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Alison Hammond: Gastric Band Scandal
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Posted May 6, 2008Alison Hammond, TV presenter and former Big Brother star has been exposed after having a gastric band operation while conning the public she was losing weight naturally.
The This Morning regular amazed viewers as she confessed she was morbidly obese in February, after admitting she was 25 stone. Since then Alison has lost a whopping 2 stone, claiming it was down to a drastic change in diet and by employing a personal trainer.
Alison has recently launched a diet column detailing her weight-loss battle in Woman magazine. She has discussed her current diet triumph saying “It’s brilliant- just one week on the diet and a couple of training sessions and I’ve already dropped a dress size”
Reports are also revealing that Alison is currently in production of a DVD outlining her recent weight-loss success and how she came to achieve such great results.
However, a source has exposed the truth and blown Alison’s cover. Reports state that the operation cost an estimated £7000 and took place three months ago. The source obviously had strong feelings towards the situation “She’s lied to her fans. She’s a total fake. She didn’t want anyone to know about the operation so she could make money. It’s disgusting.”
I am gobsmacked,that is the second person today I have heard of today who has a lap band while making claims to love themselves as they are.I decided against having a gastric bypass this month for personal reasons.But if and when I do havethis op I will say so to all who want to listen.It is nothing to be ashamed of.
Has anyone stopped to think that if this was true, Alison would have lost a lot more than 2 stone! especially considering the saying ‘the bigger you are the more you lose’, I for one are a massive fan of Alison and I have absolute contempt for the cowards who hide behind ‘the source’label,if they felt that strongly why havent they revealed this as themselves!
you know while all at alison’s throat they are leaving someone else alone
so what there are more dishonest people in the world to bother about than someone trying to do something about their weight does anyone stop to think what alison is going through
she has to battle with this thing and i for one if she wants a diet buddy i think she should do it public get some members of the public and follow them on the show support is a wonderful thing give the girl a break .
I wonder what Alison would have done with the money that she would have made from the DVD s and her column in the magazine, I hope it goes to a deserving charity! I do feel sorry for her but at the same time I think she was just plain greedy with the publicity and the money. All lies come out in the end – did she not think of that?
I say good for you Alison – well done – a gastric band is not a quick and easy fix as some people seem to think – and it takes a long time coming to terms with the emotional side of it too! I know – because I have one fitted and everyday is hard. Telling people is extremely difficult because people are so judgemental. It’s the choice I made for life and I feel proud of myself that I am strong enough to cope with this. I
do hope Alison gets to read this and perhaps she could turn this publicity around and promote gastric banding because there’s an awful lot of people out there that need it!!!
I went to school with Alison, she’s a lovely person whatever size she is. So what if she’s had a band fitted, it’s no-ones business but her own. I’m not surprised she didn’t want this news to come out, look at how many people are judging her. Good luck Ali!! xx
It’s probably Fern Britton whose encouraged her to do it – Fern has had to admit it today that her dramatic weight loss is the result of gastric band surgery & not solely on dog walking, portion control, healthy eating & cycling, that she’s led the nation to believe with her constant column iches.
Well personally I do not understand why so many people are getting so heated about either Fern or Alison? What does it matter how they lost weight or what their reasons are for not telling the world – it is their business and their private lives and it is not as if they have committed some terrible and henious crime is it? Why should they have to disclose their personal secrets just because they are well known TV celebrities?
When a person decides to have intervention treatment to resolve health or weight issues ie cosmetic surgery, gastric bands etc it is their choice whether to tell everyone and many may prefer to only tell close friends and family and if that is their preference then what the hell is wrong with that? I just don’t get why so many people see what Alsion and Fern have done by having a gastric band fitted is such a major issue and personally I think folk ought to find more important things to complain about.
I am grossly overweight myself and I only wish I could afford the £7,000 for the operation and if I could I would definitely consider getting it done and no it’s not because I am looking for an easy answer, far from it but I because I have battled and yo yo’d up and down the scales all my life and haven ended up bigger than ever as a result.
I think Fern looks absolutely fabulous and I guess she is feeling a lot healthier now too and as far as I am concerned anyone who is finding it difficult to lose weight in the conventional diet and exercise way are being sensible to find an alternative solution to their problem and if the result is a longer, healthier and happier lifestyle then surely it is better than staying overweight and unhealthy isn’t it? For goodness sake all you negative finger pointers do yourself a huge favour and go get yourself a life and leave Fern and Alison alone!
Fern has always and will always be a beautiful person, fat or skinny! However, it disappointed me that she lied about losing weight naturally. Many women look up to her, including me! I felt disappointed with myself when I didn’t lose weight and thought if Fern can do it, what’s wrong with me! Now I know! Unfortunately I can’t afford the gastric band procedure so I’ll just have to plug away at it naturally… I do wish Fern & Allison the very best but it’s best to be honest to their fans and the public.
I agree with Sue Gill……..From what I have heard, Ali had her band ‘turned off’ so to speak after I gather it made her ill. She was willing to let her doctor prove this and confirm she lost her weight with diet and excercise but instead she was considered fair game and there has been a witch hunt against her…. I struggle myself to lose weight and feel that whatever way someone can lose it then as a consenting adult it is their right… Good luck to both Ali and Fern for the ways they are doing this, and in any case Fern didn’t lie, she just didn’t tell anyone, why should she… it’s her body for goodness sake….. And by the way… both the girls look amazing now…
I think the decision to have a gastric band is a desperate one. Anyone with a weight issue considers it but it is a serious mental and physical undertaking. Before I would have considered it cheating but no longer. As a seriously and i mean seriously over weight person I made my decision to lose weight semi naturally I guess as have support from doctor but i carefully considered all my options after a tonne of research. I wanted to learn to eat normally I dont think a band could teach me that and have heard cases where it takes the brain a long time to catch up with the body.
