First off, let me just say that this post is in no way meant to talk down about gastric sleeve or to promote unhealthy eating habits.

I'm scheduled to do my sleeve in September, but I've started having some second thoughts; maybe it's just pre-surgery jitters.

I've seen several people say they eat between 700-1200 calories after surgery (sometimes less depending on where they are in their journey) while exercising, and that made me curious. If I chose not to get sleeved and ate a nutrient dense diet which was only about 1200 calories, then burned 300 calories most days per week (net calories equaling about 900) would this have the same affect as getting sleeved?

I'm asking because I have always heard that such a diet is unhealthy because your body isn't getting enough calories, but from everything I've read and been told the sleeve is healthy.

I guess I'm a little confused in the difference between getting the sleeve and doing a restriction diet like the one I mentioned (other than the fact that the sleeve is not a diet, I know that).

Thanks in advance everyone

The main difference is that with a sleeve, it is actually possible to maintain such a diet long-term, not fall off the wagon, go crazy, and gain everything back. If everyone could do that without surgery, then the surgery wouldn't exist because no one would need it. It's not as if the vast majority of morbidly obese people are wandering around the earth with no idea how to lose weight, or no desire to do so. For the most part, people do want to lose weight and are aware of what to do. They try to do it, and they fail. That's why only 5% of obese people can sustain any sort of significant weight loss without surgery (and I'm not talking about losing all their excess weight, either -- just enough to make a difference). The success rate with weight loss surgery is orders of magnitude better -- with the sleeve, the average patient will lose between 60 and 70 percent of their excess weight.

For me, I had to come to grips with the fact that despite my being educated and motivated, I was not a special snowflake who would be one of those 5% who could sustain even a small amount of weight loss on my own. I needed surgery. It was the best decision I ever made.

And the idea that you need a minimum of 1200 calories or whatever to be healthy is a myth. If you have significant fat stores to fuel your body (and we all do, or we wouldn't be here) and are taking your vitamins, and getting in sufficient protein, you don't need extra calories. It's important to have labs drawn regularly to make sure your vitamin and protein intakes are sufficient, but most people find that their labs are fine and they are doing great. I have never felt or been so healthy or energetic as I have on a low carb, low calorie diet.

Thank you so much. That answered all of my questions perfectly. Also the part about big people wandering around made me giggle at myself lol.

What @@Bufflehead said. I just want to add that with the sleeve, in addition to making your stomach smaller, the procedure results in a change in the hunger hormones and helps your body cope with fewer calories. It communicates to your body that you can be satisfied on fewer calories. For me that is one of the biggest benefits.

What @@Bufflehead said. I just want to add that with the sleeve, in addition to making your stomach smaller, the procedure results in a change in the hunger hormones and helps your body cope with fewer calories. It communicates to your body that you can be satisfied on fewer calories. For me that is one of the biggest benefits.

YES. This makes the huge difference!