So Chris Christie had lap-band surgery

[spinbaby]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/chris-christie-weight-loss-90992.html?hp=r3

He certainly needed it, although I do wonder why he chose a surgery with such a high failure rate.

[KharmaTrain]

1. Maybe It Was One Of The Few Options He Had Left...

...I applaud the Governor and wish him well with this therapy. I know of a lot of overweight people who have battled their whole lives with similar problems. It's not "stop eating" or finding the "right diet"...sometimes surgery of this type is needed not only to help him lose weight but help prevent other physical problems. IRC, Representative Gerald Nadler had a similar procedure and it's been successful...

[spinbaby]

6. Diets don't work

Believe me, I dieted for years and eventually had a gastric bypass— Chris Christie was never going to lose the weight by dieting. But I think he would have been better off with a classic RNY gastric bypass. I did a lot research before my surgery and found that lap band has a much higher failure rate and a high rate of revision to RNY. Lap band seems like a good idea because it's less invasive, but in actual practice it doesn't work well. My surgeon said that lately she's removed more bands than she's put in.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Thank You For Your Insight...

I'm not familiar with the specific types of treatment but there's the assumption that Christie's weight problem is a lack of self control when that isn't the case. While I disagree with the man on many subjects, I wish him the best in trying to improve his health...for himself and his family.

[snooper2]

28. my wife lost 40 lbs, no surgery needed...

gym and low carb....

[WI_DEM]

40. Nice that it worked for her

it might not work for everybody.

[spinbaby]

44. Losing weight isn't the issue

It's keeping the weight off. I'm sure I lost hundreds of pounds in my Weight Watcher years. The trouble is that diets make your body think you're starving and it does everything it can to GET THAT WEIGHT BACK, usually with a little extra just in case.

[tridim]

7. Diet and exercise?

It doesn't look like he has tried either.

Americans do love their quick "fixes".

[spinbaby]

8. It's not a quick fix

Surgery is a last resort, not a quick fix.

[lunasun]

34. +1 well said

[Ninga]

2. Purely pre presidential preparation...Nt

[bunnies]

10. +1 nt

[BlueCaliDem]

19. Yep. He's definitely going to run for president in 2016.

That's what this is all about.

[Safetykitten]

36. Absolutely. He will be president.

[HappyMe]

46. I just saw a Christie for governor

commercial on tv.


edit to add - He said that his wife doesn't want him to run for president. I think he said something to the effect that it would be divorce court. This was around the time of the hurricane. I don't think he's gonna run.

[CTyankee]

3. wow, it sounds like his doctor read him the riot act...and got him very, very scared...

As for the failure rate, in the context of saving one's life, it's at least a shot. Maybe not a good one, but something.

[LuvNewcastle]

21. I've known people who were as big as him, some of them

family members, and they either lost the weight or they died. His situation is critical. I hope he loses it and keeps it off, for his family's sake as much as for his.

[LiberalLoner]

29. +1 I disagree with his politics but wish him good health anyway.

[msanthrope]

4. Because he's running in 2016. nt

[HappyMe]

5. I wish him well in this.

He has already lost 30 or 40 pounds.

[HERVEPA]

9. I wish the bastard no success in anything.

[HappyMe]

12. Okay then.

You don't have to like the guy's politics to hope he loses the weight so he is there for his family. Ymmv.

[Yo_Mama]

14. Politics is important

But it is important so that our society can afford individuals and their families some degree of dignity, safety and opportunity.

When we lose sight of that purpose, we are close to defeating ourselves.

[CTyankee]

13. I did not have (or need) lap band surgery, but I did have a complication from a procedure

to remedy diverticulitis. That complication led to some removal of digestive tissue in my small intestine, where calories are digested. I lost 30 pounds after that and it took me 4 months to really recover. However, my surgeon said I would never be fat as a result. I have friends who actually asked if they could get such surgery! To them I say "be careful what you wish for..."

However, that said, I cannot eat too much as a result. It is very uncomfortable to even try. So I wonder if Christie will experience the same thing. I have read that people with the surgery he had really bad problems arise when they try to eat the way they used to. My reaction is "ugh, who would want to if it is downright painful?"

It makes me wonder if Christie's diet failures were as a result of obsessive eating, a psychological disorder?

[HappyMe]

15. I think the whole point of the surgery

is that you don't eat the way you used to. I'm sure that there is plenty of aftercare and 'rules of the road' that go along with this. I don't know about 'obsessive eating'. I won't even venture a guess. He may just love food.

I hope you are fully recovered now. That doesn't sound pleasant at all.

[CTyankee]

16. Oh, yes, thank you I am.

But I love food, too. It's not like my appetite was taken away, altho if I am not careful when I eat beef or pork and chew it to a fare the well, it actually comes right back up, and I wonder if that could happen to him...if it does, he will hate it so much he'll be more careful.

I think you can love food and eat smaller portions, esp. if this surgery gives you a "full" feeling. If you feel full, why would you eat more? That is why I suspect more of a psychological addiction is in play with Gov. Christie...

[laundry_queen]

20. My guess is probably not

Most people who think fat people are chronic over eaters aren't aware that over the course of 10-20 years, it only takes the calories from an extra slice of bread a day compared to other people to render you obese. So, I could eat exactly what you eat, and have that extra slice of toast in the morning, and within 10 years I'll weigh roughly 100 lbs more than you. Just because someone is obese does not mean they are constantly binging on junk food. It's a surprisingly small amount of food over a long period of time that makes a difference.

