Hi everyone,

I have been reading posts for a little while now, but this is my first post. I am a 40-year old guy, and I live in New Orleans with my partner of 7.5 years. I have battled my weight for entire life. When I was 21 years old, my parents and I went on Phen-Fen together. That was the first time I lost 100 pounds. I have yo-yo'ed ever since, losing 100 pounds another two times in my life, and 30-50 pounds more times than I can count.

Last year, I had to travel a lot more than I have had to in the past many years for work. (I am a Delta Diamond if that means anything to any travelers out there.) All of that travel meant eating for convenience and drinking more wine than I would if I were at home. I was already heavy before (370 pounds), but by December 2015, I weighed 397 pounds.

My family had been encouraging me to have weight loss surgery for about a year. (My dad had a gastric bypass many years ago; my mom had the sleeve about 3 years ago, and my brother got the lap band about 2 years ago.) After seeing the nearly-400 pounds looking back up at me from the scale, I agreed that it was time to do something about my weight once and for all. And my partner was ready to deal with his weight as well. (He started at 316 pounds, so he wasn't in quite as bad a place as I was then. For the record, he has lost about 70 pounds himself, so I am super proud of him!)

I was finally able to get in to see my PCP in February, and had my first of six consecutive monthly appointments with the surgeon's medical staff that is required by my insurance on March 3. I had two weeks of filming work in California right after (something new for my team and full of stresses), so I didn't begin my weight loss journey until March 21. In the past 5 months, I have lost 83 pounds while going to see the surgeon's staff once per month. This morning I weighed 314 pounds. (In case anyone is interested, I have done low carb/high protein/high healthy fat. I keep carbs below 20 per day -- usually below 12 per day. I have reduced my calories from 2000 to 1800 to 1500 to now 1200 for the past many weeks. I have cut alcohol out completely for now to conserve the calories. I walk 5 days a week, involving inclines and such for a majority of these 45 minute sessions. The surgeon's staff did give me a phentermine prescription, so I have been taking that since early April.)

Now, I'll get to the point of my post if anyone is still reading...

I had my sixth diet visit, and I am waiting on insurance approval now. It's been about a week so far, but they say it can take up to 30 days, so the surgery will likely be sometime in early October. I have been reading everyone's posts about the surgery itself, the pain (or lack of), the changes, etc., etc., etc. Some days, I wonder if I should really go through with it, or just stay the course with what I am doing. But, then reality sets in -- I still need to lose at least 100 more pounds, and really, I'd like to lose more like 125-135 more pounds, so I need to have the surgery. I am worried that since I have lost so much weight on the front end that I will lose weight slower after the surgery and then be disappointed (especially after putting my body through all of that trauma and altering the way I will have to eat and drink for the rest of my life).

Can anyone offer any perspective on this? Specifically, can anyone speak to losing a lot of weight pre-op, and how you transitioned to weight loss after the surgery? The surgeon has already said that I do not have to do a liquid diet before the surgery because of all the weight I have lost. I just have to fast the day before.

Please forgive the length of this post, and I hope to hear from some of you soon.

Here's what I think for me. I've lost 80 pounds before. Gained it back plus 20. Lost 50. Gained it back plus 30. I've done other diets lost a few, gained it back. I'm tired of yo you. Grant it surgery is only a tool but I know I'm not going to be able to loose what I need to be healthy. I started 288 in March. Last time I chrck I was 270. I go for my 6th weigh in Friday with projected surgery date Sept 19. I'm 41. I am a diabetic , have fibro, my joints hurt, arthritis in my knees. And none of that will change unless I can radically change my life. I've proven that I can't do this on my own on a longer term basis. I look at all the money literally wasted on gyms I never went to , weight-loss programs that never really worked. I've figured out my triggers emotionally. Im learning to cope other ways.I am working on putting things in the past and not harping on it. I need this permanent change to help me be healthier and live life for me and not vicariously thru watching others. Since I lost a few pounds, that thought of doing on my own crept in but I sat down and looked hard at facts and that thought disappeared quickly. For me this is my best way to be healthy. Risks of not doing it are too high.

