Do you think you could have done this on your own

[klus263 9]

In one word.....NO. We all have similar stories, weight loss/weight gain/weight loss/weight gain. I will finally be successful and healthier than I have been in years due to the surgery. It will be saving my life. I am no longer diabetic, I should be off cholestral medication within a few months and my fatty liver disease with reverse and I will not eventually become a canditate for a liver transplant somewhere down the road. Not counting the potential heart disease that runs in the family and the knee replacment surgeries that would have to be recommended. Best decision I made in my life other then getting married to my husband and my 2 wonderful daughters.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

If we could lose weight and keep it off, we would not have had this surgery. this surgery is like a MIRACLE!

[BlackBerryJuice 349]

Ha, my mother asked me the exact same question my first day in town (she hadn't seen me since the surgery). NO WAY! I got to 165 on my own last year (I am now 153) and it was a BATTLE. I found it basically impossible to get to my goal weight because your weightloss slows down so much when you get close, and you are SO hungry and stressed out all the time, you just can't power through a plateau anymore. Now if I plateau, it doesn't bother me, because I'm not torturing myself. I eat what I want when I want it, so I don't feel like I'm killing myself for nothing if I don't lose fast enough or whatever. I have so much more free time now that I don't need to exercise like 10 hrs a week to maintain my weight like I had to last year! Oh and did I mention when I got to 165, I also got back up to 208 in under 6 months? While no one is safe from the threat of regaining some weight years after this surgery, I can tell you right now that you won't be packing on 10 lbs a month after this, you'd have to get a feeding tube with frappucinos in it to make it happen.

[juliarh 35]

I too, am like everyone else. I lost 75 pounds before I had my first son and then during my pregnancy I gained every pound back. Then I only lost 35 pounds post pregnancy. sigh. Then, like Tiff, it was Weight Watchers. Lost some, gained more. Lost some, gained more. And then I tried crazy diets (like the Cookie Diet) --

I KNOW I can lose, that's never been the issue for me. The issue, like Diva and BlackBerry, is being able to have a bad week eating-wise or a long plateau and not just give in -- in the past, I couldn't just get back on the wagon because the negative self-talk would do me in. Now, with the sleeve, I don't have a real choice. And I'm glad for it!

This past week, I allowed myself to Celebrate Christmas (which is a couple of bites of pie) -- I ate Protein first and then the small bites -- but I still lost! I have NEVER lost over Thanksgiving and Christmas in my life -- never. But I did. And it's only due to the sleeve --

So, yes, my answer is like everyone else's answer -- but, that's the point, isn't it?

[Toyia 2]

Thank you all for taking the time to answer my question. I guess I am nervous, everyday, I go back and forward with myself about the surgery. I am prepared to make the life change (with a little help from the sleeve), but I felt like something was wrong with me if I couldn't do it without the help.

I am very happy I found this site for support, and I look forwarding to being able to help someone with a question in the future.

Toyia