Let's start with some stats about me: Female, age = 27, height = 5'3", was sleeved 3 years ago when I was 24. Highest weight ever = 210 and weighted 198 on surgery day, reached 147 pounds eight months post-surgery and for the past year have been gradually gaining weight, currently at 172.

Now why the title of the post?

I wasn't that heavy to begin with: If you're not that overweight (below 250 pounds or so, for someone with my stats, for example), I highly do not recommend getting sleeved or having any other gastric surgery for that matter. It seriously is not worth it because you can probably lose the weight gradually without the aid of such a drastic permanent surgery and have better results maintaining your success in the long run - I will explain why shortly.

On a side note, please realize that this surgery is permanent. Going in, I was so fixated on losing weight that I didn't have the wisdom or foresight to really understand that fact. After losing weight and even looking like you were never obese, guess what? You will forever eat restricted portions and have acid reflux (which many people develop after surgery and have to be on medication), along with any other side effects/complications the surgery caused.

I was/am young: If you're in your 20s or somewhere below 45, I also do not recommend this surgery since our bodies can lose weight easier when we are at a young age. So please reconsider. And now for the grand finale and the biggest reason that enticed this post, and I'm quoting this article to effectively get the point across:

We all know that there are 3,500 calories in one pound of fat. That means that by reducing your food by 500 calories per day, you should lose one pound of fat per week, right? Wrong! Actually, much of the weight you'll lose will come from muscle tissue, not fat! Why? Because your body tends to use ("excess") muscle tissue for needed energy before it reclaims fat deposits.

For example, starting at 198 pounds post-sleeve, I lost 18 pounds the first month after surgery - Do you think that was all fat? Definitely not!

The answer to long term success is to take your time with fat loss, and either preserve or build muscle tissue by integrating scientific weight training, mild aerobics, dietary manipulation, supplementation and other technologies into your lifestyle.

Here is an example from the article linked above: Let's say a person cuts calories without exercise for 6 weeks - Their starting weight is 200 pounds with 30% body fat. Their lean muscle mass is at 140 pounds and they have 60 pounds of fat. Now after dieting for those 6 weeks by cutting calories and not engaging in exercise/weight training, the person's end weight is 170 pounds, losing 30 pounds; a great accomplishment in 6 weeks, right? No, it's not, because the person is still at 30% body fat - now having 51 pounds of fat (leaving them with 119 pounds of muscle). The general idea here is that if a person cuts 500 calories per day from their diet, but fails to exercise, they may lose 30 pounds in 6 weeks, but their body fat remains at 30%. They lose 21 pounds of muscle and only 9 pounds of fat. That's 70% of the weight coming from your lean muscle mass! They will yo-yo back up to 200 in no time (within 1-2 years according to information compiled during the Congressional investigation into the fat loss industry). However, in doing so, they will be 35% body fat instead of their original 30%. Why? They never regained all of the lean tissue they lost as a result of their crash dieting earlier.

We all know that as we age, we lose muscle mass, and that muscle mass (though it weighs more) looks much better on our body than fat. So 2 people can be the same height and have similar body shapes and weigh the same, but because of their different body compositions, one can look significantly thinner (and ultimately enjoy better health) vs. the other.

I feel so sad realizing how big of a mistake it was to get sleeved - especially 3 years later and when it's way too late. I know exactly how it feels to be desperate, to have tried every diet out there and failed, to be so done with counting calories and not losing enough, then failing to maintain and gaining all of the weight back with interest. But the truth is, I am happy I realize my mistake and I am willing to admit it. In a society that is so poor on nutritional knowledge and a corrupt food industry, it is incredibly difficult to manage our nutrition and fitness alongside our busy schedules. But guess what? There are no shortcuts to being successful in life, and that's what the sleeve harshly taught me. You want to live with only 15-20% of your stomach and eat 4-6 ounces of food at a time? Forever? Sure, that's how I am living currently and will forever unfortunately, but is it truly a permanent solution? You'll never need to diet again? Obviously not, I lost 51 pounds after getting sleeved, then gained 25!

Rules are rules and when you go over your caloric intake, sleeved or not, you will gain weight, especially when you have an extensive past history of yo-yo dieting (most of us gastric patients fall under this category) and you have ruined your body's normal/healthy muscle-to-fat ratio. I've seen some people who are sleeved go from 210 pounds to 120 pounds in 10 months - Is that great? I don't know... Think about it. Their body composition is probably terrible! So many people on here (including myself) say things like, well, at least I look good in clothes… You’re thin on the scale but you will have loose skin and won't look or feel good about yourself. It's like you always put your life on hold because you're obese and now you are doing the same because your body is ugly (I’m talking about myself before anyone else here).

You're in your 20s but people who are 40 look way better than you! Why? Because it's not about LOSING, it's about GAINING muscle mass. It's what will help you burn more calories, even in your sleep. Lose weight by controlling your calories (increasing your Protein intake, adding complex carbs, and limiting fat) - and maintain your success in the long run. Muscle looks better and will carry you through old age - You don't want to look frail with loose skin when you're only 30 or so. It may be the difficult way and it may be hard to accept because you're frustrated and desperate - I WAS THERE! And sadly, I am still there now. But maybe the natural way is the best in the long run. I know how it feels to be desperate and just wanting to live a normal life - I decided to have the surgery and 2 weeks later, I was in Mexico and sleeved - Stupidest and most stubborn decision I ever made.

