Hey guys im 28 years old 6ft4 470 pounds, However I don't look as though I weigh that much. I have always been a bigger person in life, even in child hood. I have always been active and through out my years as a teenager, I played every sport you could think of. Football was my love and passion so at 6ft4 380 pounds as a senior linemen I received numerous of scholarships to play on the college level which I did. Once I completed my 4 years of college and injuries kept me from a shot at the NFL I stopped working out and reached my highest weight of 470. I knew something was wrong so I began to diet like crazy and I lost a large amount of weight within 1 year. I dropped down to 357 with my goal of reaching 260 I began to work even harder. Then unexpectedly my fiancé got pregnant and my whole life changed. next thing you know I have a 2 yearold and im now back to 470. Im at a loss and I need to lose this weight. a part of me feel like a punk for considering the surgery but another part of me is like I need this too live. I want to see my kids have kids and not pass away like my dad did at the age of 44. Help anyone!!!!

After many years of being overweight and then obese, health issues (diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, GERD) started to take hold of my body. It was like I was in a death spiral. I had RNY gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago and lost significant weight and that put all these health issues into remission. There are trade-offs in life. I traded my love of food for good health. I don't regret it.

The best advice we all can give you is to do your research.This is not the easy way to lose weight but it can help.I imagine at your weight now you are overwhelmed.If you decide this is right for you you need to be 100 percent in.It will change you.If you are using food to comfort you that will be gone.It is not any fun to give up all your vices and crutches and deal with what is bothering you.You will trade your habits for a new life.It is worth it.But only you can decide if this is the right time or process for you.

Not to hurt your feelings, but you likely look as big as you weigh. We tell ourselves we don't and family and friends will say we don't, but we do. A friend recently told me my jeans looked painted on when I mentioned I was having lapband surgery. It stung. She said she didn't tell me before because I complained about my weight and clothes, but this was the first time I mentioned I was scheduled for lapband and she felt she could say the truth.

Think about how you look and feel now. Don't think about the past or the reasons that brought you to today. How do you feel right now? Do your knees hurt? How is your back? What about getting out of breath? Does your chest hurt? Are you able to get down on the floor to play with your child? Now decide if a surgical tool will help you versus no intervention. Regardless you will have to eat less, move more, change your habits to lose weight. Now look at yourself and think if you have the "consistent" ability and willingness to sacrifice to reach your goal without surgery. For me I knew I needed help to be consistent. I had gone off the wagon too many times and years are going by.

Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

I could lose weight, then I would gain it back plus a little, then I would lose it again, gain it back again plus a little.. and on and on. It's good that you are considering all options avaliable, read the forums, research, research and then research some more and then make an informed choice. That doesnt make you a 'punk' it makes you sensibe. Best of luck with your decision making and remember, WLS is a tool, not an answer.

Really glad to see you here

Honestly its weird I don't look my weight, even doctors are amazed when they look at the scale. I guess from years and years of constantly lifting weights .

Only you can decide what is best for you and yours. Obviously, you losing your father at such a young age is probably weighing hard on you. You are still young and strong so you should be thinking in the long terms of your choices. Think of your family, I'm sure they want you with them. Being young now is a big PLUS. Take control of your eating now. You may not look as big as you are but...your body knows. I would try to prevent now. Good Luck in whatever you decide to do. I look forward to following your journey.

It's your decision, but I would say to have the surgery. You'll only put on more weight over time, and then get more and more obesity related illnesses. There is nothing wrong with using medicine to get you to where you want to be. Especially now that you have a family that needs you to be around, it's important to think long term.

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The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

As for feeling like a "punk"? Thrust me when I say this is NOT the easy way to lose weight. After having major surgery you will have to follow a very restrictive diet plan that accounts for every bite of food and every sip of Fluid you consume till you lose the weight and then comes the hard part, you have to have the discipline to keep that weight off for the rest of your life.

On the plus side you get to see your kids grow up and probably (at least) a thousand other fantastic things...

Like not being stared at in the mall, not needing a seat belt extender, not being afraid a chair will break under your weight, going on the rides at Disneyland....

This surgery is a tool..........would you play ball without all the right and best equipment?....would you work on your car without the right tools?......Same thing with this surgery it's a tool that will help in your weight loss. Good luck!

Thank you guys, I understand that the process want be easy. Im just ready to start something new. Even though im perfectly healthy right now, I know the toll this weight can take on my body. I can already feel the pain in my knee lol, My insurance will even cover the surgery, I just got to make a choice whether or not to do the surgery or continue working out and focus on losing the weight that way.

The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner.

As for feeling like a "punk"? Thrust me when I say this is NOT the easy way to lose weight. After having major surgery you will have to follow a very restrictive diet plan that accounts for every bite of food and every sip of Fluid you consume till you lose the weight and then comes the hard part, you have to have the discipline to keep that weight off for the rest of your life.

On the plus side you get to see your kids grow up and probably (at least) a thousand other fantastic things...

Like not being stared at in the mall, not needing a seat belt extender, not being afraid a chair will break under your weight, going on the rides at Disneyland....

Oh that lovely feeling when you sit in a plane and you clunk and click without an extender and then try to guess the inches overlap you have... I will never get over that !!

It's your decision....you need to do what's best for you.

But....sounds to me you are a classic yo yo dieter...up and down ... and then all over again.

When I had my WLS my BMI was 36 which is on the lower scale of obesity but I still was considered severely obese.

I kidded myself that I didn't look too bad. I took before and after photos...and now at a 23 BMI ...I can see a massive difference.

If I used your stats properly you BMI is 52.

Before surgery I had the feeling I was a bit of a cheat by choosing WLS.

But now I'm on the other side of it, I know I could not have done it on my own.

To loose a lot of weight you must dramatically reduce your calories for a long time. It not like just losing 20 pounds.

After surgery for the first one to six months most of us who had WLS are likely to get six hundred calories in per day. Without surgery I wouldn't be able to sustain that for a week!

Be honest with yourself, look yourself straight in the eye and ask yourself if you can do it on your own......again..and then keep it off.

My doctor said obesity is a disease and that's why in most cases we need medical intervention.

It's a big decision to make, and as I said you need to do what's right for you.

Good luck in what ever decision you may make .

I realize it s a tool and that's what I feel I need. Thanks for your help I think I need to atleast schedule a consultation with a doctor. Also kudos to you kmorri almost 100 pounds in 6 months. That's great.