Double_Me

"Bariatric Surgery is probably one of the most effective interventions in health care."
- Laurie K. Twells, clinical epidemiologist at Memorial University of Newfoundland [2]
Are you lurking on these forums debating whether or not you should have surgery? Unsure about making a permanent change to your lifestyle and body, or thinking that since you lost x number of lbs before, you can do it again? Heard about all the horror stories of complications and regain? This was me, one year ago. I want to tell you about the study that changed my mind.
This study[1] looked at three groups: 418 patients who sought and underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (surgery group), 417 patients who sought but did not undergo surgery (primarily for insurance reasons) (nonsurgery group 1), and 321 patients who did not seek surgery (nonsurgery group 2). They performed clinical examinations at baseline and at 2 years, 6 years, and 12 years to ascertain the presence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
Let me highlight a couple images from their study. These charts graph the amount patients lost as a percentage of total weight (NOT excess weight) at 2, 6, and 12 years relative to their baseline. First, this graph is the individuals who did not seek surgery.

This group lost only 0.9% of their total weight 12 years after the study began. Those empty triangles? Those are people who ended up getting bariatric surgery anyways. Lets look at the second group, people tho sought out surgery but couldn't get it. So at least we are aware that this group is invested in losing weight.

This group fared slightly better, as patients lost a mean of 2% of their body weight at 12 years out. This excludes patients who got surgery (they lost an average of 10%). Lets look at patients who did get the surgery.


Patients lost an average of 26% of their total body weight even after 12 years. I found this difference absolutely remarkable. To reach that average 26% body weight loss without surgery, you would need to be in the top 5-10% of losers. Think about that.
I used to see getting the surgery as an admission of my own personal failure at willpower and dieting. But this study makes it clear that the probability of success for non-surgical options is astoundingly low relative to bariatric surgery. Studies [3], [4], [5] reinforce the positive impact on health that bariatric surgery has on patients who choose to go through with it. Reading these helped put my mind at ease. Bariatric surgery is one of the best decisions I could make for my health.
I encourage you to skim through the studies to see other benefits I didn't outline here. The NYT[2] article is also a great read for seeing why bariatric surgery is so effective. It distills a lot of the studies into facts that you can use to arm yourself when speaking with family and friends who aren't supportive.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1700459
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/well/why-weight-loss-surgery-works-when-diets-dont.html
[3] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11695-012-0718-9
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/oby.21322
[5] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2546331#Introduction

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

Noticed a test picture I took during pre-op... decided to take another one. Bye bye double chin!

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

Looks delicious, I make a very similar sauce to eat with salmon too. So good!

Looks delicious, I make a very similar sauce to eat with salmon too. So good!

Looks delicious, I make a very similar sauce to eat with salmon too. So good!

Putting on a pair of stretch pants that were TOOOOOO stretchy! LOL Throwing away my saggy, granny panties (Thank goodness I kept some cute underwear!) Digging out my old bras...down from a 40DD to a 38DD...I'm glad the girls are sticking around for this journey!

I can't wait to experience this NSV!

Being able to buy clothes "off the rack" rather than having to go to a DXL store. It's amazing the difference in cost. When I started the journey I had a 56-inch waist, which non-Big&Tall stores just don't stock.
I've been reluctant to invest a whole lot of money in clothes as I've been losing weight, as ideally I will continue to lose sizes for a bit longer, so why pay for clothes I'll (hopefully) only wear for a couple months. It's like the reverse of being a kid/teenager, when Mom would get frustrated that I outgrew clothes yet again.
However, at some point the old clothes start looking awful, like you're wearing a tent... not to mention heavy and uncomfortable AF. Being in a transition state with sizes and not wanting to spend money, I went to Wal-Mart and bought some $10.97 jeans... first time wearing jeans in over 30 years. Hard to wrap my brain around it... the jeans weren't unbearably uncomfortable. I was able to buy 44-inch waist and now several weeks later, they're already feeling a bit loose. My next shopping trip, it might be 42.
They had a bunch of dress shirts on clearance that rang up at $2. The XL (down from 3XL) fit easily. At that price, who cares if they fall apart in a few washes.
A whole new world: Being able to shop clothing sales and clearance. That hasn't been part of my life in many many decades.

Poached salmon with creamy, lemon, dill sauce, and lemon slaw.

Not shown: ice cream for dessert 😊

Asian style tofu with string Beans and rice (BFs plate vs my plate as I despise rice 🤣)
 

Before and after..gastric sleeve nov 2020 weight 321 . Current weight 230. Still got a little more to go but feeling amazing !

I had my surgery Jan. 6, 2020, my Hw was 228, Sw 196, Cw 119, height 5’2. I feel better than I ever have in my life. I am currently working on maintaining my weight and toning

You look fantastic!! Love your dress!! ❤️

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

HW: 250+? SW: 245 CW: 141. 4'10", 31 years old. 1st pic was in 2016, I was at 250+, 2nd was last month. I'm around 145.

I still have a ways to go. Haven't dropped by in a while but this place is a godsend for pre-op and post-op questions and concerns. Thanks to all here for the support.

I won’t say this is before and after because I’m almost 6 months post op and still going. So before and during.
5’10, 40
HW: 339
CW: 210.4
GW: 165

Took the picture on the left today. The right was a couple of weeks before surgery. Almost 70lbs down in total. A little of 3 months out. I can’t believe it. I have long legs?! What?! Just prod that even if I can’t see the changes every day, they are there. So thankful I got this surgery.

I never thought I'd post pics of me in undies/bikini! But here goes.
20kgs lost so far. I have none of my full body at my heaviest, I couldn't stand to look at it. The two body pics are after 10kgs lost and after 20kgs lost.
No regrets at all.