Like the title of the thread says, will WLS work if the reason for being overweight isn't from overeating? I don't overeat but I definitely choose the wrong foods.

Exactly, what she ^^^^ said.

I promise we are trying to help you sort it all out.

If I were in your shoes I'd go for it and give it all I have to try to be successful. perhaps getting weight off might help your issues, as we know that fat is hormonaly active in the body.

with thyroid issues your progress may well be hindered, but what else can you do? right?

I figure I will loose what I can, and keep it off as long as I can, there is always the chance that I will loose all the excess and keep it off - but if it buys me even 10 more years to watch grandchildren grow then it will be worth it all.

AND:

I hear you and will try not to talk over what you are saying.

You say that you are 100% committed to the process. Who are we to doubt you? Having WLS is a real life changer. It's no joke. It's difficult on the best days.--especially if you are a "dump syndromer"

Yes, yes, and again yes. If you are truly committed to working 100% with your new body and nothing else has worked, then why not??

Losing weight during the "honeymoon" period is just what some need to overcome comorbidities and to attain renewed motivation and habits to last a life time.

I am no longer a dooms dayer. I have become ever optimistic.

Go for it, Friend. Losing your weight, and living a healthier life is the one way to prove you 100% commitment and then say, "I told ya so".

If your Bariatric team is agreeing with you that WLS is a positive option for you, who are we to be nay sayers?

I wish you well with whatever decision you make.

Please post and let us know .

Prayers going up.

Thank you. When I mentioned my decision for surgery to my primary she agreed 100% that this is what I need.

Oh believe me, there is no rope left. I'm not *agreeing* to do this. No one else suggested it to me. This is a decision I'm making for myself because I can't live like this anymore. I rarely leave my home anymore because we live on the second floor and my knees can't handle it. I have very little to wear because I can't shop in the stores near me, nothing fits anymore. I take 3 different blood pressure meds everyday and it STILL is high. No, I'm ready to do this.

Plus I have a minimum of at least 6 months to get the rest of my questions answered.

I have no intention of *eating around* my sleeve. Hell no. Not after all the hoops I'm going to have to jump through to get the surgery, and the pain and trauma to my body of the surgery itself. Nope. Not going to make all that be for nothing. So will the WLS *give* me willpower? No, of course not. But it sure as heck is going to supplement the willpower I already have because I WILL NOT fail this time.

GOOD FOR YOU. If you believe you can, you can. I am rooting for you 100%.

@@WitchySar - Even after post-op I questioned myself as to why I couldn't have done it without the surgery! But it was too late. I am going to disagree with some of the other posters and say again, the tool somehow, someway managed to strengthen my willpower. It was NOT something I had under control prior to surgery. When I went to my "class" that I had to attend prior to surgery, I talked to the RN there and she said something that stuck with me in helping me make my decision. It was "Just do it and get it done. Get the weight off and then use the habits you built in that time to maintain." Let's face it, I have lost weight a ton of times (as many of us had) but I had never gotten to the point of "goal". It just took too darn long and I would give up. With WLS, I wasn't really able to give up. I had restriction that stopped me and the brain changes came.

I think you are on the right path and asking all the right questions. You sound like you are like me in that you have to process something over and over and ask a lot of questions to get your mind set and then once your mind is set, you are off to the races! Don't be afraid to ask these questions and don't be afraid to still be questioning your decision. You will know when the time is right. I remember setting up my appts for pre-op stuff (EGD, sleep study, etc.) and saying "even if I don't go through with WLS, these are things that need to be done" Before I knew it, I was headed in to surgery. And the first month or so is TOUGH. Not gonna lie. But man this year has flown by and I cannot believe I am sitting here at 170 pounds! Seriously never ever thought it would happed but like my dad always told me "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." (Probably not the right metaphor here but hopefully you see what I am getting at....)

@@WitchySar

If you have a plan for head hunger you are ahead of the curve. I went for walks when head hunger got bad.