What I am pleading here as advice to you is to think twice about what's right for you and your body - the only place you will ever have to live and the greatest instrument you will ever possess... Develop the right habits and gain muscle because if you don't and you get sleeved, you will eventually gain all of the weight back. 2/3 of your arms for example are your triceps - so many sleeved women complain about this area - well guess what? Getting sleeved didn't help - probably lost 70% muscle of whatever total weight you lost in your arm, resulting in loose skin and a terribly fat-looking arm. Weight training and developing good nutritional habits truly is the answer. Don't eat out or have any junk. Start with tips and tricks from websites like eatthis.com - and cook simple meals and eat freely without pain or embarrassment (I can't even burp, I do this weird whooshing sound - awkward) and trust me, you will be successful and you will look better than anyone who got sleeved and did just that. I understand some people on here did this whole sleeve thing the right way and worked out as early as they were able to - I am not attacking you - Good for you! This is just my humble opinion and advice for those considering and thinking like me, that this is an easy way out or they won't ever need to diet again, or they don't need to workout, etc. If I can help one person visiting this forum realize what’s in this post before getting sleeved, then that would bring me so much happiness. I wish I would have run into a similar post, truly thought about it and gave the dream of a healthy life one last sober try remembering the sad story of that person – but I will redeem myself – for once and for all.

Edited July 30, 201511 yr by LG2.0

@@laguerr13 Interesting theory. You are probably right.

Lol

I was curious about the balloon procedure?

1) Do you think it has to be inserted by a clown?

2) Could I get my balloon in the shape of a poodle?

I think it's a conspiracy by someone promoting the Balloon procedure ????

All I can say, "Is get a life," You seem like a very unhappy and critical person. The replies you are getting are a result of what you are looking for.

Good luck!

*Ahem* you are misleading, deleted user.

On the day of my surgery, I weighed 236 pounds and had a body fat percentage of 48.2%. That means I had 113 pounds of fat.

Today I weighed 168.8 pounds and have a body fat percentage of 24%. That means I have 40.5 pounds of fat.

I have lost a total of 67.2 pounds since my surgery. I have lost 72.5 pounds of FAT since my surgery. That means I've GAINED roughly 5 pounds of muscle. So explain to me again how WLS causes muscle loss?

As someone who has had a "failed" WLS, I can really see how a person construes their own experience as facts.

Clearly, the OP did not actually have her "facts" right but did share her personal experience. This thread has a lot of passionate responses since so many of us found a "chance" at controlling obesity with the sleeve and are somewhat zealous in our ferver. I still call "unnecessary roughness" on this thread. WE can all see that mistakes were made and things said in a way that wasn't an accurate representation of our experiences or even of controlled studies.... but sheesh.

I am a freaking idiot for believing my band surgeon who told me i would be happy eating "petite portions" of high quality food and it would solve my weight issues. It could not have been further from the truth because during most of the banded life I was starving/drive for food and then would experience pain when I ate (unless it was sliders - so guess what happened to my eating habits!!). Anyway, if I were to write a story about my band experience in 2005 ( I was banded in 2001) it probably would have sounded as mixed up as this post did. Probably wouldn't have helped me much to be bashed about the head for my ignorance. Just something to think about in terms of how we treat each other.

To all of you reading this who have not yet had surgery, please make sure one post like this doesn't sway your opinion. I know before surgery I searched for posts and articles of people who regretted it. I wanted to see all sides of wls. But one post is not enough to make the call. If anything, this is a great example of why wls is a huge decision and shouldn't be taken lightly. For the one person who regrets it, there are hundreds more who are happier than they've ever been. I have no issue with people sharing their feelings here, both good and bad. But we are all here for support and reading bad attitudes like this, with clearly little understanding of what lifestyle changes are needed post surgery, are ignorant and misleading. Surgery was the best decision I ever made (and I still have a VERY long way to go). I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't feel the same. You must be doing it wrong.. lol

I do hope that when you get a little further down the road and the confusion of what to do next will escape you ( maybe not losing weight, stalls or even maybe gaining some back ) as it has for most WLS patients @@scarletwitch19 I hope that some one does not say the things you have said to this person. I agree that there is confusion in her thought process and even some misinformation, but it is her feelings and thoughts that she has taken the time to write out hoping for understanding.

I would say that there are things about WLS that you don't know or have not been privy to because you never had to deal with them.

Not every one has had a lovely experience with WLS. Not every one is prepared even if they think they are for what you have to do to be successful or deal with the emotional, physical or mental changes that can and do happen to many after surgery.

I say never say never when it comes to how you may feel later on. Never point out mistakes that you think you may never make. And never say you must be doing it wrong...... And then laugh. Because the last thing that is funny is everything we have all gone through; good experience or bad to get where we are today!

