Hey,

I know just how frustrating it can be when you try everything that you can to lose weight, and you just can’t seem to shift those extra pounds. When it comes to losing weight, the simple fact is that if we are consuming fewer calories than we are burning a day, then we will lose weight. However, as we know, that is not quite the case, and there are many factors that can come into play.

Even though it might feel like you can’t lose weight, you certainly can, and there are two main options available to you, surgical and non-surgical.

Non-surgical methods
The first thing that you should look at is the food you are eating. While your typical day certainly sounds healthy, if you are consuming foods or drinks high in sugar, or regularly drinking alcohol, then you could be consuming significant amounts of calories without realizing it.

You can also take a look at how you are exercising. Speaking with a personal trainer could help you identify the best workout for you, but you should be looking at those exercises that offer a high cardio workout.

Of course, weight loss is not just about what you eat and how you are exercising. Ensuring you are getting enough sleep each night is essential. Poor quality of sleep has been shown to reduce your metabolism, which results in your body storing more fat. Drinking more water has also been shown to reduce your hunger, so drinking a glass before a meal will keep your portion size smaller.

Surgical methods
If you are finding that absolutely nothing you try is working, then surgery is an option. There are several different options available, but they are all usually performed while you are under general anesthetic and through the use of keyhole surgery. The most common options for weight loss surgery are:

Gastric Band
This is a form of surgery that places a band around your stomach, creating a smaller pouch. This means that you feel fuller on a smaller amount of food, and the band can be tightened after surgery using a saltwater solution.

A gastric band will need to be tightened several times, depending on your body’s response. Having a gastric band fitted has helped hundreds of thousands of patients lose weight over the years, but like all surgery, it is not without its risks and downsides. The first is that weight loss is not as fast or as effective as other types of bariatric surgery, so if you are looking to shed pounds quickly, then it might not be the best option for you.

Although the band is designed to be highly durable, it is not uncommon to find that it has slipped or eroded over time, requiring it to be removed. Alongside that, up to 60% of patients require follow-up surgery to reposition the port.

Gastric Bypass
A very popular form of weight loss surgery, a gastric bypass uses surgical staples to create a small pouch which is then connected directly to your small intestine. This means the rest of the stomach is bypassed, ensuring you not only feel fuller on less food but you will also absorb fewer calories from it.

This is one of the fastest methods of losing weight, with many patients seeing up to 50% reduction in just six months. In turn, this then results in rapid improvement in any conditions related to obesity, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

However, there are some risks to a gastric bypass. One of the primary risks is that because the food goes through the digestive tract much faster, your body might not absorb the nutrients it needs. This means that you might not get the iron, calcium, and other vitamins that you need and might need to take daily supplements to replace them.

Sleeve Gastrectomy
A sleeve gastrectomy is a form of major surgery and is the process of removing up to 80% of the stomach. This means that you will feel fuller on a much smaller amount of food, seeing you significantly reduce your calorie intake.

This is one of the most effective forms of surgical weight loss, but there are also an array of other benefits. By eliminating the upper portion of the stomach, it removes the section that produces the hormones that stimulate hunger, meaning your appetite is reduced. You will also secrete less acid, lowering the risk of developing an ulcer.

There are some downsides, though. The surgery is irreversible, which means you have to be confident this is a procedure that you want for the rest of your life. Weight loss is often slower in comparison to bypass surgery.

Things to remember post-surgery
Whichever form of surgery you opt for, there are several things that you will need to remember post-surgery. The first is that fast weight loss does not give the skin time to tighten, resulting in you having excess skin. Depending on the amount of weight you lose, this could make you feel extremely self-conscious and require further surgery to remove.

In the several weeks after surgery, you will also need to be careful with what you eat and drink. Doctors suggest slowly building up from liquids to soft foods and eventually returning to a healthy and balanced diet around six weeks after surgery.

It is also recommended that you have an annual check-up with your doctor to check your overall health and your vitamin and mineral levels.

Final thoughts
When it comes to weight loss, it can be incredibly frustrating when you try everything and just aren’t seeing the results you want. While surgery can be a big step, you should ask yourself – what is more dangerous, remaining overweight or surgery? With such a high success rate, surgery has helped transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the globe.

Whatever you choose, make sure that you speak with your primary care provider first to understand the best options you have available.