This was very interesting.....I was eating the other day at a restaurant. I have to confess that I am a people watcher. I love to watch and listen to people talking and then wonder about some of the conversations.
This lady was sitting and eating a lovely greasy cheeseburger and French fries. I mean this thing was dripping with grease. She proceeded to talk about the fact that she was in the process of being approved for Lap Band surgery. If you need to find out about it, just Google it. It's "easier" than the dramatic gastric bypass surgery. Any way, she proceeded to discuss the fact that she was 5 pounds away from being approved. That means 5 pounds more that she needed to GAIN!!! I almost fell off my chair. She was GAINING weight instead of losing. She also stated that she was hoping for a positive test on her Upper GI that would show she had reflux so that her insurance would pay for it.
Am I just nuts or do you see a problem with this.
Why in the world would you...
1.GAIN weight so you could have such a procedure.
2. If you have been battling your weight for so long, maybe someone needs to discuss your habits first.
3. Why would you WANT to be diagnosed with a problem?
I just couldn't believe my ears. Now, yes!!!!! there are people that have some circumstances where it could be a last resort. Some are so morbidly obese that Gastric Bypass is a great option. I guess what bothered me was that this woman was in hopes of her insurance paying for a procedure and GAINING weight while going through the process and hoping to be diagnosed with other issues. I wanted to jump up and pretend that I was Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper!!!!!!! Yes, she can get her Lap Band. Yes, she can lose her weight. The key will be the side effects and if she doesn't change the psychological side, the diet, the exercise, and the lifestyle, it really won't matter.
I would love to hear your thoughts. I want to know if you agree or do you disagree?
Pam
This isn't the first time that I've heard of someone trying to gain weight to qualify for the surgery! Sadly, thanks in large part to the media, our society (myself included sometimes) is always looking for an easy way out. I know that there are very valid cases where this surgery is beneficial, but this is crazy with a capital "C"! You're absolutely correct in that if psychological change doesn't happen, the surgery will not do any good over the long haul.
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