It is hard work and plenty of changes and fortitude to continue in this journey!

Don't get me wrong, I understand we all make mistakes, I've made plenty already. No one said this journey is easy. But we are all here for support. There's a fine line between venting because you're having a hard time, and trying to get people to change their mind about surgery, in anger and a poor attitude. It's misleading to those new to the process looking for guidance. I apologize if I offended you, but reading this post was very disappointing to me.

Who gets to draw the fine line? Who gets to say what is written here and what isn't?

I think that all areas need to be discussed and all different ways of looking at things. After all. It has been pointed out to me in many threads as I made comments that I was not saying the right or correct thing.

Well, guess what. I know that people get scared, and people feel buyers remorse and people might not even know why they made the decisions they have regarding WLS. Realizing that they are just human and that this entire journey is not as easy as they thought it was going to be.

If we all learn something from a thread like this, great! But the last time I checked, I can make errors in information and ideas and hopefully someone would help me see my mistakes and teach me better without putting me down. Or laughing at me.

It all comes down to helping one another instead of waiting to pounce when we read something that is not true. I am not offended by the way if it is me you are referring to.

I understand your feelings on this as well. I just think that we are all human beings.

Now I step down from my soap box!

In my opinion, the main reason people fail at WLS is not because they had difficult complications like you did, RJs/Beginning.

It's because they didn't understand or they simply didn't take seriously the post-op instructions they were given by their surgeons. I see a lot of pre- and post-op behavior described online that leaves little doubt that many folks who have WLS consider their surgeons' instructions to be optional for them.

The most basic instructions -- eat a minimum of 60 grams of Protein and drink 64 ounces of Water daily; avoid highly processed carbohydrates; after your body has recovered from surgery, start cardio and strength-training exercise -- are ignored by many patients.

The benefit of many threads on this forum comes not just from support for the OP, but from the dialogue it starts and the education it makes possible for many more people than the OP. That is the potential value of this thread.

The purpose of this forum is not to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. It is to help those who are considering WLS and those who have had WLS who are stumbling along, trying to find their way and to achieve the best possible outcomes they can get from WLS.

The OP made a great post that has produced a very valuable conversation. I'm grateful she posted. And I'm grateful for the conversation we're having. These are very important topics.

I agree with your logic @@VSGAnn2014 concerning threads, topics and forums.

But as you said it is in your opinion, just as it is in mine! It is difficult to put everyone in the same category. As everyone is different in so many ways.

Dialogue is good, learning is good, instruction is good. it is all good!

But there is a way of expressing thoughts, principles, information and ideas without being harsh, rude or belittling others. That is my opinion.

The way we communicate with each other behind the mask of a computer does not give us licence to say what ever we see fit because it does not matter. No one really knows me or you. I concern myself with the possible negative affect because I told it like it is in my books. Instead of treating others with understanding and compassion like I would like to be treated.

I know that this comes up all the time on the forums. Around and round we go. I feel this way, you feel that way and we defend our way of thinking and that's okay! I just worry about those ones that aren't as disciplined in their thinking not to give a dead ratz behind what others ( complete strangers ) think or respond to threads that they have written.

I think that a lot of people have been treated with disrespect for a long time dealing with the issue of weight. Why add to it other then it gets a lot of people looking at the thread to see how it's going to turn out!

It is exhausting! But that is just my opinion. It doesn't mean anything really.

My surgery sucked with complications and I have lost most of my muscle but guess what? I am so glad I did this surgery!!!!

It sounds like you didn't take it seriously, probably didn't follow your diet plan because you barely lost weight, and then gained that weight back! And your fishing for excuses as to why it didn't work for you.

This surgery works amazing and duh- you are giving up eating large portions for life. That's the point!!!

I can't believe I missed this thread.

Everyone isn't going to be happy with their results.

Personally, I've been looking at WLS for more than 5 years. (Signed up on forums, spoke to a Physician who was a family friend who had it, went to a Seminar at UT Southwestern) Spoke to friends, co-workers who had WLS and asked whether they would do it again, what did they regret, etc. But I always told myself I would try everything else first.

Everything else include: Being the heaviest I've ever been at 250 on 5'4, losing 70 pounds by an hour and a half of cardio a day and a restrictive diet over 9 months, GAINING BACK 50 pounds, trying and failing at: Weight Watchers (4 times), Nutrisystem, SlimFast (multiple times), a Trainer, a Weight Loss Doctor (prescribed amphetamines for eating less), Medifast, Gym memberships, etc. I would always lose 10 pounds, and then gain it back plus more. I became clinically depressed and suffered panic attacks, developed sleep apnea, high cholesterol, became pre-diabetic, etc.

My weight kept going up, and thats when I knew it was time to look into WLS again.

Statistically speaking, the vast majority of those who are obese will NOT successfully lose and keep their weight off through diet and exercise alone. There have been numerous studies which prove that now. Its a fantasy. Those who are able to make the magical transformation of going from obesity to a healthy weight AND maintaining is through diet and exercise alone are the EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

Being obese or morbidly obese and needing to lose weight is not the same thing as being a little overweight.

In the end, to each his own.