BriarRose

I had VSG over a dozen years ago. Started at 320. 5'3" and 49 years old. Had surgery at about 300 lbs (sorry, don't remember exactly !) But I count EVERY DARN POUND ! I lost to 165; but never could hold that. No plastics or skin removal. Maintained at 175 to 180 for many years. Then had major surgery, lost my mom, younger brother.... working, raising my own child, and caregiving. I gained to 220. After losing my dad.... I kind of gave up trying....for a while. 5 years later, I decided to lose 10 pounds in a year. That was about 4 years ago. I lost the ten and then another and kept going.... but slowly. Every 5 pounds I would stop and just figure out how to maintain that loss. Because I realized what I missed.... in all those years was HOW TO MAINTAIN - I could lose, but not MAINTAIN where I got. So I would add in a small piece of cake as a treat. Did that do it ? NOPE. A small treat every day ? NOPE. I had to learn what would add a pound or two. We have to adjust to our new insides, and to our bodies and to our new ages and stages of life. We are not static. We change. Our medical needs change. See your doctor. Meet with a nutritionist from time to time. Pay attention to not feeling well. Get it checked out and bring up your surgery and what you are eating and drinking. I did lose back to 173 -175 and kept it there for more than a year. Spent the last 6 months losing another 10 to 12 pounds. For whatever reason it has come off easier this time. I haven't weighed under 165 since college in the late 1970's. I am almost 67. You can get through this. Slowly and do not compare yourself to anyone else. Put on those pants you wore when you started the journey and see how big they are on you now. YOU HAVE moved forward. You ARE doing it. On your own time. Which is always the RIGHT TIME.

Please be gentle with yourself ! Having any surgery is a shock to the body and to your brain ! Your body is telling you that it was cut into and it hurts ! Your body doesn't know that you needed this, or that in the long run, you will be healthier for it. I am glad you have a therapist to help you through the "thinking" part, but do not listen to anyone including yourself that tells you "it was JUST a few holes" or "it isn't a big deal" . NO ONE ELSE lives in your body except you. I have had some major surgeries, and I can tell you waking up from weight loss surgery VSG was the most painful experience I have ever had. Lasted all of a half an hour when I insisted on speaking to a doctor and getting a different pain med. Problem solved. Do you need to get in more protein ? Are you dehydrated ? Need more sleep ? Be proactive in talking to your doctors and your team. Expect to feel lousy. Let yourself heal. Be assured that this feeling and recovery will progress and you WILL feel better than ever soon !!!

Soo. I started my weight loss journey over 10 years ago. I am 5'2" I had surgery and was, if I remember correctly about 320 pounds. (and I had lost weight before surgery..) I was 54 years old. I lost over 100 pounds. I got down to 180 pounds. I could never get lower than that. But my doctors were pleased and so was I. Over 10 years I managed to gain weight and this past July, got mad at myself when I realized I weighed 220 !!!! I told myself that I needed to reverse the trend, and get back to a healthier weight. My initial goal was to lose 10 pounds in a year. Well, I lost 10 pounds in 4 months and then lost another 12 in the last 4 months, and for the first time in about 6 years am just under that 200 pound weight at 198. ( I will claim those last 2 pounds ! ) I refuse to do any drastic dieting, just "going back to my sleeve eating." More protein, less carbs, more vegetables. occasional treats. Cut out the popcorn and chips which are my slider foods.... and although I really cannot exercise with my other physical issues, I am moving more and feeling better. I would be happy to be in the mid 190's for this coming July - but focusing more on making sure I don't backslide again.... I am posting because .... well, how do you explain to anyone that you have already lost over 140 pounds and gained back 40, and now have lost 20... 10 years later and it's all connected ? And at my age, no one really notices.... although I did go buy new jeans/slacks for work because darn it, I didn't keep the smaller clothing !!! Anyone else as far out as I am ? Having issues ? Getting back on track this late in the game ?