Exactly, what she ^^^^ said.

I promise we are trying to help you sort it all out.

If I were in your shoes I'd go for it and give it all I have to try to be successful. perhaps getting weight off might help your issues, as we know that fat is hormonaly active in the body.

with thyroid issues your progress may well be hindered, but what else can you do? right?

I figure I will loose what I can, and keep it off as long as I can, there is always the chance that I will loose all the excess and keep it off - but if it buys me even 10 more years to watch grandchildren grow then it will be worth it all.

AND:

I hear you and will try not to talk over what you are saying.

You say that you are 100% committed to the process. Who are we to doubt you? Having WLS is a real life changer. It's no joke. It's difficult on the best days.--especially if you are a "dump syndromer"

Yes, yes, and again yes. If you are truly committed to working 100% with your new body and nothing else has worked, then why not??

Losing weight during the "honeymoon" period is just what some need to overcome comorbidities and to attain renewed motivation and habits to last a life time.

I am no longer a dooms dayer. I have become ever optimistic.

Go for it, Friend. Losing your weight, and living a healthier life is the one way to prove you 100% commitment and then say, "I told ya so".

If your Bariatric team is agreeing with you that WLS is a positive option for you, who are we to be nay sayers?

I wish you well with whatever decision you make.

Please post and let us know .

Prayers going up.

Thank you. When I mentioned my decision for surgery to my primary she agreed 100% that this is what I need.

So, now you have your answer.

Go for it.

Research, study, watch, talk, absorb every bit of information you can now while you are pre-op.

Learn as you go--most of us had to.

Many have had WLS with less motivation than you have demonstrated.

I believe.

@@WitchySar

If you have a plan for head hunger you are ahead of the curve. I went for walks when head hunger got bad.

I sucked on those damn Listerine strips that make everything taste like crap. I also painted my nails so I couldn't touch anything. Oh yes, any plan to sabotage the eating is a good plan.

I agree that the surgery is on the stomach and not the brain. I am a month post op and my brain still things the pre op way... I sat down to eat my small measured portion for lunch, I though to myself I will eat this and still going to be so hungry... Needless to say I could barely finish it. It is hard after surgery because I do like carbs like chips and crackers, today at work I saw someone eating crackers I like, I am not going to lie I wanted some, but reminded myself of my new lifestyle and my journey. I feel like you constantly have to be paying attention to what you eating, how fast you are eating, how much you are eating and drinking. When they say it's life changing, it really is. I am still learning this new lifestyle and new stomach, but this is my only hope of being healthy, I couldn't do it on my own. I think this has been the hardest experience in my life (I had complications as well) but seeing clothes getting bigger and number on the scale going in right direction I have hope that I will get there this time around. If you do have the surgery I wish you best of luck and great success!

Edited June 15, 201610 yr by UsernameTaken

@@WitchySar

If you have a plan for head hunger you are ahead of the curve. I went for walks when head hunger got bad.

I had the cleanest garage in the country. And finally got 5 years of files and piles in my office organized.

Let me give you a quick run down of my experience. I gained my weight from poor portion control. I mainly ate healthy just huge amounts like a horse. Don't get me wrong I ate poor choices occasionally too.

I have hypothyroidism and that never helped my metabolism a lot.

When I was going through the six month wait for my surgery I really began to look close at my diet. I cut out all caffeine and sodas first- switched to water only... Still didn't lose anything.

Then, about two and half months before my surgery I cut out all my refined sugars and all junk... Still didn't lose weight, but I was eating large portions. I didn't track my food so I don't remember the calorie count. Then six weeks before surgery I cut my calories back to 1,200 a day, still no sodas, sugars, or carbs... No weight loss.

Then did the two week liquid diet. Only lost 4 stupid pounds and I never cheated!!! I was wondering if surgery would work for me.

