Curious -- could you have done it without Weight Loss Surgery?

[James Marusek 5,244]

No. I am 66 years old. My excess weight caused a variety of medical problems including diabetes and high blood pressure. These medical conditions over time also took a toll on weight loss efforts. My body reached a point where even when I went on a diet it could not generate any weight loss and even when I exercised, I couldn't loose any weight.

[AWholeNewMama 34]

I have never been able to maintain more than a 20-lb weight loss. I've come to the conclusion that no, I can't do it on my own. I am 100+ lbs overweight, and have been depressed since my oldest child was born. Between the depression and the extra weight, the energy is simply not there, and psychologically, the self-control is not there either.

[catdaddy 232]

No

[Debbie Jean 406]

If you want to know how to lose weight, ask a fat person. Most of us are experts on how to lose: calories, carbs, we can rattle them off at the drop of a hat. The problem is keeping the weight off.

My high weight as an adult was 287 my low 135. Lost 100+ lbs twice in my life only to gain it back. I took my first diet pill at 10 and have spent my whole life on countless diets. You name it I've done it.

At 62 I decided the sleeve was my last best chance at not just losing the weight but KEEPING it off.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Debbie Jean

[MBM1Forever 107]

Yes, I can lose weight, but never without gaining it back and never enough to bring me to a weight considered in the healthy range. I really want the surgery as a tool to get me where I need to be so that I can live a longer and healthier life.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

Nope. I have been on a diet since 1978. I have lost 50 pounds three times and at least 30 pounds several time more. I got sleeved a year ago at the age of 62 because my health problems were escalating and my spine was collapsing under the weight. My extra weight was like wearing a pony for a belt. Here is a list from Sparkpeople about what things weigh:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=3421351

If you want to try on your own one more time, then do what our doctor's have us do on our pre-op diets:

Eat food - not too much.

Eat mostly Protein.

Eat your Protein first, then non-starchy veg, the a little fruit, but not as much as you used to. An apple is fruit. Apple pie a la mode is not fruit.

White foods are to be avoided as much as possible because of the starch (bread, potatoes, rice, noodles, cake, twinkies, chips, etc)

Don't eat anything made in a factory if you can help it.....(fresh / freshly frozen is best)

Drink Water until your eyeballs float.

Don't become part of the sofa.

I am glad that you peeked in on the forum. You will get a variety of opinions and experiences here. I wish you the best, just don't wait until you are old and your weight affects your quality of life. It finally took a stroke to convince me it was time.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I struggled with this but by the time I called the doctor I had no doubts in my mind. I knew I needed something to give me a leg up. I have a couple of chronic conditions and every time I loss weight and was on a roll I got sick and regained it. When I developed BPPV, a sort of chronic, intermittent vertigo I knew I had to do this. What happens if I get dizzy, fall and then can't get up? I live alone, that could be lethal for me. I like traveling but now fitting in an airplane seat is challenge. Walking long distance was becoming a challenge. The excess weight was becoming a quality of life issue.

[Bandista 7,466]

I was the best dieter ever, so careful and restrictive, diligent. One good thing is that at age 53 I am now a fount of nutritional knowledge. However, all that dieting and I just kept gaining weight, littke by little. For me, dieting does not work. If I could have elected WLS at age 30 or 35, omg, what a differce that would have made. Life is short, my friend.

[Buttercupbrown 70]

...me too! Stoke, high blood pressure, diabetes! Sleeved on Nov.18th and I'm Free from diabetes and take half of B/P meds, ...Feeling Great! Oh I'll be 54 in March and it was my prayer Not to be in that state by 2015!! Praise God I'm Free!

[Djmohr 6,965]

I have lost hundreds of pounds on diets only to gain all of them back multiple times. That is really hard on your body and your heart.

I noticed in the last 5 years, I am 51 that I just was not able to lose weight as easily as when I was younger.

For me it took a diagnosis of stage 3 kidney disease on top of diabetes, apnea, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I have had 5 back surgeries because I have psoriatic arthritis and this extra weight was literally crushing my spine.