January 2023 I got very ill in September of 2022 - had a tear in my hiatius - a hiaitial hernia tear - that was bleeding into my chest area. No symptoms until I was so weak and tired that I couldn't function well. Ended up needing transfusions and emergency hospitalization to figure out what was wrong. 5 days in patient with no food or water, just IVs. Lots of testing and then came home on lots of iron pills and vitamins. Three weeks later had a gastric bleed.... more hospital stay of 4 days and endoscope and found out that I have some, well, a lot of issues in my "normal sleeve anatomy" - lots of areas that were bleeding. No actual ulcers, just ... issues. Now will be doing weekly iron infusions - no more oral iron; and meds to help heal my stomach lining. I lost 10 pounds in the hospital, but was warned to eat well and drink lots of fluids and to put back at least 2/3 of what was lost in the hospitalizations as a good portion of that is blood building. I craved macaroni and cheese. Not something I even usually like much ! So I ate that and high protein, lots of water and saw my doctors on a weekly basis. I, of course gained weight back as I healed. But decided to be VERY VERY careful in what I ate as directed by my doctors to not piss off my gut - and then added in what I knew to do for my over all health. My 13 year old tool was still there and of the appropriate size - I had NOT "stretched out" my sleeve in 13 years. I was assured by the gastro doc that it was fine ! So I took the 2 total pound weight loss from surgery and then post op required gain.... and have lost 6 more pounds in 3 months. I am out of the 30s BMI for the first time in ...... more than 40 years. Yes, BMI of 29 on the Smart BMI for my age. I am doing much better, will probably need monthly iron infusions on a regular basis; as the oral iron is not working for my irritable gut. But I am a seemingly healthy almost 67 year old, now wearing a size 14 petite slacks to work ! The last time I did that .... I was about 23 years old.... I have almost lost half of me.

I am heading into my 13th year after VSG. I come back here from time to time, when I need to touch base with folks who "get" it. I only shared my WLS with a very very few people; and people who have met me in the last several years of course do not know.... and I do not talk diet with anyone really. I talk about being healthy, eating intuitively and things like that. I being my lunch to work and if my staff want to order in lunch - I let them pick and then I find something that I am okay with. burgers ? Fine. I don't get fries. I cut the burger in half, eat a few bites of the burger and then take it a part with a fork and leave the rest of the bread. And I have half a burger for dinner. Coming back here from time to time allows me to re-center myself. And when it is time to lose a couple pounds or if I have lost some more, I come here and update my ticker, and this is a safe place to come back to. I too let about 40 pounds creep back on and a few years ago came back and documented my slow but sure weight loss of... now 50 plus pounds. I started 14 years ago at 320, got down to 175. went back up to 220. Now at 165. I purposely took my time to lose the weight. My goal was to lose 10 pounds a year. I lost 45 in two years, and then took another break for a couple years... have lost 10 pounds in the last 6 or 7 months. I am beyond pleased. I will be 67 in a couple months. You can do this ! And don't beat yourself up over it. Be gentle with yourself.

I am a mental health professional. I DO therapy along with other things... I got my VSG in 2010. MY mental health appointment with a therapist was this: Her: Oh you must be so excited, soon you will be slim like me ! But you need to save a ton a money to get plastic surgery afterwards because this *** won't pay for it. Me: Blinking. Well, you look great; but I am about 25 years older than you, and I think our perspectives may be different. Her: So, I went to Mexico, do you want the information ? Its like surgery and a spa. Blah blah Blah kept on talking... Me: ( holy crap, I need this recommendation I guess I play her game ) Oh I would love that, thank you so much, so tell me about your weight loss journey because I can see how wonderful you are doing. Her: 40 minutes of telling me all about her weight loss and dating. ( I was very newly divorced, and no she never asked). I was terrified that she would not recommend me.... because she knew NOTHING about me at all. I called her three days later on a fishing expedition ...... and she told me she put in her recommendation for me. I waited until AFTER my surgery to send MY notes to the clinic supervisor. DO I know that my childhood had molded my eating behaviors ? Of course. My grandmother and mother lived in Europe during the Holocaust. They managed to escape - but not before surviving on scraps of bread. Healthy meant being chubby. I had to re learn as an adult what HEALTHY was, then to connect all that and re learn so many things. Did that therapist ever know that ? of course not. she never glanced at my autobiography because if she had, it would have made it into the report. Which I requested afterwards. It does not mean your experience will be like that. Find a good therapist. Do not rely on one session to make or break your desire to have a personal tool to help with your weight loss.

