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".

Hi

I am having difficulty with the 'only 70 pounds' thing. I agree with Mz Elle only to the part where all of these surgeries are invasive and extreme. They are, and anyone who says otherwise is downplaying the risk. As a nurse of almost 30 years I know this. With any surgery comes risk - from the anesthesia, chance of complications - running from minor to life threatening, temporary to permanent. It is not a decision to be made lightly, and certainly not to be made without exploring all of your options and doing extensive research.

Having said that, what do you do when you HAVE tried everything? I have tried many things and different combinations of diet, exercise, herbal preparations etc. but always in the parameters of healthy foods . I currently need to lose about 75 pound to be at my ideal weight. I am currently relatively healthy but I do have mild asthma and high cholesterol, controlled by medication. I know for a fact both of these will at least improve if not disappear if I can lose the excess weight, and I also look at my dear brother who 'only' has to lose about 80 pounds to be at his ideal weight - he has had a heart attack, 2 stent placements, asthma, high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea and non alcoholic fatty liver disease - ALL of these conditions would improve with weight loss. Do I have to wait until I am in the same boat before I do something about it?

No, I am choosing to get the sleeve as a tool in my Quest to get and stay healthy. I am satisfied that I have tried all I can to lose and keep the weight off, and for me it just isn't working. For me it will be worth the risk, and I think everyone needs to look at their own unique situation and decide what is best for them.

I completely agree with you which is why I decided to have the surgery. I started my prep op diet in early August at 195, had surgery on 8/28 at 175 and 3 weeks later I am st 160! This is thR lowest I have been in probably 10 years and I feel greAt. I'm already off cholesterol meds and working on getting my weight down to at least 140. No complications from surgery and even stopped my pain meds on day 2. I feel great!

Do what makes YOU happy!

Do what makes YOU happy!

Agreed! In reality, there's all sorts of reasons why someone would need help with "only" 70 pounds to lose. While I can speak to my own decision to have surgery, I have no insight, and therefore no right to speak about someone else's choice. If I wish to be allowed to make independent and adult decisions for my life, crafting my own happiness, then I sure as heck better extend that same permission to others!

I, for one, am very thankful that the option was available, and now, 55 pounds later, the fatigue due to my MS is way better, and I'm completely off all medications for HBP.

And I'm happy. lol