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Here's what I think for me. I've lost 80 pounds before. Gained it back plus 20. Lost 50. Gained it back plus 30. I've done other diets lost a few, gained it back. I'm tired of yo you. Grant it surgery is only a tool but I know I'm not going to be able to loose what I need to be healthy. I started 288 in March. Last time I chrck I was 270. I go for my 6th weigh in Friday with projected surgery date Sept 19. I'm 41. I am a diabetic , have fibro, my joints hurt, arthritis in my knees. And none of that will change unless I can radically change my life. I've proven that I can't do this on my own on a longer term basis. I look at all the money literally wasted on gyms I never went to , weight-loss programs that never really worked. I've figured out my triggers emotionally. Im learning to cope other ways.I am working on putting things in the past and not harping on it. I need this permanent change to help me be healthier and live life for me and not vicariously thru watching others. Since I lost a few pounds, that thought of doing on my own crept in but I sat down and looked hard at facts and that thought disappeared quickly. For me this is my best way to be healthy. Risks of not doing it are too high.

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You make very good points. I actually had my Medical Clearance examination with my PCP today and she and I talked about it, and she made many of the same points you are making. She also put my fears to rest about not steadily losing after the surgery since I have lost so much pre-op. She said as long as I do what the surgeon tells me to do, then I will continue losing at the same rate or better than I have been losing the past 6 months.

Good luck as you continue your journey!

Wow I felt like I was reading my own story! I know exactly how you feel! I have been up and down and lost and gained back what I lost plus more.

When I started my 6 month weigh in appointments, as well in April, I was at my heaviest at 519.5. My doctor said because of size limitations at the hospital they cannot do surgery on anyone over 450 pounds. So right from that moment I knew I had a goal for the 6 months! Well my last appointment is Sept 13 and so far I have lost around 95 pounds!

I as well have worried if the weight loss after surgery will be steady or will I plateau!? And I have also thought to myself, do I need this surgery? I am losing sometimes up to 45 pounds in a month. I have been on phentermine as well and man does it work! But I know I still have almost 200 pounds left to lose and I need this surgery to help me through this! Everyone solves their problems differently and I need this surgery to help solve mine!

I do have a goal of 120 pounds lost before my surgery though and working hard everyday at it! Keep up the hard work!!

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Wow I felt like I was reading my own story! I know exactly how you feel! I have been up and down and lost and gained back what I lost plus more.

When I started my 6 month weigh in appointments, as well in April, I was at my heaviest at 519.5. My doctor said because of size limitations at the hospital they cannot do surgery on anyone over 450 pounds. So right from that moment I knew I had a goal for the 6 months! Well my last appointment is Sept 13 and so far I have lost around 95 pounds!

I as well have worried if the weight loss after surgery will be steady or will I plateau!? And I have also thought to myself, do I need this surgery? I am losing sometimes up to 45 pounds in a month. I have been on phentermine as well and man does it work! But I know I still have almost 200 pounds left to lose and I need this surgery to help me through this! Everyone solves their problems differently and I need this surgery to help solve mine!

I do have a goal of 120 pounds lost before my surgery though and working hard everyday at it! Keep up the hard work!!

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Look at you! Congratulations!! I have set a goal of 100 pounds down by the time of my surgery (which will likely be in early October), so I completely understand where you are. Hearing from people like you is what is going to help me feel so much more at ease as I transition into the next phase of the journey.

Keep up your good work and your hard work. You are doing amazing things!

Here's what I think for me. I've lost 80 pounds before. Gained it back plus 20. Lost 50. Gained it back plus 30. I've done other diets lost a few, gained it back. I'm tired of yo you. Grant it surgery is only a tool but I know I'm not going to be able to loose what I need to be healthy. I started 288 in March. Last time I chrck I was 270. I go for my 6th weigh in Friday with projected surgery date Sept 19. I'm 41. I am a diabetic , have fibro, my joints hurt, arthritis in my knees. And none of that will change unless I can radically change my life. I've proven that I can't do this on my own on a longer term basis. I look at all the money literally wasted on gyms I never went to , weight-loss programs that never really worked. I've figured out my triggers emotionally. Im learning to cope other ways.I am working on putting things in the past and not harping on it. I need this permanent change to help me be healthier and live life for me and not vicariously thru watching others. Since I lost a few pounds, that thought of doing on my own crept in but I sat down and looked hard at facts and that thought disappeared quickly. For me this is my best way to be healthy. Risks of not doing it are too high.

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You make very good points. I actually had my Medical Clearance examination with my PCP today and she and I talked about it, and she made many of the same points you are making. She also put my fears to rest about not steadily losing after the surgery since I have lost so much pre-op. She said as long as I do what the surgeon tells me to do, then I will continue losing at the same rate or better than I have been losing the past 6 months.

Good luck as you continue your journey!

Good luck to you too!

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