Post op my weight began to drop off. I was at my goal in about 9 months. I went from 271 down to 150. I tracked religiously from day one.

It took a lot of experimenting but I have come to the realization that my body likes to be around 900-1000 calories a day. If I start to consistently eat more I gain. So thanks to this sleeve I eat about 1,000 calories of highly nutritious food a day, get my protein in and occasionally have treats and have lost weight and maintained it. I am two years post op.

So for me I just needed WAY fewer calories than I was eating pre op.

I think if you track consistently then you will be able to find what works for you and that will help so much!

Also, like someone else stated you might be surprised on how much you are eating now. When I like back in retrospect I was eating way way more than I do now.

It can work for you. Hard work and dedication will pay off!!

@LipstickLady- I paint my nails when I have head hunger too. My nails have never looked so good. I now have a nail polish addiction. LOL

@LipstickLady- I paint my nails when I have head hunger too. My nails have never looked so good. I now have a nail polish addiction. LOL

I pay a lot of $$ to maintain my gel nails. I painted over perfectly perfect nails to keep myself from eating. D@MN you fat brain!!

I agree with @@Daisee68 1000% , I could go right now and eat around my sleeve at only 9 months out. I have no foods that make me dump. And actually the carby foods are the easiest to overeat, they turn into nearly nothing in our tummies. What stops me though, is the fact that I fought so goddamn hard for this surgery to happen... that I'll be damned if I let a frickin potato chip make me miserable again. No matter how crunchy, salty and delicious I may remember it. I get cravings because I too have a hubby and kids that don't follow MY diet, but I take that new found will and have made some pretty ingenious alternatives to the good ole comfort foods. If you need ideas or recipes look it up or message me!!! Good luck mama, you got this!!! Here's to better knees!!!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree with @@Daisee68 1000% , I could go right now and eat around my sleeve at only 9 months out. I have no foods that make me dump. And actually the carby foods are the easiest to overeat, they turn into nearly nothing in our tummies. What stops me though, is the fact that I fought so goddamn hard for this surgery to happen... that I'll be damned if I let a frickin potato chip make me miserable again. No matter how crunchy, salty and delicious I may remember it. I get cravings because I too have a hubby and kids that don't follow MY diet, but I take that new found will and have made some pretty ingenious alternatives to the good ole comfort foods. If you need ideas or recipes look it up or message me!!! Good luck mama, you got this!!! Here's to better knees!!!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Sorry for the duplication, don't know what happened??

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@UalreadyKnow

You had me at "crunchy, salty and delicious"...

My husband already knows we can't have junk in the house anymore. He's sad about it but supports me on it. My kids also don't need to eat junk so they'll survive the changes.

I had mix feelings about this. For now, I've chosen to still but the same stuff in the grocery store. Our pantry is filled with Doritos, Pop Tarts and other stuff that I don't eat. I felt that my new way of living shouldn't translate over to punishment for the rest of the household. Even when I fire up the grill I still make much of the same old classics they love, yet I avoid.

After all....I'll be faced with those same temptations outside the house, why not be able to flex & develop my self-control muscles in the safety of the house?

I can certainly understand the opposite way of handling this, though.

Yeah, Protein vs carbs. That's a bit of retraining my body needs. When I ate low carb years ago it was awesome. So much protein, I felt great! But after getting off that there were days when I'd eat practically no protein at all. Carbs were life. I gained it all back, plus a little more. (It took over 10 years to gain it back, but it did come.)

@@WitchySar

You are still trying to convince us that you were actually eating 7 chips and not over eating. Not many people are going to believe that.

You are tracking your food now and saying you aren't losing weight and barely getting enough calories in. So that has been the case you whole life? You ate 1000 calories a day for the past 42 years and got to 368?

You know a bunch of fat people aren't going to believe that...

