Surviving a heart attack is a life changing event that for some can lead to a much healthier way of living. Known for her outspoken bigger than life personality, actress and former View co-host Rosie O’Donnell is stepping up to let everyone know that she’s doing much better post heart attack and has recovered well from gastric bypass surgery.
US Weekly reports about her dramatic fifty pound weight loss and how the surgery has helped her get a handle on a healthier lifestyle. O’Donnell explains about her vertical gastric sleeve procedure, “It's very different than when you think of bypass surgery. It's newer. They remove two-thirds of your stomach, but everything else stays intact, and as a result of that, you can't hold as much food.” She adds, “The very interesting part is that in that other two-thirds are where all the hunger hormone lives. That's the biggest surprise, that you're not hungry, right?”
Though some may think of gastric bypass surgery as a quick fix for those who need to lose a lot of weight, it’s important that people realize that the surgery is just a stepping stone. The real work comes when you incorporate exercise and healthier eating habits into your everyday life. The 52-year-old actress is quick to point out, “It's a tool, it's not an answer. You can't just get surgery and go 'I'm done' and keep eating the way you did. You have to change the way you eat, you have to exercise.”
What do you think of Rosie O’Donnell’s new look?
Do you think gastric bypass surgery can be a helpful tool for those who need to lose a lot more than just a few pounds?
Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most effective medical advancements of the last century. The reason that it is fully-paid-for by insurers - - is because it reduces medical expenses overall. It is life-changing and life-prolonging. There is little chance that any accredited surgeon would risk his/her career by performing a bypass on a patient who is not morbidly obese. I hope this is the kick-start that Rosie needs to keep those 50 pounds off.
My cousin had this surgery, time will tell if he can keep the weight off. It was a last resort for him.