Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

I didn't see anyone pass any judgements about Christy or Sommer's decisions to have bypass. I do think there is a meat market mentality out there in the 'industry' to promote it as a quick fix. I know my health care provider won't consider it medically necessary unless there are other substantial risks to my health. I would definitely fit regarding the numbers as a candidate.. But my bp is ok..bs is ok..

I watch some of these plastic surgery shows and TLC used to have a show called Personal Stories or something that chronicled a person's decision to have a procedure. You could definitely see a difference in the decision making.

I think Sommer and Christie both had more problems with their own self esteem issues than they may have had with medical problems necessitating the drastic procedure. There are definitely health issues that can be bought about because of the bp. I remember last year (SO2) Sommer eating doritoes and junk food (even after having the bypass) and then having to lay on her stomache on the floor to wait till the pains passed. I think maybe that is why Rhonda was hard on her last year .... Because she was still not really dealing with eating healthily and the taking care of herself.. I think between Marcus and a couple of other special intervention last year, that Sommer did get on the right track eating better.

Christie was told so often that what she looked like on the outside was more important that what was going on in the inside. She was probably so desperate to have the surgery that she picked a quack out of the phone book.. I think anyone going through the procedure should have some counseling about the procedure and possible side effects.. (I am sure most reputable doctors and clinics do this)...


Both she and Sommer were in their early 20's (if I recall correctly) when they had the surgery.. It really wasn't discussed what other things they may have tried.

Unfortunately some doctors are in the industry for the money... And if you got the bucks, they'll do it!

I do think SO helped both Sommer and Christie refocus their energies into taking care of their current bodies.. Both through diet and exercise... both of them seemed to be sitting back waiting for the weight to fall off after their surgeries rather than helping the process along.

I know at one point Carnie Wilson had regained some of her weight she lost through bypass. I don't know how she is doing now.. Hopefully well.. I can't find any current picts of her.

I know a woman who had surgery back in the early 70's... and lost a substantial amount of weight and then regained most of it..I also know a good friend who did struggle with weight loss who the surgery made a world of difference for her!

There is a newer procedure called a lap band which is less invasive and reversible. I think all options should be explored... but ultimately it is up to the patient and their doctor.. and it is the patients responsibility to help insure the best possible outcome by taking care of themselves...

I know I've seen a news report at one point a few years back saying how many doctors were performing the procedures....but many of them weren't specialists or trained properly.

I think I found the article.. check this out..
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/02/48hours/main603413.shtml

I think people considering bypass should carefully weigh their options and choose their doctors carefully.

I think many do use this procedure as a quick fix..

I happened to see Sunday night a TLC program.. about 2 women who underwent the procedure.. and the effects it had on them.. Both were extremely large women though.. One women lost most of her hair because of the surgery. Maybe her body couldn't get enough nutrients?... don't know why... but had never heard that before.. She wound up sporting a crew cut.. It actually looked cute! The show was titled Jackie and Robin.. (or vice versa!)

I did see the show on Jackie and Robin. It is unreal what those women went through. There were 2 previous shows that showed these women when they first got their surgery. This was the follow up. Jackie almost died several times. She was actually over the weight limit for any doctor in NC, which is where she lives, to do the surgery. She found a doctor in Virgina or Maryland, who agreed to do it. Subsequent to her surgery, she returned home and received all of her care at Duke Medical Center, which is in her hometown and about 20 minutes from my home.

My heart went out to these ladies. I hope Jackie's hair does come back. These ladies have so much to offer. It's good to see that Robin found love.

I agree that the surgery is a huge decision. The lap band sounds as if it is not as drastic. The people I know, both got gastric bypass instead. I don't know why. One of them eats healthy, the other one is not that careful, however, they have both maintained their weight loss, one for 12 years and one for 4 years. They both lost over a hundred pounds each. I don't know their total loss. I will say that they act very happy. One of them told me that she didn't know what living was about and that her weight loss had totally changed her life.

These ladies tried everything in the world to lose weight for years. It's just that I got frustrated when people think weight loss is an easy thing, such as just don't eat as much and exercise. It's more complex than that. People who suffer from obsesity have a different body makeup than an average size person. The medical field is finally recognizing this, which is good.

I don't know if Christie sought relief for the botched plasic surgery on her arms. I hope that she explores it before her time expires to file a claim. I hear that there is a new procedure for flabby arm skin that doesn't leave a large scar. I can't recall the details but they don't cut all the way down the arm in this new procedure. I wonder why they didn't discuss this with Christie in her consultation on the show. Perhaps it was because hers was for the correction of the old surgery.

The article at the Oh site is available now. Also has some new picts from her stay at the SO house.
http://www.obesityhelp.com/magazine/

The link to the article is in the lower left hand corner.. The article comes up as a pdf file.

Glad you picked up a Christie thread! I was wondering if that show,
"Instant Beauty Pageant" had aired yet...was curious to see what she did in the show. Anybody see it?

I have not seen her show nor any ads for it. What station will it be on?

I think it was supposed to have been on the Style Network.. Which I don't have.

I think it was mentioned in the article or somewhere else in her myspace... It didn't sound like she won... but did enjoy the experience and didn't let 'not winning' upset her.

Hmmmmmm.... I wonder if Style has a website and link for the show.. I'll look into it! See what I can find out!