Hey Team WLS,

Wanted to post a proper farewell to the community before ghosting, since so many of you have been supportive and informative since June when I began classes at Kaiser.

As of last week, I'm just 5 pounds shy of 100 total pounds lost from my all-time highest weight of 426 pounds. The reason I decided to pursue surgery is that I plateaued—and thought then 70 pounds lost was the best that I could do.

Yes, the loss has been slow, but it is a fact: I've maintained this 72 pound loss over the last three years. Since starting the Kaiser preop classes in July, I've lost another 23 pounds (I learned about macronutrients and protein!).

I've been treading deep waters in the community for 16 weeks, and have gained invaluable knowledge.

Surgery, at least where I stand now, is not for me.

There isn't enough data for women of childbearing age, and I'm concerned about a host of issues. Short term? Yes: surgery addresses weight and the various complications that come with obesity. Long term? I want to see data on osteoporosis, and what the aging Bariatric population looks like.

I understand the very valid arguments for everyone who is pro-surgery, and I totally respect you for the decision to go under the knife—more so now. It addresses the immediate and/or looming threats of obesity...when the surgery is used as a tool.

In the past sixteen weeks, I've seen more trouble than not in the WLS Community, and quietly observing the trials and tribulations...at least in regard to **my individual case**, the surgery would make my quality of life terrible. From where I stand now, I don't want to spend the rest of my life not drinking Water with dinner. I don't want to worry about spicy things, mineral water, fruit acids, and knowing that I have titanium staples in my body. I don't want to have the very serious major surgery, and with the statistically guaranteed future weight gain, go through the mind-**** that is post-op guilt/freak out.

Currently the only comorbidity I have with obesity is the number on the scale; no issues with blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, etc. I've had long talks with the physiologist that is our class counselor, and my past injuries in running are quite common. The more active you are, the more likely one is to get injured, especially with running. Injuries happen; keep going. Strengthen. Come back better.

If I lost all the weight with surgery, I'd still be the same young woman I am right now, just smaller.

If I lost all the weight without surgery, I'd still be the same young woman I am now, just smaller.

...and at 5:00am right now, I am who I am. I weigh 330.4 pounds, am a size 20W, 2X. I surf, swim, do yoga. I'm strengthening my legs and am able to sprint for short spurts, working up to long distance running again. I travel the world. I was in a professional photoshoot 2 weeks ago for an upcoming event, and loved every single picture. This past weekend, I purged my closet, and literally donated 75% of my prior wardrobe instead of hanging on to the past 4-6X, 26-32W pieces. My life is fun, my brain is cool...and I am comfortable in my current body. There is always room for improvement and the human body is capable of incredible things—I will continue to pursue improvement and peak fitness, but I am also grounded in the present.

This is all telling in and of itself.

The only guaranteed outcome of the surgery is forced portion control. Physiologically, with surgery or not, our bodies will fight us to stay fat for our entire lives. It will always be a battle.

I'm giving myself until my next birthday to quietly and diligently keep plugging away at my weight now that I've learned information that has clearly broken the through plateau. In eight months, I will re-evaluate. Should I hit my benchmark of continued weight loss, I'll know I made the right choice. If I have gained weight back? I'll reconsider the surgery.

For the surgery OGs that stepped in to provide tenured knowledge, for the newbies who shared their recent experiences, for those successful; but above all, for those who are struggling, I am inspired by you.

All of my love, and thank you,

—K

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@fatgirlsvelte,

Thanks for the update, and good luck to you! It is wonderful that you have found a weight loss path that is working for you, and we are all rooting for you and proud of you for finding your way.