WLS Failure?

[KaiserKid 81]

Does anyone have a story about how they or someone they know who just straight-up failed WLS?

I was on another website and I read a story of someone who did not lose any weight one month out of a VSG, swearing up and down they are following a 600-700 calorie per day diet. I've also seen similar stories on 'My 600lb Life' (bad example, I know.)

I'm wondering how common this is?

[laceemouse 631]

Ugh. I would like to know too.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

One month post-op is not an indication of failure. We are still healing from major surgery at one month, and also experiencing our first stall (so the net loss may not show on the scale).

There are so many variables: ease of recovery, complications, ability to get in enough Protein and fluids, capacity to understand and follow directions, starting weight, existing health conditions, etc.

Why are you focusing on "failures"? Just curious.

[KristenLe 5,979]

@@KaiserKid This really isn't about restricting calories and as @@Inner Surfer Girl said - you can't really fail at a month out. What this person may not be saying is that their 600-700 calories are in the form of ice cream, smoothies, Pasta, fried foods, etc. , Not all calories are created equal. It would be near impossible to not lose some weight after WLS if you stick with the plan - eating Protein and drinking non-caloric drinks.

[Hiraeth 515]

I've heard of them, but it's because the people are true emotional eaters and find actual happiness from food. They were probably not fully committed to the surgery. Though, I must say, I've heard this surgery has up to an 89% success rate of the patients keeping off over 50% of the weight lost for at least 10 years. I'm almost 3 weeks post-op, and I can barely eat 4 bites of soft food. I love it at first, but after the 3rd or 4th bite, I no longer want it. It's crazy! Lol.

[Christinamo7 4,042]

I don't know that I would consider anyone who tries a failure.

but I have a cousin who lost a lot of weight post RNY, most of her excess weight and has put it back on. However, she struggles with a lot of physical pain due to other medical conditions and is on a lot of medication that influences her food choices. what did she have to loose? and who knows where she would have been without the surgery? maybe a couple of hundred pounds heavier than she is now.

so I just don't know. my heart hurts for her and anyone else who has a less of a result than they needed, no matter what the reason.

[Pescador 1,374]

Please focus on success and the happy positive successes. Three years of happy sleeving and better health for me and my husband.

[Babbs 14,681]

@@Inner Surfer Girl is absolutely correct. A month out is a terrible indicator of failure. Our bodies go through quite a bit of trauma from the surgery and sometimes act completely wonkey. I also don't believe we are fully steering the ship the first 6 months or so, and whatever weight you're going to lose from the sheer caloric restriction will automatically happen. There comes a time when we then have to take the reigns and help it along with proper habits and a little movement. If someone is just depending on the surgery to do it alone, more than likely you won't get where you want to be.