I saw my nurse today for a follow up and she asked me if I was happy that I made this decision. For me, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have not regretted it even for a second.

I feel fantastic, am off all meds besides my hypo thyroid replacement.

I think you should take the time needed to get your head around it so you have the best chance of success. You MUST be ready before you move forward.

Good luck to you! Keep us posted on your progress.

[Jols 27]

I think most on here are expert dieters, I, for one, has lost 100+ lbs several times, only to gain it all back, plus a little extra. WLS for me was the last option. I know I can lose the weight without it, but I also know I will gain it back.

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

@@Miss Mac

"An apple is fruit. Apple pie a la mode is not fruit."

Damn. There's always a catch.

[bobbyswife 862]

No. I could not.

[B-52 7,113]

First, my surgery was Lap Band as opposed to other posters who have different experiences....they're NOT the same.

I am 63 years old....I have been trying to loose weight for 35 years.

I have been on every diet under the sun...EVERYTHING!

I went through Dr. supervised programs with weekly support groups, went through the program where you pay $4 for their balanced food you took home with you, and I would have a weeks supply of food finished in 2 days!

I used Hypnotism, drug therapy, acupuncture, everything.

NOTHING WORKED. Sure , things started out good, maybe for the first 4 months, then all the weight came back and sometimes more than I started.

Prior to surgery my insurance co. required me to do a 6 month medically supervised program...I told them I have done this many times before and it's not going to work, but they said they needed on the official record signed off by a MD with weekly progress notes.

And yes. Just as before, I started out good, then started to reverse back and finally failed miserably....

I have had Lap band surgery for 4 years now. 100% successful for 2-1/2 to 3 years now!! EASIEST thing I could have ever done. Wish I did this 20 years ago.

I have no hunger or cravings, my portion sizes are limited. It's impossible to over eat....and like I said it does not matter because I have no hunger...how can it get easier than that???

Since I eat so little, all I need to do is be sure I eat good healthy nutritious foods, concentrate on Protein, and drink Water all day long.

After a while it all becomes second nature, new habits - lifestyles, don't really think about it all that much.

For people just starting out, sure...the first few months, perhaps to year was pure Hell! A lifetime of eating the wrong way and the wrong foods had to be broken and re-learned in months! And as a result there were countless stuck episodes, regurgitation, sliming, etc etc. All the things people talk about here every day.

But for me it was all part of the learning curve. I was convinced it was ME who had to change so the band can operate.

Take all that, and sprinkle exercise on top of it all and that's what it's all about.

I don't care people say it's the easy way out....it's all about me and mine and all I can say, easy or not, it works!!!

I had second thoughts, hesitation to go through with it. But what was the alternative??? Stay Fat? There was not much to convince me NOT to go through with it.

No regrets...it gave me my life back.

Here it is, a New Year and everyone is talking about going on a diet, loosing weight. TV commercials all about this and that "Gimmick"...all they want is your $$$...

I am so glad I have been set free from all that nonsense....never will have to diet again....and I have absolutely no fear of ever gaining any weight back as was the case before, as long as the band is there.

Edited January 7, 2015 by B-52

[scstxrn 213]

Like every other reply that I've read, yes - I can lose weight. 50 lbs takes just a few months, but keeping it off is a game that I've never been able to win... and I don't seem to be able to pass 50 lbs off, no matter where I start.

The biggest difference that I've noticed since surgery is the fact that I am not hungry. Hunger has always been a player in my little weight loss game, no matter what diet I was on. So this time, I lost 20 lbs between deciding on surgery and starting the preop diet, 20 lbs on preop diet, and I've lost 27 lbs in the 29 days since the day of surgery. Since surgery, I have to remind myself to eat - that makes it a whole lot easier to stick to the plan.

I think the coolest thing that happened is yesterday, when I took my kids to the froyo shop because they had been begging for ice cream - I didn't want any. I could have eaten it, it wouldn't have bothered my sleeve, but I just simply did not want any. That is the first time in my life that I didn't want something cold, sweet, or creamy.

Edited January 7, 2015 by scstxrn