The only time I've ever successfully lost weight was when I followed strict Atkins. I ate over 2500 calories a day on that diet and lost almost 150 lbs in a year. But I lacked the will power to STAY on it. I'm seeing surgery as being the tool I need to not start eating crap again. I'm certainly not going to sabotage myself after going to such extremes. But yes, I lack the will power myself to never eat crap again unless I have another tool in place.

For me, I have been easily able to stick to a low carb lifestyle post op, because I am not hungry and I can eat small portions. My issues with Atkins/Paleo/Keto etc has always been I was still hungry and over eating, even eating the right things. The sleeve makes it easy to stick to the lifestyle. I already had the will power but I was still over eating, and then I would stall and just quit. I can't quit with the sleeve.

There is no WLS that will give you will power. You can eat around the sleeve, the RNY, lapband, all of them. DS is probably the only one you can't eat around because it is so extreme.

Mentally you have to be in a place for WLS to work for you, or it won't.

I think it is good you are asking a lot of the questions you are asking but you don't really seem ready for WLS. It seems like something you are agreeing to because your healthy is failing, but you don't really seem to be at the end of your rope with your weight yet. JMO

Agreed. The lack of hunger once post-op has been a much appreciated aspect.

Oh believe me, there is no rope left. I'm not *agreeing* to do this. No one else suggested it to me. This is a decision I'm making for myself because I can't live like this anymore. I rarely leave my home anymore because we live on the second floor and my knees can't handle it. I have very little to wear because I can't shop in the stores near me, nothing fits anymore. I take 3 different blood pressure meds everyday and it STILL is high. No, I'm ready to do this.

Plus I have a minimum of at least 6 months to get the rest of my questions answered.

I have no intention of *eating around* my sleeve. Hell no. Not after all the hoops I'm going to have to jump through to get the surgery, and the pain and trauma to my body of the surgery itself. Nope. Not going to make all that be for nothing. So will the WLS *give* me willpower? No, of course not. But it sure as heck is going to supplement the willpower I already have because I WILL NOT fail this time.

Sounds good.

Remember....we were answering your original question. You've taken it to a new level of resolve, which is all very good.

The other tool that I've found to be highly effective with losing fat: EXERCISE

In fact, I'd rank the post-op tools in the following order of importance:

1) Lack of hunger

2) Exercise

3) Restriction

The way exercise helps me is on several levels.

One is in terms of understanding what a calorie feels like. Punch in your stats on any treadmill or elliptical and hop on and do some work for an hour. Get off and see that you burned enough calories for 2 candy bars and you'll never again won't a candy bar. You'll equate that sweat effort with willpower and you'll understand how bad junk food is.

Another way is in how you'll feel after sustained exercise. You'll feel better all day....and even better the next. Add some weight training into the deal and you will really start to feel GOOD.

The effect it has on your body will soon become visible. Tone and structure. Improved posture. An easier stride. Clothes fit better. All the sudden you'll SEE it. Others will see it, too. It becomes another way that your willpower to resist junk food is strengthened.

You'll be a whole new person before you know it. It can occur overnight, literally. For me.....it happened when I was sitting up in my easy chair one night. I couldn't make it to bed. I couldn't do much else but sit in that chair. I'd been sitting there for six weeks. Six weeks of going to PT sessions and taking meds to get past a back injury. One night I couldn't sleep.....just like the night before.....the meds and the pain had me wide awake. I decided that night to make a change. To find a way to get my legs beneath me and to change. By the time the sun came up the next morning I had a gameplan. I knew that wls would be part of it. I lost a nice chunk of weight in the next couple months and then had my VSG. It's been game-on ever since.

It all came back to that one night.....everything that's occurred since was set in motion on that night. I'll never forget how bad I hurt then....unable to move or even breath deeply without crazy pain. Never again will I let fat be a contributor to that type of situation. I want this stuff burned off and turned into fuel.

I have a hopeful eye to the future of how I'll adjust my diet once my body has burned the onboard fat for fuel. It'll be an interesting place to be.....another phase to live in. Looking forward to that.