I think it is very important to understand where we "are" in life, and where we have come from. Although the "goal weight" for my height and when I started my weight loss journey was to be 145 pounds, I KNEW i would never ever get to that weight. First of all, I have had enough necessary surgeries that plastic surgery and tummy tucks and fat and skin removal was not on the horizon, ever. My surgeon, after looking at my history agreed. But said that MEDICALLY he had to use that number. FINE. WHATEVER. My goal that I used in my own head was 175. I started at 320. I lost 20 pounds before I went to the doctor and asked about WLS, I was so embarrassed.... to weigh that much. I really love my PCP now. She out right told me that IF I had an all around - abdominal - that I would probably lose about 10 to 15 or more pounds. But since I need two knee replacements and I do not do well with anesthesia - she agreed that since I do not have a hanging panus; that it wouldn't qualify for insurance anyway.... I hope to get down to about 162 this go around. But according to my SBMI I am at a 29 - Something I never thought I could accomplish. I LOVE buying regular sized clothing. I LOVE not being the biggest human in the crowd. I will be 67 in a couple months and I am so comfortable in my own skin - no matter how saggy it is !

80% of the time I eat what I make at home. I have found that eating out at restaurants - NO MATTER WHAT I eat will cause me to gain weight. I cook with VERY little to no salt. I always have, even when I was so obese. Restaurants salt and pepper salads, steamed vegetables, rice, EVERYTHING. Not too long ago I went out with some work buddies to Panda Express. I got a kid's portion of green beans and chicken over brown rice. I ate the green beans and chicken and maybe three tablespoons of rice. I gained 4 pounds overnight. It took me two days to figure out what had happened, when I realized all I wanted to do was drink water !!!! I was way too heavily salted !!!!! It happens. Also many home cooks follow recipes and most call for a TON of salt. I have friends who come over and the fist thing they do is ask me to haul out the salt shaker ! I happily do. For them.

I made tuna salad with yogurt instead of mayo - added protein to it. Also did this with hard boiled eggs for egg salad. A bit of brown mustard in with the egg salad. The tuna I just used the yogurt and tuna and smashed the heck out of it. Tiny bites and tiny amounts. You could do that with chopped/diced chicken too.

I am happy that you are in a GREAT PLACE for yourself - physically and emotionally and educationally ! I love that you went back to school to get your BA degree. And getting 4.0 grades .... WOW ! I won't question your level of work outs. I am almost 67 years old, and I consider my day to be MY work out. I work full time as a social work supervisor; I do my own housekeeping, take care of several critters and a small flock of laying hens, do organic gardening and walk to and from my car, on knees that both need replacement.... I now am restricted to no more than lifting 25 lbs, so I do need help from time to time with the 40 pound feed bags.... but hey. My comment for you is to be kind and gentle with yourself. It sounds like you are doing a lot, and that you are really into everything you are doing. (Big Applause here !!!) But take some "you" time too. Again, Congratulations on your successes !!!!!

