Just had my consultation for bariatric surgery...

Honestly, the last time I was at the doc, he suggested this too. That was my wake up call that made me realized, I need to really work my *kitten* off to NOT have to get surgery.

I have PCOS, which makes losing weight an even bigger hassle than most have ever had.

I started EATING CLEAN (no processed junk or anything altered by MAN), smaller portions, and getting at least 60-90 min of exercise EVERYDAY! I know it seems tedious, but I'd rather pay 60-90 min a day and be kinda sore then PAY 15,000-30,000 or more for surgery where I'd have to eat the same way and exercise the same as if I didn't have the surgery.

Please try this out for the 10 months and RECONSIDER. The risks aren't worth it. If this doesn't work (which would be odd, b/c with someone with PCOS, it's been working for me), then go on with it.

I have never seen a person that had a weight loss surgery that did not put all the weight back on in a year. I am not trying to be mean, just honest. Do MFP for a year, but really do it. Commit ,good bad or otherwise, log it and be honest with yourself. This process is simple, but its not necessarily easy. Cut fast food, and processed food. As painful as it may be, move your body more. Good luck, you can do anything that you "commit" to doing.

I have never seen a person that had a weight loss surgery that did not put all the weight back on in a year. I am not trying to be mean, just honest. Do MFP for a year, but really do it. Commit ,good bad or otherwise, log it and be honest with yourself. This process is simple, but its not necessarily easy. Cut fast food, and processed food. As painful as it may be, move your body more. Good luck, you can do anything that you "commit" to doing.

my wife had it over ten years ago, has lost over 150# and hasn't put it back on.

My fiance was over 400 lbs when we started fitness pal 10 mos ago and has lost almost 130 lbs in that time. It is a lifestyle change you have to make and keep forever! The key is exercise and eat the right foods. That's not to say you can't indulge occasionally, I recommend it. Just never lose sight of your goals. It is very important to have a good support team also. Good luck to you you're not alone

I have never seen a person that had a weight loss surgery that did not put all the weight back on in a year. I am not trying to be mean, just honest. Do MFP for a year, but really do it. Commit ,good bad or otherwise, log it and be honest with yourself. This process is simple, but its not necessarily easy. Cut fast food, and processed food. As painful as it may be, move your body more. Good luck, you can do anything that you "commit" to doing.

I personally know 3 people who have kept the weight off. Each had a serious, personal reason for having the surgery. No one took the decision lightly. All of them tried (like just about everyone else on here) repeatedly to lose weight and keep it off. Then they tried surgery. For those three it has been worth it, I'd say. Should they have tried ONE MORE TIME to lose weight and keep it off? I'll let them be the judge of that.

I also have a friend who had the surgery and promptly went back to her old eating habits. Again, like lots of folks on here who never had WLS. She returned to the bad habits that made keeping the weight off impossible. She's now fat with a scar. It happens.

To the posters who tell "horror stories" about people who became alcohol or sex addicts after WLS: I know someone who became a slut after giving up booze. Is it therefore bad for an alcoholic to stop drinking? No. Of course not. It's simply a reminder that addictive behaviours are hard to conquer and need to be focused on as well.

I have never seen a person that had a weight loss surgery that did not put all the weight back on in a year. I am not trying to be mean, just honest. Do MFP for a year, but really do it. Commit ,good bad or otherwise, log it and be honest with yourself. This process is simple, but its not necessarily easy. Cut fast food, and processed food. As painful as it may be, move your body more. Good luck, you can do anything that you "commit" to doing.

I personally know 3 people who have kept the weight off. Each had a serious, personal reason for having the surgery. No one took the decision lightly. All of them tried (like just about everyone else on here) repeatedly to lose weight and keep it off. Then they tried surgery. For those three it has been worth it, I'd say. Should they have tried ONE MORE TIME to lose weight and keep it off? I'll let them be the judge of that.

I also have a friend who had the surgery and promptly went back to her old eating habits. Again, like lots of folks on here who never had WLS. She returned to the bad habits that made keeping the weight off impossible. She's now fat with a scar. It happens.

