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I am having my VSG on March 15th. I have every confidence in my surgeon. My doubt is.......will this work for me? I have been on Jenny Craig three times, Weight Watchers twice, HCG drops, Adkins, and caloric restriction. I always gain my weight back. Now that I am menopausal, I can look at food and gain 2-3 lbs. This surgery is my last hope............will it work?

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Now I haven't had my surgery yet...but what I've gathered from my new obsession "VSG-er stalking" :) lol....You/we will FOR SURE lose the weight to begin with...but the maintenance and how much we lose will be up to us and our choices. Youtube has been very informative in actually seeing people and what they have gone through. Many post every week and you even see them when they are having a bad day. I too have tried everything...this is it for me! Hope my ramblings helped.

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I never really doubted surgery, but the doubts I had were tied to my previous diet attempts and failures. With VSG, I didn't feel like I was dieting at all. It was easy to follow my dietary guideline. The fact that I've lost all my physical hunger is a huge contributor to my success. At 21 months out, I still never experience true physical hunger.

Losing was easy, maintenance was tricky. I had to establish a new relationship with food. I have to still make the very best choice on what I put in my mouth. BUT, making that best choice is much easier with VSG. I lost 138lbs with VSG in 10.5 months. The first 115lbs were lost in 6.5 months post-vsg so losing was easy for me. I was diligent with my carb intake, and Protein intake. It's a lifelong change, and honestly, establishing better habits, and seeing food as fuel helped me be successful.

I honestly believe that with any of the surgery choices that our amount of success is completely dependent upon on US. No surgery fixes our head hunger or bad habits. Success is a choice, and I chose to make the best choice about 85% of the time. I have been in maintenance for almost a year, and honestly, it's still pretty easy to stay the course. I have indulgences, I eat junk food, but moderation is what keeps me in check. I wanted to be as "normal" as possible, and I firmly believe normal, naturally thin women eat Cookies. Big difference now is I can eat 2-3 Cookies instead of the entire package, and I am truly content.

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My story sounds like yours - I did everything to lose weight and always gained it back. I was my own worse enemy - I accepted the failure time after time rather than working hard to keep the weight off.

I'm only three months post-op but I feel empowered. I have the tool that will help me be successful this time! I'm 55 yrs old and have never felt more energized! I actually walked up 4 flights of stairs on Friday and did not feel short of breath. I'm almost at Onederland! What a thrill that is!!!

Tiffykins is right - you have to make the right food choices. I also discovered that I'll still have to fight days when I'm very frustrated and want to comfort myself by eating everything in sight. Failure is not an option this time, my future depends on it.

Good luck!!!

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Nah... it won't work. ;)

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OK really... it can't not work, at least for the first few months. At first, because of the swelling, you're SO restricted it'd be impossible not to lose weight (and please, please don't let a stall freak you out. We ALL get them, so expect it and know that one morning you'll see a huge drop--it's just your body holding Water trying to equalize itself), but there will come a time when it's not the sleeve doing all the work anymore, and it's on YOU to keep doing things the right way.

Through my first 50 lbs or so, I had trouble believing that I'd just keep losing and losing 'til I got where I wanted to be, but when I passed that 200 mark, suddenly I finally let myself believe that YES, I'm gonna do this!! I've been stuck--no, that's the wrong word. Rephrasing: I haven't lost anything in several months now, but that's because I've slipped back into pre-surgery mode, mentally... I'm maintaining just fine, but still have a ways to go. But even with that--I'm down from a tight size 20 jeans to a solid TEN (which I thought I'd be thrilled to see, and am, but it'll get even better!) and even an eight on one lying brand soooo... kinda hard to argue with that!

Anyway yeah--you'll have to experience it to believe it, but it'll work. :)

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We're hand in hand! = 55, surgery 12-9-10, about 36 lbs lost, and I'm almost at onderland too, 207 this morn. Great to meet you! Lu

My story sounds like yours - I did everything to lose weight and always gained it back. I was my own worse enemy - I accepted the failure time after time rather than working hard to keep the weight off.

I'm only three months post-op but I feel empowered. I have the tool that will help me be successful this time! I'm 55 yrs old and have never felt more energized! I actually walked up 4 flights of stairs on Friday and did not feel short of breath. I'm almost at Onederland! What a thrill that is!!!

Tiffykins is right - you have to make the right food choices. I also discovered that I'll still have to fight days when I'm very frustrated and want to comfort myself by eating everything in sight. Failure is not an option this time, my future depends on it.

Good luck!!!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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