At first, you may not be able to eat anything. I couldn't eat salads for a long while. But mincing up some chicken breast even if it is grilled will be okay. We all have gone out to dinner or lunch. We all have faced the BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs.... or whatever. Losing weight and maintaining it means learning to eat differently. You will NOT want to eat a whole salad, or a whole piece of chicken. Post op, I recall making myself one small chicken thigh (boneless and skinless) baked with pam and some chicken broth. I cut that up and ate it for several tiny meals over a couple days. There are small packets or tupperware for making your own dressings. Yes, tuna salad has mayo, but many of us need that "wet" quality to our food to digest it anyway. A table spoon of tuna salad when I was a few months out was a good serving ! Life is different. You will be different. At a dozen years out of sleeve surgery, I eat maybe 2 to 3 ounces of protein at a time. That is about half of a half chicken breast, and maybe some vegetables or whatever else I made for family or whoever. I eat two lunches to get in enough protein. You will learn what works for you. When I go out with my adult daughter we order one meal most often. I eat about 1/4 of it. She has the rest. What I am saying is that you most probably will not WANT most of the things there. I do get the bacon thing. I don't eat pork so now that I know they season the grill with bacon.... Dennys is all together out anyway !!!! Do your program, you will feel so healthy and at the end of the day triumphant that you made it through and were successful.

NO ! You haven't wasted anything ! You have GAINED experience, you have gained the knowledge that IF you eat certain foods, you won't lose weight. One of the biggest issues for many people, myself included isn't losing the weight... if I really set my mind to it.... it is keeping it off. I am a dozen years post surgery. Look at where I started and where I am now. About 4 years ago I decided to take some gained weight off.... again... and to stop every so often and maintain THAT weight for a while. BLEW MY OWN MIND !!! I could eat more, or eat treats and maintain my weight each time. Two years ago I got down to about 172 - 173 and decided to stay there and only panic if I got to 177. I kept a 40 pound weight loss for 2 years. AFTER losing 120 pounds 12 to 10 years ago. A while back... a few months I decided that I would just try to get back from an average of 175 to maybe that 172. Took my time, made some small changes. Gained 2 pounds during the 8 days of Chanukkah with some latkes and jelly donuts. And family dinners. Not a problem. Went back to what I was doing before our holiday and lost the two pounds ... (again) and didn't beat myself up over it. As soon as I stopped eating the holiday foods, the two pounds came off and another couple pounds after that... For me, it is all about getting into the right head space and weighing daily, watching what I eat, and balance. Friends dropped off dinner for my adult daughter and I tonight.... line caught, home made fresh FRIED fish. And french fries. (REALLY ?!) The fish was delicious. I ate 4 fries. And a piece of fish. I have fish for lunch tomorrow, and dinner..... and my daughter has fish and fries for days... I am the same weight now as I was in college... in 1977. From my heaviest weight I am almost half of myself. NEVER ever say that you cannot. Take a break from being so hard on yourself. Take a week and maintain where you are now. Then go back to where you need to be. You can do this.

I am more than a dozen years out from my VSG. I started at 5'3" and 320 pounds. I had surgery in my mid 50's ! I am now 66 years old. I won't ever be thin. I have not had and will not have plastic surgery to remove the saggy baggy parts. My insurance and my general health are not going to work for that. But my doctor's consider me to be in great health, and are more than pleased where I am at right now. I did gain back weight over about 8 years. My lowest weight was about 165 - at two years post VSG. I gained 220 - some was health related, most of it was life.... and not self regulating. About three years ago I decided to lose 10 pounds in a year. But I realized losing weight was not the biggest problem, but learning how to maintain what I lost was the issue for me. So after losing 10 pounds I PURPOSELY stopped losing weight, and maintained the 10 pound loss for 3 months. I learned what I could eat, and how to eat to maintain my weight. Then I decided to lose some more. Three years later I am close to that lowest weight I had been ( and what I weighed when I was in my 20's ) I actually stopped losing weight and maintained at 173 to 175 for about a year. A few months ago I decided to try to lose a bit more. I have no "goal" right now, except that I just bought size 14 petite jeans - and haven't worn that size for 10 years and would like to try for that 165 and stay there. My PCP let me know two important things.... once you hit about 63 or so one should use "Smart BMI" as we age, we are graciously given a few extra pounds ... so my smart BMI is actually under the one here. and we also shrink in height. I keep simple protein as the focus of what I eat. I raise my own backyard hens that produce incredible eggs for breakfast - or I eat oatmeal and fruit. Lunches and Dinners are proteins and fresh veggies and fruit. I eat some carbs - maybe a low carb spinach wrap or thin slice bread. Snacks are healthful, and I insist on a treat every day. Sometimes just one small dove candy.... maybe a cookie or small serving of something sweet. For me, it is balance and yes, I weigh myself a few times a week - just to make sure I am on track.

