I'm just curious if prior to getting sleeved, any of you tried dieting and exercise one last time. I'm pretty set on getting the sleeve, but also feel I owe it to myself to try to give the "traditional" way of losing weight another try.

Did any of you try this before you eventually got sleeved? What was it like? What were your results? Did it reinforce your decision to get the sleeve?

Thanks!

I thought the same when I was on my preop diet. If I could do that and lost weight, why was I having the surgery. Well, because if we could do that we wouldnt be here. Metabolism, sedentary lifestyles, metabolic syndrome, whatever reason we may individually have...... losing weight and keeping it off is very hard. I know that with my sleeve, it is not only a tool to help me lose the weight, it is a tool to help me keep it off. And in as opposed to the people that think "that is the easy way out" it is not. For me, it was the only way out. b

I wonder why it is that so few of the obese are able to lose weight permanently. Is there something physiological? I'm going to do some research but of course welcome your thoughts.

Obesity is still poorly understood both psychologically and physiologically. The fact that "fat cells" only get smaller when we lose weight, but don't disappear (unless you get them out with lipo) tells me that once we become overweight or obese our bodies are designed to return to that state if the opportunity presents itself. From an evolutionary perspective, fat people can sustain pregnancies and survive famines in times when thin people starve. It's an advantage to be fat then--not so much, now.

like most obese people i have tried multiple diets and have lost weight (i lost 70 pounds doing calorie count and exercise). like everyone said i can lose the weight (miserable) but can't maintain it. i'm not telling my parents i'm having surgery (they would never understand it and i can't deal with that stress). since i only see them a few times a year it shouldn't be an issue (i need to find a way to not have to worry when they see how little i eat). my "best friend" is totally unsupportive of me having the surgery. she's not big. she saw me when i was doing the calorie count and felt that since i did it before i should do it again. the issue is: it's hard stayin hungry for months and months (especially when the skinny friends are eating anything and everything they want). i was also younger back then, different metabolism.

i lost 25 pounds in a month (for insurance purposes) by doing adipex, very low carb, low calorie diet (again i was miserable but i had a goal) but once i stop the adipex and start eating "normal" again i remember why i want this surgery. it's not an easy way out. i need that extra support if i want a donut i can have one and be full/satisfy and not resort to eating 3 or 4 because i can.

I'm just curious if prior to getting sleeved, any of you tried dieting and exercise one last time. I'm pretty set on getting the sleeve, but also feel I owe it to myself to try to give the "traditional" way of losing weight another try.

Did any of you try this before you eventually got sleeved? What was it like? What were your results? Did it reinforce your decision to get the sleeve?

Thanks!

I know I did before I even started my 6 mo supervised diet, which I'm only now headed into month 2. I'm still thinking that way (traditional diet) in the back of my mind. I was talking to my friend of 15 years and he reminded me that I have always tried to lose the weight since he's known me but I never could do it. That woke me up in a hurry. So now I say to hell with it and getting the surgery, I want to enjoy some of my years on this earth.

I did diet and exercise going into my surgery and my doc did not require it--why because I knew once I had it I could then keep it off this time! Guess what, I diet and exercise after the surgery too! This is a tool for me, I have a smaller stomach which helps me to eat less. I don't have the same hunger but I still crave and want foods. My sleeve helps me eat small amounts and be full. If I could have done that long term I would not have needed the sleeve.

The only reason I choose the sleeve is because that is my ONLY long term side affect -- a smaller stomach. No malabsorbtions, no band, no intestinal rerouting. I have a smaller stomach and thats it... Now the risk in the sleeve is the surgery itself and the healing time until the stomach is fully healed, I minimized that risk by choosing my surgeon very carefully. I had to educate my family on the sleeve and what it really was for them to feel comfortable--it is not magic, but it is darn simple in its function . Be wise in your choice of surgeon. I compared the risk of surgery to the risk of not having it and for me that sealed my decision.

Right, it's the maintenance that is usually the downfall for all of us. Losing is relatively easy, keeping it off, that's another story.

Very true. I have lost weight in the past, although this time with all the meds it's alot harder to do it. Keeping it off? Not a chance in hell in that! In a few months I'll have put most of it back on again. My fears are the unknown with surgery, but my bigger fear is dying young.

Not only did I give it once last try- I did it three times! Three times I started the process for surgery to then convince myself that all was required was to just decide to eat less. I would decide, "Hey! I can do this without surgery!" Each time I lost between 60-80 pounds. And, each time I gained back the 60-80 pounds plus 10 more.

Even this last run up to surgery I tried to chicken out. While discussing this with my doctor he brought up the quote about the definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results). He was absolutely right. He pointed out that it was obvious I could lose the weight and that I should allow him to give me a tool to then keep it off.

I listened to him. 7 weeks and 50 pounds later, I am so grateful I did. I know that if I had I chosen to try traditional weight loss one more time that I would be losing weight right now too but it wouldn't be 50 pounds and I would be a grumpy, hungry girl instead of the happy, carefree person I am now living in harmony with food for the first time in my life.

Best of luck in your decision!

Amanda