First time posting and just starting this journey. I am leaning towards the VGS but also considering bypass. My issue is my inability to lose weight. 2 years ago I had both a dietician & personal trainer working with me together for 7 months. Yes I built muscle over all but the first 6 weeks I lost only 3 pounds and then didn't lose a pound for the rest of the time I worked with them. And yes I followed the low carb low calorie diet to the letter. With this history (and lots of other diet attempts) if I do the surgery will I lose weight? I would hate to go through this and not be successful. And I have been to several doctors and just have sluggish metabolism but still normal. Has anyone else been through this with similar history and been successful??

In all honesty, there are some people who it does NOT work for - over the long haul. There are probably complex reasons for that but I have been around long enough to know that it is the truth - not everyone finds success from WLS.

I had the lapband for 10 years and ended that stint much heavier than I started.

I have lost about 160# and have been maintaining at goal for awhile now. My sleeve surgery was Dec 2011. I think that I never realized how little food I actually need to survive and thrive. I have done weight watchers, i have done medically supervised diets - I have frankly done about everything. I got my sleeve surgery when I was in my late 40s and I will be honest I have been OBESE most of my life - maybe 5 years in total when I was not obese so a true lifer. It wasn't until those early months post op of eating so little (and very high protein/low carb) that my metabolism started to change. I am not sure why it didn't happen like that with the lapband since I ate very little then too and I was younger even. I can't explain it really but the VSG was a game changer for me. A key difference is that I picked a surgical practice with alot of follow up and education. When I had the band I really didn't understand my carb sensitivity and did not have the support I needed so I guess for me the whole package (surgery, education, follow up and support) was the game changer.

Now, having said that... I am maintaining in the general range of 150 now and it takes some effort. Sometimes it seems easy and then my weight bounces a few pounds and I have to work it to get it back down. HOWEVER, it is easier for me to maintain at 150 then it ever was just trying to stay under 300#. I worked hard to stay under 300# and ultimately failed at that... again, I can't really explain it except to say that success breeds success.

Good luck with your decision, it really is taking a leap of faith and the ultimate answer as to whether to have WLS or which procedure is best for you is very individual.

Edited March 21, 201412 yr by CowgirlJane

I don't think any of us (no matter which surgery) woke up one day and said, "I think I'll have wls surgery today." There were many MANY failed attempts at weight loss before resulting to altering our bodies. But also I have to say, this is what you make of it -- you still have to change your eating habits, your food choices, and you still have to exercise. You have to work it.

I too had metabolism problems... and was very scared this wouldnt work.... but its a tool and its up to us to use it well. I am not too successful right now...but I need to workout more and take more Water..

In the first month we loose a lot of weight...but later we have to make effort and see that we are doing every thing right. more water,more Proteins, more exercise, no stress and so on..all the best ....for me this was the only option as I didnt loose much with the band.....

"My issue is my inability to lose weight" This describes 99.9% of the people on this forum.

I agree with Cowgirl. WLS works for most but not all. Some people can't let go of their security blanket(food) so they sabotage even WLS. It can be done with any of the WLS techniques and it doesn't take much imagination to find the work arounds.

Here's a quick video from a doctor and this is how he advises his patients: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VmvWFu79Ik#t=99

tmf

I used to be able to yo yo diet successfully. but about 3 years ago I couldn't lose wt. no matter what diet or exercise I tried. I did nutria-system, ww,south beach diet, calorie counting, no carbs. etc. I wasn't losing wt. instead my wt. went up and up. I was close to 300 lbs and had a heart attack when I said enough is enough. I have a band. it's a lot of work but without it I would be well over 300 lbs by now. and as said above it's amazing how little food you need to survive on. no wonder none of the diets I mentioned above worked. before you have surgery you really need to ask yourself do I really want this and am I willing to put the work needed to be successful. this advice is for whatever surgery you decide is best for you. its a lifestyle change for life.

I have been hypothyroid for 10 years. This stopped me from just losing weight. I also work overnight and this also effects your system. Fast forward almost a year, I am down 135 lbs. I was 310 to start. Best thing I ever did, I am also an RN so I knew I wasn't getting any healthier. My health was going down hill slowly but still going down. I had to tell myself I did not want to die from something stupid. I had some control over it and I took it back from food. Food and I still battle but we are more friendly than we where.