I am a dozen years out. I eat healthfully for my age and some tummy issues - so fairly plain. breakfast : coffee with a bit of half and half. Oatmeal with a handful of fresh or dried fruit or a couple eggs with half a bagel and some jam. lunch - tuna salad sandwich or deli sandwich with some Avacado. snacks - sliced cheese and crackers , or fresh fruit or the other half of my sandwich. ( if at work). dinner. I either bake or roast or grill chicken or a turkey breast or small steak or grill burgers … mostly chicken or fresh fish. Grill, steam or wok veggies. Or Maybe a salad - or fresh fruit. My adult kid likes some carbs so I bake or grill yams or potato or steam brown rice or make couscous. Or something like that and I have a small serving of that and I always have some kind of treat. A couple Milano cookies, or small baked item, or a couple little dove chocolates. I will eat pasta on occasion - but keep in mind I am 66 years old and need knee replacements so my exercise is limited.

I recently had a hiatial hernia tear. I had GERD before and after VSG. I am 12 years out. ( I am 66 years old, and my mother and grandmother had this issue also...) I had no idea, but wasn't feeling well. I work full time, and and fairly active - I garden, have chickens for fresh eggs, used to haul around 40 pounds of grain.... but couldn't the past few months. Go into my doctor, they did blood labs and sent me to the hospital. I needed 2 blood transfusions, and 4 days in the hospital to locate the bleeding... had endoscope and colonoscopy .... NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VSG. But i had also been taking meds for arthritis. So I had some gastric bleeding and the tear in the hiatus. After that I had iron infusion in the hospital and one each week for the next 6 weeks. I have been told not to take my oral iron, and next week I will be 3 weeks without iron infusions, so I go and get labs then. Will see if I can go without it or not. Meanwhile, I eat a ton of cooked (fresh spinach ) a week; and try to eat beef 3 time a week, to help it out. Will see how it goes. I go to an outpatient infusion clinic. The nurses are incredible and never miss my vein. and I am not an easy "stick". I get the 20 minute infusion and wait a half hour afterwards with a slow flush drip. Then I can go about my day.

I DID IT ! I hit MY weight goal. NOT my surgeon's goal 10 years ago when I started this advent....that was to weigh145 pounds. Then he agreed that having started at 320, (and then 5'3" ) that a more logical goal would be in the area of 160 to 170. The lowest I ever got was 175. And I did not maintain that for even a moment. The the next 8 years of losing my only sibling to the Flu at the age of 49 (please get your flu shot) and then my surviving parent a few years later... personal illness and drama.... and creeping weight gain.... 14 months ago at 220 pounds and 63 years old I got my act back together. I went back to eating protein - first and foremost - protein, healthy vegetables and fruit, and a smattering of healthy whole grain carbs and healthy fats. I ate mindfully - and intentionally to fuel my mind and body. I ate a treat daily I slowly changed HOW I eat, what I eat, and when I eat it. I did not announce it, I did not talk about it. I just did it. I lost 45 pounds in the past 14 months. Not fast weight loss, but steady And I may decide to lose a bit more. Or not. Thank you for being my sounding board. Thank you for being here for support. Today I am thankful for my sleeve, for saggy baggy hanging skin and not caring. And for being healthy !

