I asked for gastric bypass surgery.

I grew up with the understanding that Brazilians, like most Latin countries, grow up eating rice and beans twice a day every day. I was told that my parents family came from the country land where hard labor called for a mighty meal. One that could sustain, one that strengthens, and one that included rice and beans.

Meat was for the wealth. Vegetables was a preference. Rice and beans was never an option. As a society built and grew the traditional meal stayed. I for one can count on one hand how many days I’ve gone without eating rice and beans. My parents carry this tradition and over the years it shows. Out of ten siblings on dad side all, but three are obese. Out of a family of five on mom side, all eventually packed on the pounds. Mom struggled with her weight for years, except for a small period before she got married. She has buckled again at school expect this time by her crush.

She spent a year skipping dinner and was able to keep the weight off for almost five years. My siblings and I carrying the same trait quickly realized we were heavier than most. Brother had it the worst, weighing in at 320 plus pounds. Sister fluctuated and I did too.

The church we attended was lead by a pastor and his family. They too carried this Brazilian cuisine tradition in the kitchen and around their waist. The pastor heard of this surgery that cut your stomach, most of your intestines, and successfully lost weight. There had been horror stories of individuals that the surgery and then suffered from vitamin deficiency and various post-surgical complications. They were even horror stories of various less invasive treatments that had terrible consequences or complications. Nonetheless, this doctor had an unbelievable success rate with minimal complications or death compared to others.

Like a new fashion trend, it caught fire. He, his wife, their daughter, eventually my mom and brother all had it done. We even attempted to convince my sister to have it done. She was offended and learn to live a healthier lifestyle.

I asked for the surgery. I often still do wish I had gotten it done. Imagine never having to worry about the food you eat. Your body literally forces you to eat less, eat more often, and eat less processed foods. You see with half a stomach and without 40 meters of intestines to process the food. Your body reacts quicker. It rejects the food, sometimes painfully to quick that have little to no nutritional value. You see with less room to process it, it either accepts or denies the ingredients.

My mom has been the same. Mothers since she had the surgery. Almost five years now. My brother has some excess skin, but he is building muscles and stretching it back out. They get gassy a lot if they skip meals or eat to fast. My brother has developed a slight sensitivity to shrimp. Mom wishes she had the surgery you get as she feels her age hasn’t helped the healing process, but she sees her mom and knows she is going to live longer because of it.

You see this surgery is the magical pill. This survey takes out the daily struggles of being overweight only those that struggle with know about. I often do a cost analysis on the price of doing the surgery. Plain flight, post-recovery, and compare it to gym memberships paid. Shakes purchased, clothes purchased, and food purchased without the surgery.

Naturally, these numbers look different for everyone. Some people do gain the weight back. Some need additional surgery to remove skin. Some never live a normal life. Some regret not doing it sooner.

Would you do it? Maybe not this surgery especially, but another that would resolve a lifelong struggle? Does surgery scare you? What say you about it all?