In my case (I'm obese) I have stomach problems (chronic gastritis and pain/nausea) and having something in my stomach, however small, helps with the pain and nausea. It has greatly contributed to my weight problem. I eat very healthily, but because I must have something in my stomach, even though I eat small snacks (handful of almonds, fruit, homemade vegetable soup) I likely eat slightly more calories over a day than others. Plus I have insulin resistance which makes it hard for the weight to come off, even with exercise. No all obese people obsessively eat. I lived with my mother recently (as an adult - I was waiting for my house to be built) and we ate exactly the same foods day in and day out (she snacks all day long too, and has similar stomach issues) and I didn't lose any weight. My mom is slim and always has been. We're just built differently. Even as a kid, she was a string bean and I was a tank (I was not fat as a kid, but oddly solid and strong). It's something that's genetic as well that can trigger obesity. I even have 2 daughters, that were raised exactly the same way, both exclusively breastfed, fed the same foods, and the picky eater/more active/sporty child is built like I was - like a tank (she's a women's size 8 at 12 years old), and her 15 year old sister who constantly eats junk and doesn't play any sports is a string bean in a size 2. It's strange to see it play out genetically in your own children - especially when the child who eats less and exercises more is quite a bit larger.

We don't know exactly what's going on in Christie's case. I wish him all the best with his health (but not his political career, lol).

[CTyankee]

25. well, with the surgery, that problem can most likely be solved. He won't be able to eat

anything even slightly excessive. Perhaps that is why he considered the extreme alternative.

Thank you for reminding me that I had read about the situation you describe and how that can easily lead to a large weight gain over a long stretch of time.

[Arkana]

17. Well, it's unfortunate that he felt it had to come to that

but I know someone who had lap-band surgery and she lost a ton of weight in a very short time. Maybe it's the only thing Christie felt would work.

[Earth_First]

18. Another of a handful of DU's ugly 'ha-ha's'... nt

[laundry_queen]

24. Yep. nt

[malaise]

23. So the doctor was correct

about his health risks

[CTyankee]

30. Wasn't he playing down the idea that he was "unhealthy" a while back?

I may be thinking of Rush Limbaugh, tho...

[malaise]

41. No Christie attacked former White House physician Connie Mariano

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/06/chris-christie-connie-mariano_n_2631944.html
<snip>
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is lashing out at a former White House doctor who said she worries about the governor dying in office because he is so heavy.

Former White House physician Connie Mariano made the comment in an interview with CNN. The Scottsdale, Ariz., doctor says she'd like to see Christie run for president in 2016 but that he needs to lose weight. She worries he could have a heart attack or stroke and expressed her concern about the governor "dying in office."

During a visit Wednesday to a shore town devastated by Superstorm Sandy, Christie was asked about the doctor's comments.

Unless Mariano gives him a physical exam and learns his family history, "she should shut up," the Republican governor said.

Christie said his children heard the doctor's comments and his preteen son asked him if he was going to die.
--------------
and then the ReTHUG fugger headed for surgery in the name of his kids. He's a fraud too- eating the donut on Letterman.

[CTyankee]

43. Ah, yes, I remember that now...

and the Morning Joe crowd was booing the doc.

Oh, goodie, now I have another nice thing to remind Joe and Mika when I send them an email....heh, heh...

[warrior1]

26. Did he even try to diet and exercise?

Looks to me that this was his first attempt at losing weight.

[pinboy3niner]

32. Who cares? His health choices are his choices.

This is being discussed only because he is a public figure--a celeb pol.

Thank God I'm not one of them, or my health choices might be second-guessed and endlessly discussed.

More power to Christie in his efforts to improve his health, regardless of the motivation.

[BlueStreak]

37. If a person seeks the most powerful position in the world, health is an issue

[ananda]

27. Diet and exercise DO work ...

I have passive diverticulosis but it is not a problem.

I eat only natural and organic foods, none processed, and virtually
no grains... and of course, no HFCS.

I do not snack between meals, after dinner or late at night.

I loosely follow the Zone diet, and scrupulously follow the
Blood Type diet... and I take the Blood Type joint supplements
which keeps arthritis at bay.

I keep a good weight and good health... never go hungry and
love my life.

[CTyankee]

31. I am told that my surgery means I can't get diverticulitis again.

My weight has reverted to my "set point" and I can eat with no restrictions (except the limit on how much I can eat of anything at one sitting). I just had a little bad luck along the way.

[sunwyn]

33. I have diverticulosis and you really have to watch what you

eat. My diet before was junk. Now that I am poor , I have to be picky about what I eat. But I have lost loads of weight...about 50 more lbs and I will be High School weight.

[HappyMe]

35. What works for you

may not work for someone else.

I'm glad that your health is good now.

[GoCubsGo]

38. Good for him. I hope it helps.

I can't stand the guy, but I don't dislike him so much that I enjoy watching him slowly die.

[NCTraveler]

39. "although I do wonder why he chose a surgery with such a high failure rate."

I am sure it was a well thought out decision between him and his doctor. Just the way it should be with medical procedures.

[HipChick]

42. Part of this is mental..

He is still ordering steaks?

Why?

His mind has not adjusted to his need for smaller intake..

[spinbaby]

45. Nothing wrong with steaks

Good protein if you can handle it. It's the carbs you have to watch out for.