not to have the surgery?

I started mine yesterday and I was just dreaming last night of how awesome it would be if I could actually make this a lifestyle change and avoid the surgery completely. I wondered if anyone else had done it.

I tried it. My original surgery schedule was for Jan 24th. I lost 15lbs on the liquid diet, and my husband kept telling me I looked like I had lost weight. I was scared of the surgery anyway and I was STARVING, so I canceled my surgery 3 days before. I thought, heck, if I can lose this much weight in less than 2 weeks, then I can follow a regular diet and lose. Of course, the reason I needed the surgery in the 1st place was because I dont diet very well or for very long. I gained 5lbs back before I met with my Dr and rescheduled my sleeve for 4/25. Im almost 4 weeks out now, and have lost over 23 lbs. Its hard and its drastic, but I dont feel the hunger like I used to. Before, if I was hungry and I ate 1/2 a banana, I would have still been hungry, maybe even more so. Now, I'm lucky to be able to eat 1/2 banana before I'm full. Good luck with whatever you decide

how awesome it would be if I could actually make this a lifestyle change and avoid the surgery completely.

Izzybeff

Having WLS was my savior, my last hoorah. I've yoyoed all my life. Yes i tried those "lifestyle" changes, eating less, trying to stick to it, losing the weight, but always regaining the weight.

Using the sleeve as the important "tool", now having 85% of your stomach gone, makes it so much easier to help in losing the weight because you now have such a little stomach. You technically can't eat more than your stomach allows.

of course there are some that can't handle not eating right or whatever, and eventually mess up their sleeve and gain weight back but we won't talk about that, cuz that shouldn't happen. Had to mention them to be totally honest.

Most people follow the plan and have the word success written on their forehead.

You can do this too, it is a wonderful feeling, being healthy, getting rid of some physical problems and medicine

I say to myself "i'm finally losing that blasted weight, never to be seen again"

I'm 5 months post op, down almost 70 lbs. for me thats huge, and the sleeve assisted me, only as a tool remember.

It is work though, you have to abide by the rules about by eating correct portions etc. You will be able to eat anything eventually, but very, very small portions.

Others please jump in and give better comments, thanx

hope you don't change your mind about having the sleeve, i'm so happy making my wise, life decision. Hope things work out for you too.

good luck

kathy

I started my 6 months with the intention of doing this myself, no surgery. And I lost 27 lbs in 3 months, became STUCK for 3 months, then gained 5 lbs, now am down a total of 33 lbs and am stuck again. I still have 70 lbs to lose. I have yo-yo'd my whole life too, and have decided I need the sleeve as a tool for permanent weight loss. I am on several meds for 3 co-morbidities and I need to get my life together before I no longer have one!

Good luck to you whatever your choice

LOL...My husband sorta laughs at me because as I go through this supervised diet to get to surgery about every other week I say "You know, maybe I won't have surgery. I'm doing ok...I can do this" But reality is it's not about the losing, it's about keeping it off. I'm so tired of the constant yo yo...the up and down...I have done it all my adult life, and OBVIOUSLY it's not working. So I know it's time to do something permanent. Now, to be honest, next week...I'll probably think I don't need it again...LOL

losing was never an issue for me either, but keeping it off and reaching goal were things I never could achieve.

Oh i'm still planning to have the surgery, that's why i'm doing the six month supervised diet so that my insurance will approve the surgery. It was just a nice thought. I'm only on day 2 and it's going to be a long six months..

I am guessing that people who decided against the surgery would not post to or read this forum regularly.

For me, i know from my history the last few years that i just regain... like was already said, I need help with the keeping it off too!

Here are my thoughts on why this tool works.

I cannot consume everything that I want any more.

I really know what full feels like, and I get what satisfied feels like also.

I know the difference and can recognize between head hunger, stress eating and eating because I am bored, for me it is not a blur of hunger anymore.

I have to think about what I want to eat and what I need to eat at every moment, even if I choose poorly I am aware of it.

58 lbs down and I am healthier and feel successful and like I can reach goal.

I’m going to the gym and feeling good about it.

I am becoming more aware of my body and appreciating it more as I become healthier.

I feel like I have finally taken charge of a lifelong issue, (and it is spilling over into other parts of my life as well).

I have had bumps along the way and have done things that I didn’t think I would do post op, but I am facing them and dealing with them in a different way than I ever could have done pre surgery. This is a drastic change and you have to go in knowing that, but most people who have done it will tell you that it was the best decision that they made, and I would have to agree. I would do it all over again!

Keep checking out the sites, there are a lot of useful posts and this is a judgment free zone, so this is the place to be honest about your issues with food, someone out there will understand and may be able to offer you some help. Good luck!!!!