To the posters who tell "horror stories" about people who became alcohol or sex addicts after WLS: I know someone who became a slut after giving up booze. Is it therefore bad for an alcoholic to stop drinking? No. Of course not. It's simply a reminder that addictive behaviours are hard to conquer and need to be focused on as well.

What people seem to forget when speaking negatively about the results of surgery that " my friend" had is that it was the person who failed, not the surgery. It's no different than......having knee surgery and then trying to go run a 5k three days after the surgery and then blaming that surgery when you end up in pain after 10 steps. Wasn't the surgery that caused the issue.

Some of these people seem to think surgery is some magic fix all, it isn't. In fact, it's probably harder after surgery than before. When you over eat before surgery all you have to worry about is guilt and maybe gaining a pound or two. Not true after surgery. You have to make protein a priority. You can't eat a great deal of sugar or even items that process like sugar. It's far from "the easy way out".

Right, and what some folks seem to forget is: the majority of DIETERS gain it all back as well. And, yes, there are negative effects to yo-yo dieting. Everyone thinks "this time" will be different. Only time will tell. For them, and for the folks who are opting for surgery. "Commiting to MFP for a year" as the quoted poster begs only suggests someone can LOSE weight. Not keep it off...

hey sweetie,

I wish you luck in what ever you decide. I'm not preaching just going to share my story...

At 22 years old I weighed in at 301lbs. I was a newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic, dangerously high blood pressure and dangerously high heart rate. I have fybromyalgia and spent my.life either at work or in bed... exhausted and terribly depressed.

A five year long abusive relationship had left me with a serious emotional attachment to food. I hated myself, I'd given up on myself and I was convinced that weight loss surgery was my ONLY way out!

I got refused surgery on the NHS as there was no funding in my area. I came across MFP and I decided I would give it a go. I went to the doctor got some good antisepressants, CBT therapy and I kept my friends list low on here and put my all into being there for them so I would get the same in return.

I gradually added in exercise. literally stepping on and off the wiI fit board for 5mins would have me in be
d. I was determined to not give up and the C.BT taught me something was better than nothing.

That little bit of exercise helped me mentally and I soon found my fybromyalgia feeling better. exercise was helping it. I slowly kept increasing exercise and will now walk 35 miles a week and do 5 gym sessions. It is my new thing I turn to
also I love music so I bought some great headphones. when I'm stressed o playmusic and it relieves it
I do slip up occasionally but not too often. I was a horrendous binge eater and I've stopped.

dealing with my psychological issues has been a massive factor. during the last year I've had to endure having 3/4 of my liver removed as contraceptives caused tumors and I've still lost 74lbs in 12 and a half months. I'm now getting my activity back up

I like numbers so a fitbit and hrm have been good for me. I reversed my type 2 diabetes (yes it's possible) my heart rate and blood pressure are normal... this changed very quickly with exercise.

I am now so glad I got turned down for surgery as I can go and enjoy meals out etc. I eat 1500 a day and 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30= fat. I only eat ssome exercise calories if I'm hungry for them as advised by dietitiian

I'm now down to 226lbs and I am half way to where I want to be. I was that.girl who didn't believe the could do it, I did have massive motional issues with food, I had no quality of life depressed, constantly in bed, believed I couldn't ever exercise... with support and determination it can all be turned around.

LIFE is GREAT now.... I know there will be no going back as I feel better physically and mentally than I ever have in my life!

My advice is to really brace these next 10 months. See if you can do this by yourself... I word have never ever believed I could. with the state I was in anyone can do it!

Good luck with what ever you decide. Think it's good to hear this from someone who has been where you are. My picture is last night I have a before on my profile if you want a peek.

message me with any questions!

Zara ♥

LOVE IT MOXIECOWGIRL!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't read all of the replies so I don't know if this was brought up but ... do you ever plan to have children. Cause it is not safe to have children after the surgery. The baby won't get the nutrition it needs.
Think this through a lot.

