sunflower71609

Hi,
I'm 5'5 280 lbs and 23 years old. I want to lose this weight cause i feel like complete **** every day and the more i think about it the more depressed i get about it. I tried to exercise again but i could feel my chest tightening just a block away from my house doing a mild jog, my back was already aching and i tend to get chest pains that start on the left side of my chest and appears to work its way down my left arm. these chest pains have become the norm for me. But lately i was walking the mall with my little sister and my back was killing me and my chest was tight. only 40 minutes in and i need to sit.
Now, I've been active most my life. Baseball, Soccer, Tae Kwon Do and Highschool Football. but after highschool i just stopped exercising completely. Now onto my issue, I want to get this surgery cause it may be my last chance at being able to start a healthy life. But because of my issues i mention before hand i don't know how i'm gonna do this 6 month supervised weightloss program, sure i've pushed through pain before with football but that is a different kind of pain. This pain feels more like i'm about to have a heart attack or my body is just gonna break. I'm just so worried right now.

Also yes i eat pretty balanced meals, i love cooking so i make everything fresh, real meats, fresh veggies and all hand cooked. No fast food, no high sugar treats, just the occasional soda when i'm watching t.v or playing video games.
I wanna know if there is a way to maybe shorten the program or maybe go to a F.P.A (Fat.People.Anonymous) meeting of sort. I don't know any help would be nice.

So....I'm new to the group. Will finish my insurance mandated diet October 18th and will schedule ds surgery for November. I've been working for months with doctors and have informed my family of the plans. Now that it's getting closer to the date they're all starting to say things like...."why not just eat healthier?" Or "are you sure you can go your whole life eating like that?"
Anyone else have similar issues? How can I get them to see this is necessary for me to live a happier, healthier life?

I was doing the same thing in reverse just days ago.
i.e. What would I (a morbidly obese 61 year old male Australian) say to my 15 year old (or 18 year old) self given temporary use of a time machine?
My four top answers would be:
1. Don't eat factory-generated Breakfast cereals or any added sugars or sweeteners.
2. Moderate portion sizes are best and "seconds" should be a rare thing NOT your normal thing.
3. Soft drinks or carbonated drinks are unnecessary ... including all diet varieties.
4. Alcohol, especially beer, does not have to be central to social life or "winding down".
- - -
While I cannot guarantee that these four pillars will stop my adult overweight, I'm sure that I would not have reached 191.8kg (423 pounds OR 30.25 stones).
Five of my grandchildren had a dad that was 208kg (458 pounds) in January 2015 and is now 99kg (218 pounds) today following diet shakes for six months then Gastric Sleeving in late July 2015. In fact, it's his success that finally prompted me to go for Gastric Sleeve surgery myself.
He and my daughter do not want any of their five kids to repeat his life or mine. They operate under my first three advice points for their kids. My daughter and the youngest grandchild in that family are Coeliac as well. So food and eating and drinking sensibly are at the core of their daily life.

It was this way with my daughter. She's only saying it out of concern. But I told her if I could just "eat healthier" than I wouldn't be in the boat I'm currently in. I have tried and tried and tried. I told her I was tired of trying and then failing. So I did educate her on the risks, how things will be different, etc. She's still concerned but knows that I have researched this and I'm convinced of my decision.

My friend was initially unsupportive and concerned that I chose to go to Mexico. I told him to be supportive or shut up (yes, I was that blunt). After that he was much better, and his support was important for me after surgery when I was in a lot of pain.

It's NOT mandatory that people agree with your choice.
It's clearly you that has made the decision and has almost all the options for the future under your supervision and control.
Utilise ALL the support you need.
For your own benefit (from others' hindsight), be VERY SELECTIVE in who you tell or even WHEN you tell them.
Keep away from people with known negative outlooks on WLS as they will be NO help to you.
You should know by now which of your family, friends and work colleagues (if any) should be "in the know". Think before you speak/share.

This is a huge step. It isn't dumb...it's a different kind of support from people who know first hand and you are welcome to it any time.

I have had the Gastric bypass 16 years ago, I am not going to have the DS, (i am looking into it). I kept my weight off for a few years even after having 2 children back to back, i did not gain to much weight but whatever i gained during the pregnancies came right back off.I have a few hernia surgeries. I did not start to really gain until the 7 to 8 year mark, that is when i started having to really work hard at dieting again. In the past two years, I have continually gained i exercise, eat pretty much on track. I am looking to have the DS. I wish this would have been told to me back then that i had a choice., from what i have read the DS has a greater success rate in the long run. I am worried they will not let me have any of the surgeries. I would go with the DS. I will pay out of pocket again.

I know that's it's dumb to need reassurance. I know I'm doing what's best for me. I shouldn't care what anyone thinks anymore. But I have to say, you all have made me feel SO much better! Lol. Thank you everyone for all the kind words and support. It's exactly what I needed. [emoji173]️[emoji173]️

lol yes! Thank you! I'm just ready to have it over. I've been waiting for what feels like forever! (6 month mandated diet). All I've heard is negativity. Congratulations on your successful surgery. I hope to be you one day soon! I'm having the ds in around November. 1 more month of the counseling, nutritionist, and classes! [emoji173]️[emoji173]️

I know that's it's dumb to need reassurance. I know I'm doing what's best for me. I shouldn't care what anyone thinks anymore. But I have to say, you all have made me feel SO much better! Lol. Thank you everyone for all the kind words and support. It's exactly what I needed. [emoji173]️[emoji173]️

I am part of a support group for DS people and none of us counts calories. Protein for sure and carbs I keep an eye on but as for keeping food logs and the like I haven't done that since January of 2015. I've lost 125 lbs and not a single pound regained.
I hope you find a way to get to this point. I know I didn't have the DS so that I would have to be watching what I eat.
At the beginning it's important so that good habits about food choices and portions are established. I'm three years out and loving my DS.

