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I've done various Google searches for "former Biggest Loser contestants" or some such and the results are, depressingly, what you might suspect: very many of them regain their weight. When they're at the ranch, food choices are made for them and, as noted, they're exercising a LOT. Maintaining that lifestyle isn't possible, so when they're back on their own . . .

Just want to thank you all for posting--I'm pre-op and this is soooo helpful to give me an idea of what life will be like after . . . for the rest of my life!

I know--I did my research. And let's not even talk about how unhealthy it is for me to carry all this weight, have diabetes, etc. I didn't even have a moment's doubt based on what she said--I just realized then why some people don't want to tell others. And I'm completely sure she didn't mean to be negative--it was just her honest reaction. One perspective, though, is that she's in her 70s and it was unclear how long ago the one incident she mentioned had happened., or which procedure it was. I'd bet money, if I had any, that it wasn't this one (gastric sleeve) and it wasn't this century, for that matter!

Awesome! You sound like a wonderful person--and an inspiration!

I'm also hopeful--I'm currently taking Metformin, Victoza, and insulin. The statistics are that 84 percent of diabetics are in remission after surgery--though I don't know what the exact time frame is.

I'm also telling all kinds of people about my plans, mostly because I don't really care what they say or think--I know I'm doing the right thing for me. BUT I definitely understand why some others don't want to tell people, and I support that decision for each individual. The last person I told about this said she was afraid of the surgery, she knew people who had died on the table. It wasn't clear how long ago she was talking about, but I responded that it's a very safe surgery, about the same as having your gall bladder out (which I've also done). Still, I was a bit taken aback by that response from her--that's what you say to someone planning to have the surgery? Way to be supportive!

I'm in the early stages here, so this is not based on personal experience, just from what I've read: but some people have said they have trouble swallowing pills or that the pills bother their stomachs, so I'm planning to get the patches for vitamins for the first two months or so. Just seems easier.

I'm assuming my insulin needs will change through this process and I'm going to check to see whether my bariatric surgeon or my primary care doctor will advise me, but I'll certainly be asking a lot of questions about monitoring and adjusting during the process. Ultimately I hope this will alleviate most or all of my issues with diabetes, but I'm a very long way away from that now. Best of luck to you . . .

I don't think I'd presume to advise anyone on when to begin dating. People are different. Maybe the person you meet will accept you as you are now and as you will be in the future. Maybe not--but we all change in one way or another as we age, so don't we prefer someone who isn't fixated on how we look at a particular moment? As to whether you are able to handle a dating situation and food temptations, that's something each person has to answer for themselves. Are we supposed to wait a year before joining in on family get-togethers, too? Or going out with friends?

I understand that stalls are normal, but if you had surgery five weeks ago and have lost 27 pounds in those five weeks . . . wow! That's fantastic! I can't even imagine losing 27 pounds in a little more than a month. Hang on in there--your journey is just beginning, but it's beginning really well, stalls aside. This will pass.

I'm sorry for this, though I know the feeling. The truth is that you'll probably never know if your weight was a factor or if perhaps they offered the job to someone's daughter or significant other or someone who had experience doing precisely the job they advertised or someone who was willing to do it for a lower salary. Keep on your journey and know that you'll find something right for you. Best of luck.

Thank you for this! I'm not there yet at all and will resist buying new clothes until the ones I have are falling off me--but I am looking forward to that day! Love the idea of buying a few things for the middle stages along the way . . . and not spending much.

My number one goal is to stand and walk without knee pain. I have many other goals, some physical--improvement to my health in various ways, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes. Other goals have to do with things others have said--fitting in an airplane seat, buying regular clothes. I'm also female and single, so I'm wondering what my interactions with men in general, and one man in particular, might be like a year or two from now.

Good luck to you! If there's one thing I'm sick and tired of, it's the assumption that we're obese because we're weak-willed and just don't "try hard enough". The massive rate of failure of traditional diets ought to tell people something about this issue . . . I put myself through college, working part-time while taking a heavy enough schedule to earn two BA's in four years. I quit smoking. I've been on my own my entire adult life. I had and beat cancer. I don't think there's a lot of other evidence to support my being "weak-willed." The idea that I will FINALLY have the tool I need to make this work fills me with joy. I don't owe apologies or shame to anyone! And neither do any one of you . . .

A website I use constantly is OneLook.com, which searches multiple dictionaries for words. When you search for a word, it pops up one definition on the right side of the page, along with a symbol you can press to hear the pronunciation.

Is there a nutritionist you have met with, or could meet with? It's one of the many requirements of the program I'm in that we meet with one and I have a slew of questions already! Somewhere down the line, you can check out the posts on the site of people's menus: with the caveat that not everyone is making perfect choices all the time!

My understanding--which may be wrong--is that I can't have caffeinated beverages for quite some time and that dairy is kind of discouraged except for yogurt and cottage cheese . . . Admittedly, I'm in the early stages of this process and don't know a lot for sure--have just scheduled my first appointment with the nutritionist.

Thank you all for posting these reports--helps me to envision the future . . . One question: how long after the surgery could you/did you start drinking coffee with half-and-half? Is it caffeinated or decaf? Much as I'm a carb addict now, I think I'm going to miss coffee even more!

I haven't been able to shop for regular-sized clothes in decades, so I'm pretty excited about the prospect. I have no idea how I'll figure out what size to buy! I'm going to keep wearing my current wardrobe until it falls off me--I have so much weight to lose I don't want to spend any more money on clothes along the way than I can help. I'll keep a couple of things as reminders--but I can't wait to buy a new wardrobe!!

You are beautiful now and you will be stunningly gorgeous through this journey! Most importantly, you will gain control of your health--I'm a lot older, but have the same hopes for better looks and better health. The surgery isn't a quick fix at all, but it is a priceless tool to help us in the process. Best of luck and visit this site often--there's soooo much information and encouragement here. One of the best motivations is to look through the before/after pictures people have posted!

This is one of my fears, too, because at age 61 I have almost no wrinkles at all in my face and I definitely look younger. On the other hand, I don't look so young when I can't walk because of knee pain, and I'm not going to look young if this excess weight kills me, so . . . I'll take what comes with this process. I'm ready for the new me!

I'm pretty much a newbie, but I'd find a doctor you like/trust and see what he/she recommends for procedure. There are pluses and minuses to all, I think, and reasons some are better for your individual situation. There is a ton of information on this site--just keep reading and looking around and you'll find all kinds of links. I've learned a lot just reading about people's experiences. Good luck!

My heart goes out to you, Losing2live4Him. You are a brave person to do this with so little support and downright naysayers around you. Please know that you have support HERE. Best of luck!

I think of myself as a private person but maybe it's my age--I just don't give a rat's ass, pardon the expression, what anyone else thinks or says. I've told some friends, all supportive, and my sister and one of my brothers--not sure the other one cares enough for me to bother, unfortunately. But I'm doing this for me and my health issues. And I can always quote some statistics--like, 95 percent of nonsurgical weight loss attempts fail. Or, 84 percent of diabetics who get the sleeve weight-loss surgery stop being diabetic. If that isn't reason enough for me to do this, anyone critical is crazy or stupid or both! OTOH, I totally support anyone's decision not to share this information. It's completely a personal decision.