I could not face the thought of still being an over eater mentally. I could not face the thought of a life threatening surgery. These brave women made their decision too. To undergo an operation to help put right something they needed help to change. We should not be penalising them for their choices that is done enough by society already.
Having changed my mind as to whether or not this is cheating my only criticism is. Be honest girls but on reflection damned if you do or don’t. Society be it the big girl one or the not so nice one will still judge. So lets give them our support because its a decision I couldn’t make. Could you?
I am about to embark on the journey of a gastric band. I have decided to go to Brussels where the surgery is only £4000.I have my first appointment with the consultant on friday 27 june. I have mixed emotions with my decision, i am morbidly obese and have been for all of my adult life, i am approaching 45.Of course i can lose weight natuarally, with great difficulty i may add however my problem is keeping it off.I did the lighter life replacement meal diet an dlost 8 stone in 6 months but since put it back on and more.I can agree with the statement that I will still be a over eater mentally but with the gastric band in place i am hoping that i will be able to overcome that problem with the band in place.
I would love to write a blog or something on my journey from start to finish so that i could help other wishing to go down the surgery path.
I’m a 56 year old married woman, 5.10inch tall and weigh 20 stone. I used to be just over 10 stone in weight (in my twenties) and I’m so unhappy. My husband tells me he loves me – and I believe him – but following many personal problems, miscarriages, death of father,business bankcruptcy, mother with alzheimers and others, I turned to food for comfort. It’s not so much what I ate – but How much I ate and when. I now am a walking time bomb as far as blood pressure is concerned. My doctor (a new one) has actually expressed surprise that I’m still alive!! I’m also a very proud (and would you believe vain) person and don’t feel that I could ‘join in’ with others. Funnily enough Fern Brittons experience led me to believe that I would have acted no differently to her. I would have been in a form of denial, but I would also consider it was no-ones business but mine if I cheated to lose my weight. I know its wrong. I’ve read up about gastric banding and bypasses but my husband has a total fear of operations because he lost his own father shortly after one. I know I dare not even suggest it without lots of argument and worry to him. so I have decided to try and follow the rout of the nutrition and dietry requirements for persons who have had the gastric band fitted. I know it will be extremely hard and sheer aggression and willpower will be the only thing that takes me through. Does anyone know how I can gain this knowledge? I would be so grateful if someone could point me in the right direction.
Why are so many people worried, or for that matter interested, in what some C-list celebs have had done? With regards to the issue of whether a lap band is the right choice…I feel that I am in a good place to comment. I lost 6 stone and 10 pounds over 7 years ago and have not gained any back. My wife has just had the lap band surgery after struggling with diets for years. So, I feel I am qualified to speak on the subject. Do I think it is right? I don’t think it is a question of whether it is right or wrong. Rather, it is a question of what’s best for the person. If the person has struggled for years with no success then perhaps it is the only way forward…as to whether a person should be happy the way they are, I don’t think anyone has the right to make such a comment.
One final word…just watched Alison on a daily cooking show. It certainly doesn’t seem as if she has embraced the healthy eating lifestyle band or no band. Perhaps she isn’t the best role model for weight loss…
Good on Fern and Alison I wish I could afford the lap band.I lost 10 stone in 5 months on the Liter Lite Programme but put it all back on and more I have also lost my job for being overweight ( even though I am healthy).So I wish them all the best for the future.
to hannah
best thing to do is just start, easier said than done. have always been a big girl i got to 33 stone. to be honest change took a lot of thought but i began i’ve lost 10 stone in 16 months, have a pill called reductil, it helps me but can affect blood pressure. started by walking 10 mins everynight and no crisps, sweets, take aways and seriously lowered alcohol in take!!
Wondering though if anyone knows of a website that tells you how to deal with large weight loses and control the triggers like anxiety that made you eat in the first place. please help!!
So what if she had a gastric band?! Its not an overnight solution and she will still have to work damn hard with the band so it is no easy option. And so what if she didnt want to tell the world? its her business and nothing to do with anyone else. just because she is in the public eye doesnt mean we have a right to know what she does or doesnt do. why cant people just let people be and if anything, congratulate her on taking action?
I’ve never had any issues with the band being tight at different parts of the day. In fact, its much looser than I expected. I have restriction, but I’ve never thrown up or anything like that. I should probably get it filled tighter. I’m very rarely hungry.
I think there is some confusion in the replies I have read regarding Alison. Nobody is slamming her for having a lapband, in fact all power to her – but why lie and take credit for some thing you clearly could not do your self – hence the lapband. I am having a lapband so i am on her side but i would never say i done it all by myself with just willpower – how sad she feels she cant be honest!
No judging anyone; just to add to the words of caution about bands for those who have them… they are not 100% safe, no surgery is. And they’re not a magic cure. You can ‘cheat’ them. It all depends on what goes on in your head.
One of the alternatives would be to read Shirrans’ Solution – The Gastric mind Band which teaches YOU how to build your own healthier new relationship with food. I’m biased BUT I’ve lost about 8lb in 3 weeks, my daughter about 9.5 – not too fast, not too slow. Among other things, only eating when hungry, drinking more water and pausing before making any rash food choices. The rest’s in the book!
It works!