That is blatant misinformation.

Well said Moxie
People should think before they spout what they 'think' they know about.

I can't say I approve, being almost 22 myself, no matter how heavy I am, I'll never get surgery to fix what nature can. What did big people do before surgery? Well they either ate right and exercised or they stayed big and died, but there was no magical fix.

If you truly feel it's best for you, then do it, but if there's any hope in the back of your mind that you can do it the natural way, give it a try, even if just for 6 months, give yourself a small goal and get to it.

I went back to re-read the OP's post and, I'm sorry, but where did she indicate that she was seeking your approval? :huh: That's right...nowhere.

It seems that everybody has inside information on somebody whose mother's hair stylist has a client whose aunt's ex-husband's new girlfriend had a friend who almost died, or regained all her weight, or gave birth to an undernourished baby, or developed a transfer addiction.

To the OP, please do as much research as you can. Surgery is a major undertaking, but it could be the best thing you've ever done for yourself, if you have the right mindset and commitment. WLS is a tool and, like any other tool, you need to use it properly. A tool cannot do its job unless you do yours. I wish you much success in whatever you decide to do.

Couldn't have said it better myself...exactly what I've been thinking as I've been reading all the replies! Surgery wouldn't be my choice but just because it's not what I'd want to do doesn't mean that you wanting the surgery is bad or wrong. I wish you the best of luck with this new journey happening in your life.

It is your life and you can choose whatever you want and feel is best for you... that being said; after spending hundreds of pounds on diet pills, meal replacement shakes, ridiculous work out machines that do the work for you, swallowing pills filled with saw dust in attempt to stop me being hungry, I have finally grown up and realised (barring any medical conditions) there is only one way to lose weight. EAT LESS, MOVE MORE. It really is that simple.

I'm really horrified that these sort of practices exist. To me, they're just another marketing venture paired with dozens of others, and many profiteers partner with eachother and racket the hapless victims back and forth - from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist, treatment to treatment. And what's more, is that our affluent society, so full of disparity in morality, sits by and lets it all go on in travesty - a mockery of decency, but a tribute to true, raw capitalism.

A quick fix is never a permanent one. To truly solve a problem, you must master the solution, and thus the problem. Be in command, take control, and put yourself in the position of power here, not some quack specialist.

You can do more; you can do better; and you can do it because you have it within you.

I wish you well, and pray that any who considers this proceedure to consider my advice also.

-Mal

I am totally amazed with all the people who keep quoting that bariatric surgery is a quick fix. We have spent time in a hospital having surgery, a week on a mostly water diet, learned to eat the proper food in proper portion sizes and still have to exercise everyday just like everyone else. Just how is that a quick fix?

9-6-12 is my date for surgery. its a long road but I am totally happy about my deicsion and have lost 20 lbs so far. start my liquid diet next week. dont let others change your mind, do what is best for you

Outside opinions can help her decide what's best for her. It's good to hear other opinions on the matter if the surgery isn't necessary for her. If it is, then it is. But if it isn't, then she shouldn't get it just because it was presented as an option that seemed easiest.

I am not going to tell you to have or not have the surgery done. I had my consult done and got my number (for the wait time to get it done) did everything they wanted me to do. Saw the docs got the lab work done did the diets and exercise. When they called me up 8 months later and said they had a date for me to have the surgery. I told them NO I was not having the surgery.

If I had gotten that call 5 months ago it would have been a YES I can be there in 10 mins . But after 8 months of diet and exercise. Losing weight and feeling great I didn't think surgery was for me.

So many things can happen in 10 months. You could change your mind like I did or you could realize this is going to be the best thing that is going to happen to you. Do what they tell you do, what can it hurt? You eat better you exercise and lose weight there is nothing wrong with that.

Good luck to you on your journey and hope MFP is able to help you along the way.

I am curious to know why people chose surgery and all the complications that come with it instead of just eating the calories your body needs/requires and exercising? Granted I know there are people that have physical ailments and cannot exercise. But, is it just a matter of not having self control when it comes to eating?