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Prior to weight loss surgery, I could barely walk 5 minutes without stopping from the pain. I think the last time I actually tried jogging was with my mum when I was about 17, so like 11 years ago! And back then it was this Couch to 5k app so you would walk for a few mins, and then jog for 30 seconds and boy did that almost kill me off! Anyway, I was in the gym today on my lunch break, and I always do 20 mins of cardio on the treadmill after my weights workout. I do 5 minutes at a 12 incline, and then lower it by 4 every 5 mins, and increase the speed (hopefully that makes sense). So during the last 5 mins of cardio, the gym was empty, not a soul apart from me, so I decided to do something I was too scared to do with others there. I put the speed up so that I was jogging...full-blown jogging. At first I just expected my lungs to give out like they would previously, but they didn't...I was breathing fine, I was not in pain, and I realised I can do this! I did the last 5 minutes at that pace, and I left with only a little bit of a sweat on, and no pain in my legs or lungs. I just called my dad to tell him because I think this is perhaps the first time in this journey I have felt like I love my body, and I love what it is capable of. My NSV, that I didn't even know was on my NSV list ❤️

Day of surgery I was 230 lbs. One year later I am 136. I was a size 18 to 20, now I'm at a size 5/6.

Win: Tried something new ....Welp I did the Pilates ummmm it's not really my cup of tea! I have to have more intensity. Although it's a full body workout, if I'm going to pay $300 to $400 a month on a Pilates package I need a little bit more! GIVE ME MORE.

You got this! For me, sugar free popsicles were my best friend. You may have effects to either hot liquids or cold liquids, for me I could not tolerate hot too much but cold liquids were soothing. Therefore sugar free popsicles help to this day with both soothing and are perfect when I'm craving something sweet. I never experienced dumping syndrome, but something to keep in mind in case that affects you post surgery.

I really like the comment from Cindi Augustine. I agree there's not enough post-op support or preparation for the post-op life. I attend support group meetings, which are good, but I'm looking for more. I started at 245lbs and now at 188lbs, surgery was August 2024. Sometimes you don't need a doctor, nutritionist, or therapist... just someone who can help you pull everything together. Maybe that's a health coach? Not sure how to find one. Thoughts?

girrrrlllllllllllllll I had the same fear!! Like you said you owe it to yourself to be healthy, and shoot nothing else worked why not try this! Those were my thoughts. My initial goal was to be 200lbs and then it kept going down and I am stopping around 165-170, Once you are able to see the results, the new clothes, being more active, feeling good about yourself you realize that all this hard work was NOT for nothing. For reference I have lost 130ish lbs in a year! Its super duper doable!! Ask anything in this forum everyone is super willing to help and give you what worked for them. . You are going to kick ass and take names!!!

The Isopure is on the way! I'll report back. ❤️

There is a group for lightweights on facebook. I think the surgery you choose depends on you. I agree with what postop said. I had the sleeve, now I'm going through the process of revision. I need the malabsorption. Some people do great with all surgeries, it's about the regain, or the info years out of how much people keep it off after a certain period of time. Also know the surgeon can tailor your common channel limb to match your age, and weight needed to lose with the DS. I have seen people as light and even lighter than you get the DS. It boils down to what you are willing to do. If you can commit to the Vitamins I think it's a great option. If you don't think you need malabsorption then go for the sleeve. You can't always go with how much other people lose because with all surgeries you can be the high average of losing well, and the lower average of losing, and I was at the bottom. GL, research research research.

One way of looking at it is this: a sleeve is 1/2 of a Duodenal Switch procedure. You could add it on later if you had to, though admittedly it would mean paying for 2 surgeries. That said, the reason so many end up revising to a DS from Lap bands AND sleeves is because the lap bands have a high failure rate and are almost always converted to sleeves or DS's, and sleeves can have weight regain issues after 12-18 months as the stomach re-stretches. Most surgeons require a BMI of 40 to do the full DS, just so ya know. Best of luck to you in your decision! I know things will be great for you no matter which path you take.

Some people revise from the sleeve to the DS. Some revise from the sleeve to the gastric bypass. Some are perfectly happy with the sleeve alone as it does the job for them. It's hard to say whether or not you should have a DS. You need to know yourself. Can you keep a good count on your calories, etc. and watch what you eat? Because while your stomach is definitely smaller after the sleeve it does stretch somewhat as time goes by (never to its original size, though). If so, the sleeve should work well. If you're like me (a binge eater) & want to eat every 1-2 hours (Protein pretty much in the main) and worry about keeping the most weight off possible, then a DS might be right for you. However, the DS has cons along with the pros. It takes a lot of work: many, many vits/minerals per day for life, yearly or twice yearly blood work, there can be malodorous gas and/or stool (most of us watch our eating in public carefully and/or take a probiotic to keep this under control), etc. After a lot of research and decision making I felt it was the WLS for me. But it's a very personal decision and all WLS have positives and negatives.