I had my surgery in 2010. I was at the point where I thought is was my last option. I'm glad I did it. You do still have to do the work. But, when you weigh less than the lie that is on your drivers license or try on the too small clothes that are in the back of your closet, and they are too big. It's worth it. It took me 2 years to lose 80 lbs. but during that 2 years my husband was deployed, my mother passed away, my father-in-law passed away, I had gall bladder surgery, a stressful job, 4 kids and 3 grandchildren to take care of. I figure without the surgery I would have been up 80 lbs. I am now working on getting serious to get down 100 lbs by April.
As for the 2 weeks of the pre op diet. It wasn't that bad. Somehow I got it in my head that if I was going as far as to do surgery, I was going to do it right. I lost more than 20 lbs doing that. You can do what ever you set your mind to.