body.

The Barigirls motto is make it count and love yourself enough. Make it count by thinking about what you are eating and the amount you are eating. In the world of supersized food servings, its easy to become zombie-fied about the amount of food we eat. Love yourself enough to make better choices so that you can be around for your loved ones and know that you are doing everything you can to stay healthy.

Kiley – Pros Cons
Healthy life Recovery is slow and frustrating
Less medication Social outings required retraining
Smaller body Social understanding requires patience

Kiley here, as I reflect on my weight, I think about being in middle and high school and being teased about the fat on my back and my weight in general. I was so depressed, but my parents did not fully understand what I was going through.

As we all know, children can be cruel and there is no getting away from them until your out of school. In my early 20s, I decided to take control. I got approved for surgery and that was the turning point in my life. It was like I was empowered and turned into Super Bari, able to set people straight who are bari bullies (you know the ones, that say you cheated by having surgery or you could have done it on your own) and get them off my case and pondering their own situation.

It is truly amazing to look in the mirror and see my muscles and know that I am getting full of knowledge about nutrition, what are the Superfoods and why are they beneficial, creating new recipes, helping others make food choices and the list goes on and on. There are some down sides that came with my weight loss that included getting a divorce because my ex-spouse could not be in the same mindset as I about my weight loss and the determination to change my life (he wanted to keep his buffet buddy).

You will hear my mom and I saying over and over again to love yourself enough and make it count. It truly means if you love something enough, you will make the tough choices to stay in that love. You will make the touch choices to making everything you are eating and the portion of what you are eating count. I am now the go to girl for anything bariatric and I cannot tell you just how proud I am of myself. Try to do everything in your power to keep yourself as healthy as possible. Someone loves you and is counting on you to be around to love them.