I'm 5'5" and currently weigh 195 pounds. That puts me at a BMI of about 32. I haven't seriously discussed surgery with anyone but my husband, but serious I am! When I joke about it with people I know they all say "you don't have that much to lose" or "just try this new diet". But to me, I am finally facing a very painful fact...I can't do it alone! To know me is to know that I don't NEED anyone/anything. I want people and things in my life, but I can do it on my own if I have to. If I set my mind to something I do it! So why can't I do this? I am telling you this not to feel sorry for me, but to understand what finally brought me to this decision of having surgery.

I was 119 pounds when I graduated from high school....on the homecoming court, played sports, top of my class, blah blah blah. Now 20 years later I'm still very successful in my career, have a wonderful family, put myself thru college, but I'm fat. I'm not "a little overweight", pleasantly plump, or any of the other euphemisms. I'm fat! That alone has been a hard fact to face, but face it I am.

I started putting on weight the day I graduated from high school, and while I have tried for YEARS to get back to my ideal weight, it has NEVER happened. I would have limited success when I was young, but ultimately I would gain it all back. And every year add just a few more pounds. Now...well 195 pounds says it all. I lose 20 put on 25, lose 35, put on 40. Nothing has ever stayed off for more than 6 months in the whole darn 20 years. And I WANT ME BACK. Does that make me crazy? Is it really so extreme to have surgery to lose 60-70 pounds? I don't think so, but I would love to hear from those who have been in a similar situation and are several months/years after surgery. Did it last? Did you get to your ideal weight? Would you do it again?

I told my younger sister (who has always been overweight even as a child) I was thinking about this, and she said "I've always been fat so I don't miss being skinny, but I can see how you might". I can't make her understand it's not about wanting to be skinny...it's about wanting to look in the mirror again at myself and not want to cry and think "that's not me".

I think life is tok short to be miserable. I have only battled my weight for about 5-6 years and I am about :100 lbs overweight. That being said, I obviously cant do thia on my own. I got married last year and in the 2 years we were engaged I battled hardcore to lose weight. I was 228 when I started and I went up and down 20-40lbs over and over and over. The month before my wedding I was under 200. The day of my wedding, 212. YEP....i even weighed myself on my wedding day

So a year out and I am now 250lbs. my highest ever. my depression was so bad I didnt like to leave the house. I feel like a freak. so i made the descision to do this. I would have made the same choice if I was back at 212 as well.

i wish you the best of luck

Let me guess.....those people who all think you should try this or that diet are skinny or at least aren't too overweight. Those people truly cannot understand the battle that overweight people have with food. Or, if they are obese, they haven't already tried and failed this diet and that diet. I don't think anyone here would have had or would be considering having WLS if they truly didn't feel it was necessary and the only way to achieve weight loss. I totally understand wanting the support of others, but no one knows you and what is best for you more than yourself. I would thank the people who make these comments and move on. Or, you could just ask them why they think you would you put yourself through surgery if you could do it through a diet. I wouldn't even discuss which diets you've tried so they can't come back with some other "miracle diet".

Best of luck to you in your journey. We are all here to support you so consider yourself very welcome here.

I have a lot more weight to shed than 60-70lbs I have goal set by clinic would put me at 100 lost but I would still have a BMI of 31.5 because I am short. Wit that said I have my goal and will have to lose 120lbs that is a WHOLE adult. If I in my case had to shed 60-70 lbs I would try a few things first. (it is a lot of money for surgery and it is FOREVER)

If you have tried repeatedly, and you are aware this requires alot of work and will might take longer for you since you will not have the initial weight to lose, then yes I would have...

I did it with 60 pounds to lose. Although i'm a slow loser, I am losing. I'd do it again in a minute.

I would do it for 70 pounds. My only regret is not having it done when I was younger. good luck with your decision!

My only regret was getting the band first and not the sleeve. I didn't know about the sleeve back then. I wish it had come out while I was younger. I don't regret this for one second, and haven't for over 3 years. I had about 30 lbs to lose when I had my band out.

go for it!

this is your life and you deserve to live it the best possible way

and being fat is no fun

i was a lower bmi myself and people told me the same things

"you don't need something that drastic"

"you are not THAT fat"

but i did it because i didn't want to wait to be even more fat or worst to be sick

i was perfectly healthy pre op and i want to remain that way

now people tell me

'' omg you look so good''

'' have you lost like 20 pounds?'' and i'm like more like 60 and they say ''really? that much? that's a lot! you are done right? am like no, i want to get to my goal weight and they say ''so, you want to get really skinny?'' hell yes i want to be skinny!

nobody nows what it is to be me, but me, so i choose to do what makes sence to me and what makes me happy

i wish i knew sooner and dit it years ago!

Thank you everyone for your replies. I know in my heart this is the right decision, and I'm so glad to hear that even those who have been through this would still do it again. Thanks for all the support!

JLOR, you sound a lot like me. Graduated about 120, started gaining right away. All the way up to about 260lbs over the next 20 yrs! Could be more but that's the number I have from a doc's visit at the time.

Also have a younger sis who struggled w/her weight all her life. Difference, she had bypass about 15 yrs ago and has done an awesome job w/it!

I had the band installed about 4 yrs ago. First year went well and got down to about 178 or so. Then the next 3 years had problems and gained all of it back up to surgery day weight, which was 210.

May 9th, doc told me my band had to come out and he offered me the Sleeve as an alternative. June 4th, I had my removal/revision surgery. I had managed to get about 16lbs off and was 194 when doc told me I had to have surgery again. Day of, I was 186. As of this AM, I'm 177!!! WhooHoo!!!

I put 140 down as a goal, but truly I don't really have one. I had resigned myself to struggling w/my band and just trying to keep from GAINING! I was going to try to just stay in the 190's and find a way to be okay w/that. Now, I'm just going to keep going down until I stop.

You need to get your own head in this. Don't worry about trying to get anyone else on board. If this is what you feel you need to do, esp. after 20 years of dieting w/out being able to keep it off. Then that is what you need to do. It's not up to any one else.

Best wishes w/your journey, whatever you decide.

When I started my Journey I was looking to lose 100 lbs...... and most did not realize I needed to lose that much. I have lost 60 lbs and am so happy that I took that first step...,.... nothing I tried worked... just like you lose 30 gain 40.... it really sucked..... My husband was very supportive but sometimes showed resentment ...... He wishes he could do the same but due to health issues is reluctant..... But I am so glad I have come so far.....

I started my plans at a bmi of 32 also. By the time I went into surgery it was closer to 30. I am only 18 days out, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I am down 17 pounds since surgery. I have already gotten rid of the biggest clothes in my closet.

I was similar to you, very slim in high school (114 pounds). I started gaining weight in my 30's. Similar struggle - lose 20, gain 25...

Most definitely.. I'm only down 45 and I would do it again for that. For me I think its the maintenance part that makes it worth it.

YesI would do it. 70 lbs will turn into 75 and then 80 and then 100..... You said you need help so I would do it now before you have any other issues to deal with. Plus if you do it now you might not have issues with extra skin.

In my case I would. If I'd had ANY success with maintaining loss on my own, I would not. I can lose, and I can definitely gain, but maintaining is something I've never been able to do.

I was about 285 (up from a low of about 215) when my lapband was removed. I was determined to stay at that weight until I could get my sleeve. What did I weigh on the day of sleeve surgery (about 7 months after band removal)? 348.