Norma Jean

I think anyone can lose weight. I have lost hundreds (yes, hundreds) of pounds over my lifetime. I have been fat my entire life. I was also an athlete, so, when I was younger, I was able to manage being a bigger girl because even though I was 180lbs at 5'5" in high school - I was strong. I am going to be 50 this year, and even though I am active, I am definitely limited with what activities I can do at my current weight (300lbs). I have been in and out of weight watchers since I was 12. Have done every diet that has EVER existed (seriously, can anyone say/smell cabbage soup). I have yo-yo'ed my entire life. Some diets more successful than others. When I was in my twenties, I had my most success with a nutritionist. I lost about 80lbs with her and when I couldn't get the remaining 25lb's to go - I made a desperate move and saw a total quack of a Dr. that gave me black beauties (it was the late 80's) and I lost the rest of the weight. It was an unhealthy end to what had been such a successful weight loss but once I stopped with the pills, I slowly started eating poorly and over the following 3-4 years, gained all the weight back and then some. I understand your question. I deeply understand it. I can only speak for myself, and the short answer is "YES" I can lose weight without surgery. The longer answer is that after struggling for 50 years, I am tired and need something that will not only help me lose the weight but more importantly help with maintaining this for the rest of my life because unlike the "YES" answer to losing the weight it has proven to be a hard "NO" about being able to maintain for any length of time. I refuse to beat myself up any longer by asking myself if I could have done this on my own. I have a proven track record of NOT being able to sustain a weight loss. I have made a mental shift to not focus on that type of thinking but rather look forward and embrace where I am now - 2 weeks out from surgery and 25lbs lighter.

I am a casual marijuana vape user. I vaped a few times the month of my surgery and I definitely used it in the days following to help with the nausea I was feeling. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned this to the dr or pre-op people because I am not a chronic user, so I guess I didn't think it was that big of a deal...Marijuana is not nicotine anyway...weird. I am 2 weeks out of surgery and I feel great - after getting home from the hospital, I vaped a very small amount for the next 2-3 days to help me through but that was it. I never filled the RX for the pain meds. I also had a hernia that was repaired - that was more painful than the sleeve... I would take the advice from Psyance and just confer with the surgeon. Good Luck to you!