This. All. Day.

I just don't know why there is such a stigma around weight loss surgery. A good friend of mine looked at me like I was crazy to do such a thing....Yet she has had a Tummy Tuck, Lipo and breast augmentation. I reminded her about her surgeries, and she said that it was okay though since everybody does it.
I told her that what she said was the dumbest thing I've ever heard. However, that is the mindset. If you have wls to improve your health, your happiness, and overall quality of life, people have a hard time with it, but root you on for plastics. I don't have anything against plastics, but it is nice to know that if I ever need any, I will have more support than I had with this surgery.
You have to do what you need to do for your health. Don't listen to any of your friends or family. They don't have to live with the outcome of doing the same old things that you have done up to now. Are they going to support you later on if you need a quadruple bypass to save your life? Of course they are....Then why would they not support you trying to put an end to that possibility?
Good luck with your decision!

Always lots of support here. I think we all find the same things, lack of support and understanding of what the struggle does to your mind and body over the yrs. Hopefully your non supportive support system will come around once they see how much better you feel after your surgery. Good luck, you have made the best decision of your life.

Some people do not understand obesity. If it was a matter of eating veges, we wouldn't have this disease. Our brains do not work that way. I can share with you that getting sleeved was the only thing that put me on the way back to being healthy. I still have ways to go but I have lost a chunk of weight already. Prior to surgery I tried every diet known to google that any clown put on the Internet and nothing worked.

Not all bypass patients dump. I've never dumped. The statistics people throw around on these boards are that 30% dump. I don't know if there's any hardcore research behind that figure, but suffice it to say, most of us don't dump. There are times I wish I *did* dump, to be honest...
Lots of people are successful with all the surgeries. It's easier to keep the weight off with the DS because of the additional malabsorption, but any of them will work great as long as you're compliant. I follow the rules at least 95% of the time - and I know I'll need to continue to do so to keep the weight off.

My husband is super supportive. He's been with me and has seen my struggles through the years. He would always lose his 20lbs, and I'd lose nothing. He's seen the fasting, dieting, and then the guilt. He wants this for me. My best friend, my brother, and my grandmother are the only other ones I have. They all have negative/ rude comments. Like thanks, never thought to eat healthy!
My mom died 2 years ago of a stroke at 53. She wasn't nearly as over weight as I am. I fear that I don't have a 60 year old self if I don't do this! I'm only 28, I need and want to be here as long as I can. Thanks for the support! ️

Thanks. Just seems like every time I talk to one of them they have something negative to say. I would say they're just concerned for me, but it doesn't feel that way! Lol

That can be the outcome for any surgery if you or anyone else doesn't stick to the plan. Its not the surgery that becomes unsuccessful it's the person that has it. So all those people you know who gained the weight back. It was not due to the weight loss tool. So I wouldn't let anyone else's 'failure' be a bearing on your choice. Whatever you decide believe that both options you will rock it and succeed because you have every intention in following your plan so you have no need to worry in that being the outcome. Good luck.

Yes. My surgery was July 8, 2014.
Surgery weight 371
Current Weight 258
the majority of my weight loss happened by January 2015. I was down to 270 by then.

I have no regrets on choosing the DS. However, I do count calories, carbs, and Protein, and try to stick with low fat foods. That is my surgeons protocol. One of the reasons I chose it is the success it has had with reversing type 2 diabetes and because it keeps the pyloric spinchter intact, lessening the chance of dumping syndrome, though it can still happen.
Research both surgeries, there is a lot of info out there, especially on bariatric surgeons sites. I had a hard time deciding, but the more reading I did, the more my choice became clear. Just make sure you use reliable sources.
Just an FYI, the SADI/SIPS surgeries are not covered by all insurances because they are considered something different from the proven DS. My insurance would cover the DS for me, but not the modified procedures.

My husband is super supportive. He's been with me and has seen my struggles through the years. He would always lose his 20lbs, and I'd lose nothing. He's seen the fasting, dieting, and then the guilt. He wants this for me. My best friend, my brother, and my grandmother are the only other ones I have. They all have negative/ rude comments. Like thanks, never thought to eat healthy!
My mom died 2 years ago of a stroke at 53. She wasn't nearly as over weight as I am. I fear that I don't have a 60 year old self if I don't do this! I'm only 28, I need and want to be here as long as I can. Thanks for the support! ️

My husband is super supportive. He's been with me and has seen my struggles through the years. He would always lose his 20lbs, and I'd lose nothing. He's seen the fasting, dieting, and then the guilt. He wants this for me. My best friend, my brother, and my grandmother are the only other ones I have. They all have negative/ rude comments. Like thanks, never thought to eat healthy!
My mom died 2 years ago of a stroke at 53. She wasn't nearly as over weight as I am. I fear that I don't have a 60 year old self if I don't do this! I'm only 28, I need and want to be here as long as I can. Thanks for the support! ️

Thanks. Just seems like every time I talk to one of them they have something negative to say. I would say they're just concerned for me, but it doesn't feel that way! Lol