Decided a couple months back to try to drop a few more pounds. My weight had been fairly stable, between 172 and 175 for the last two years. As you can tell, I take my time, and after losing a couple pounds, I take a break and just maintain that weight loss. Losing the weight isn't the issue for me, but maintaining is. My weight is now between 168 and 170. Maybe not a huge difference; but for me.... I do not remember being in the 160's since college.... and that was like 1977..... so now at 66 years old, and a dozen years post VSG; I am down over 150 pounds from my highest weight. Age does do odd stuff to the body. But still working 40 hours a week, gardening, have my hens and fruit trees and vegetable gardens.... Of course, I can't recall how to update my ticker..... will research some. Updated !!!

One day at a time. Sometimes one meal at a time. Or congratulating yourself on walking past the candy bars at the market check out. I have kept that 45 pounds off 10 years out. So it is 145 pounds gone ! I went to Target this weekend because I noticed my "new" XL blouses for work that I got last year at maybe minus 35 pounds of the 45 were slipping off my shoulders. I bought two tops in size "L" - THAT hasn't happened in 40 years. It is not always easy. My weight goes between 172 and 176 now. I have had to learn that THAT is normal. If I get to that 176 - I stop and look at what did I eat , drink .... do or not do..... the last two days... It is usually that i ate a meal out. Even salad. Everyone uses added salt. I do not - the salt in salad dressings, or prepared items is a lot for me. An order of Panda Express veggies and chicken (and only eating half or less) will add pounds for days due to the salt and msg. I am careful, but not crazed. I weigh myself daily or every other day. I plan meals and snacks as I work full time and need to have a few meals ready for full days. Figure yourself out then make a plan. YOU CAN DO THIS !

I am over 10 years out. I weighed over 320 pounds and was 5'3" and 54 years old. I have lost 145 pounds (well, 147) . I should have done it many years before.... but it wasn't around then !!! I am not 65 years old. I am still considered overweight - even obese, if one does not count in my age ! But I now weigh between 175 and 172. I am able to maintain that at 65 years old with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic brittle asthma. IF I had plastic surgery I would easily weigh another 15 pounds less, but at my age I have elected NOT to have another elective surgery. I went from a size 28 plus size to now I wear a 14/16 petite. I am incredible healthy - work full time still, organic garden and raise hens for farm fresh eggs ! Eat /drink your proteins. Take your multi vitamins. Eat lots of healthy vegetables of all colors and forms, keep carbs to a bare minimum. Eat enough healthy fats to keep your skin and hair healthy. I did not lose hair after surgery. But some people do. I would suggest following your doctor's diet well, and making sure you eat healthy proteins always first !!!

I will add my support to GET VACCINATED. As a Social Worker working with CHILDREN in foster care....you would think that I do not have to deal with this..... We have had entire families with COVID. The Foster Parents bring it home and give it to the children - their children, and those placed with them. We see families who are "sure" that they won't get it. So they do not vaccinate. They get it. One of my foster homes brought it to Thanksgiving last November - by New Years her father and brother were dead. Another family it was Christmas. Grandmother and brother dead in two month's time. I have spent this past year tracking death, reporting illness and dealing with families and their grief and guilt. Oh yeah, and then there is my own "family." Cousins. Who deemed themselves "safe" because they only went out with friends, or only on play dates with people that they knew. My cousin's daughter and husband got it, gave it to cousin and husband who gave it to his family at a gathering of family only. His mother died, his sister died and he was hospitalized and has long haul symptoms and is unable to work. I was able to get vaccinated in February. I take my mask off in my office with others who are double vaccinated only. I wear my mask indoors in public places. I do not eat in restaurants indoors. I listen to the advice of our public health RN. I visit homes double paper masked or when I can get one N95 masked. (and getting one hardly ever happens) I am 65 years old, have brittle lifelong asthma. Please folks. Gamble in the Casino. Not on life or death.

