Weight Loss Surgery Advice

The only person I know who had weight loss surgery did well for awhile but eventually gained all the weight back. I don't think it is the best option for you. You will succeed in losing weight and keeping it off if you change your lifestyle. You need to eat less, move more, and drink plenty of water. Give MFP a year of consistent logging and calorie counting. I'll bet you can do this without surgery and make it a permanent change. Good luck to you.

^^^^THIS!

Last night, I ran into an acquaintance who I hadn't seen since our classes together ended in April. We were both noticeably thinner than we had been the last time we saw each other, and, as it turned out, we had both lost exactly the same amount of weight...mine since December, 2012, through diet and exercise, and hers since April by having gastric bypass surgery.

Let me first explain that surgery would have been my final option if my current journey had been unsuccessful. I was desperate. Fortunately for me, I have found what works for me.

What I noticed was that, even though she is much younger than I am, my body seems to be handling the weight loss a whole lot better than hers is. I used to have a "basketball belly", which turned into a "deflated balloon" at the top of my thighs by June. But that balloon is noticeably smaller now and I am no longer as concerned as I used to be that I will require surgery to remove the excess skin once I reach my goal. Her "deflated balloon" was clearly noticeable under her slacks. Her face was smaller, but looked wrinkled because of the excess skin.

It could be the difference in our bodies' ability to recover, in our skin elasticity. It could be due to timing, as her weight loss was quicker and her body has had less time to adjust to it. But it could also be that I have logged more hours in the gym, which has helped me to tone as I've lost. Please know that I'm not telling you this to be mean, because I really wish the best for her, for you, and for anyone who is battling for their health the way that we are.

I would advise that you try every other option first. Try a diet and exercise plan first...and give yourself a year. How much can you accomplish in a year? That's what I did. Ten months later and I am more than happy with my results. Even though I am 50+ pounds away from goal, I no longer feel trapped and desperate. And I know I will get there eventually.

Good luck, sweetie! I know you can do this!!

Like others have said, I would suggest trying to lose weight naturally through changing your eating habits and working out. Its easy to think surgery would be so nice, get it done and thats it. I used to think that way too. I worked out while being heavy and just never got results. It wasn't until this past February that I changed the way I eat that combined with what I was already doing that I finally started to results.

I started at 319 and now almost 8 full months later I'm at 230. 89lbs in that time is what I lost. I would say I have a little bit of loose skin, but you know what I'd rather have a little bit of loose skin and have significantly better health with the weight lost. I used to think it was impossible to lose weight, felt sorry for myself. I have torn ligaments in my knees from playing goalie and they bothered me all the time. After I tore my ACL 5 years ago I thought I was done playing. Now with the weight lost I can play competitively again.

Nothing is overnight, you have to work and be disciplined. If your not either way you're not gonna get the results you want. Set a goal and work to get there. You can do it, you just have to believe in yourself!

This is a very personal question so just know that you will be supported and loved no matter which way you go. It's great to talk to us on the internet about this but I definitely think you should get the facts straight from medical professionals, especially those w/o an agenda (ie, ask a holistic practicioner AND a surgeon - not just one or the other).

My opinion is to try to make an appointment with a nutritionist, registered dietician, or medically supervised weight loss program in your area that focuses on real food (not shakes and supplements). Stick with it for a year, and THEN decide if you want surgery or not. This way, if you do go for surgery, you are already well on your way to developing the new habits that will maximize it's effectiveness. And if you decide against surgery, you're still on the path to better health!

Now, you CAN loose a lot of weight with shakes and supplements. And, if used properly in conjunction with "real food", they can be quite effective. I just advocate against them for you while you're considering surgery. I think limiting oneself to real food during weight loss is a good way to work on one's relationship with food as in how to shop, plan meals, avoid excess calories at restaurants that you aren't even enjoying that much, etc. And also to find out what types of food work best with your body so that you can shed weight while feeling full and having energy. This is crucial to long term success. It's not usually the treats that make us heavy, but the day-to-day habits. . . Once some habits that optimize weight loss have become normalized, then I think use of supplements is helpful. This way, when you go back to eating "normal", the new "normal" will be something that helps you continue to loose or maintain weight instead of slowly gain it back.