I have had major surgery for what was thought was ovarian cancer. My mother died several years prior to my major surgery from ovarian cancer. I had verified tumors and incapacity causing pain. I did not tell "everybody" nor did I tell anyone who asked. I took care of business - went to an attorney who helped me with financial and legal issues for my then underage daughter. I made arrangements for who would take care of my pets. Those people, of course knew. But work colleagues, acquaintances, even many friends and relatives, I did not tell. NOT their business. AT ALL. I do not need people talking about what is clearly not about them. I was very lucky to have been opened fully from above my belly button to my pubic bone. I was very lucky to have had benign and rare tumors that had only just begun to be "funky". I had some specialized treatments that I also do not share with others. That was 15 years ago. No one needs to know. In my opinion - telling the world about one's medical information is an attention seeking behavior. Acceptable for some; but not for a me and not for many others EVER. I am NOT saying YOU shouldn't share - by all means go out there and do what makes you comfortable. But for many - sharing personal information is well, like going outside in public naked. Totally not necessary.

I am 10 years post sleeve. I got my sleeve at 54 years old. I was 5'3 and 320 pounds. Best thing I ever did. Honestly, I have never gotten down as low as some folks ..... nor as low as my surgeon would have liked.... but he actually told me that the goal is to lose and keep off 70% of your excess weight - that is considered a medical success. For me, that was losing and keeping off about 130 pounds. I am 65 years old. I went from a PLUS size 28 to about a 14/16 petite regular womens clothing. I work 40 hours a week, keep my house and raise chickens, and other critters up, support my adult daughter who has some medical issues. I organic garden vegetables and fruit , swim, take walks and feel great. I am healthier than I was at 40. I eat well - protein, salads, veggies and fruits. I watch carbs. I have learned how to eat so that I am satisfied - and eating a good balance of healthy fats and variety of foods. I also eat a treat every day. Heck, I'm 65 and I deserve my chocolate ! A couple of my good friends know about my surgery. They "would never" .... and they haven't. Both are not able to work, and have several weight and age related issues that I have managed to dodge. Sure I have my aches and pains... but I am moving and DOING and I am out there happy as heck !

Anything with sucralose gives me days and days of horrible runs with cramping and it is NOT fun. For me, I cannot (pre or post op) tolerate any of the "fake sugar" at all - every darn one of them makes me sick - literally. I was not able to drink any of the shakes. It was not fun. I do not consume any of it ever. A few years back, I ate ONE "chocolate candy" sample at Costco. Turned out it had sucralose. I was sick for days. And it doesn't take long to go through you when it starts. That is enough said !

I sincerely believe that we, as consumers of weight loss surgery, because we are or were grossly obese; need to be our own best supporters, and we need to advocate for ourselves, because no one else is going to do it for us. That means for me: 1. Find out everything about each possible surgical procedure and find the one that you can LIVE with - not the one that a particular surgeon likes to perform, or the one that your neighbor had, or the one that has a girl on Tic Toc. Or the one that a TV surgeon does. 2. Weigh the risks and benefits of each surgery and add in your PERSONAL medical and mental health history, support systems, possible issues 10 months out and 10 years out. 3. Work on the mental health part of it BEFORE surgery. Surgery only fixes tummies and intestines; not mindsets, and we should NOT expect it to have any effect on depression, anxiety, or anything else. And those of us who obsessed about being overweight will continue to obsess about it, or how imperfect we still may be. 4. Most people, who have a particular surgery expect to be "cured". Unfortunately this is not always the case. Just like treatment for any physical illness, not every medication works for every person , and not every surgical procedure for weight loss surgery will fix every patient who has it. That does not mean giving up. It means being stubborn and going back to your doctor or finding a different one and figuring out the next step. Be PRO-ACTIVE in your own care. Pre -Op, Post Op, and 10 years or 20 years down the line. Just MY thoughts today