So way back last September I started the process of getting gastric sleeve. My starting weight was 469 and needed to lose 130 pounds before the doctor would okay going through with the surgery. I had lost 60 pounds eating right and exercising. I was doing so well I went and got a new job which is working in a factory for 10 hours. I didn’t see how to maintain the eating schedule and the needed water that I cancelled my appointment and that took me out of the program. My old job I was able to take days off to make appointments which is an hour away. There was no way to continue my appointments. Now i quit something I had worked on months for for a job I totally HATE. Could be that I hate it so much because my legs and feet are in absolute pain while working. I wish someone had a real talk with me when I started. I thought it was a good move my husband works there, it’s a good wage and there’s a 401k. I have lost another 10 pounds bringing my current weight to 398. So I’ve jumped hurdles from where I was with numbers but in my ability to do physical things but now I just don’t know.

42 minutes ago, z0nk3y said:

bringing my current weight to 398.

42 minutes ago, z0nk3y said:

So I’ve jumped hurdles from where I was with numbers but in my ability to do physical things but now I just don’t know.

Take all the positive steps you can: (a) protein shakes as meal replacement at least once per day, (b) steady, gentle exercise as often as you can, (c) a bit of random/intermittent fasting, if possible.

As for (b), I have found the joy of swimming ... next to NO PRESSURE on joints and limited pain following exercise. Just wade (chest-deep) or breaststroke slowly for as long as you can each day. [That pre-supposes you have access to an affordable pool where you are. Mine is $1.75 per visit ... open time.]

I’m on my feet daily for ten hours. I barely can walk when I’m home. When I started though I couldn’t walk a street with out sitting down so I have worked myself up from where I was. Thank you for the protein shakes idea though.

5 minutes ago, z0nk3y said:

I’m on my feet daily for ten hours. I barely can walk when I’m home.

All the more reason to consider swimming

OR ...

a gym with a lot of machines where you can exercise on your back on sitting.

In my program, all those visits were good for a year. It's a factory job. Take 2weeks vaca and the do FMLA. I don't think they can legally fire you for needing a surgery. If they do then there'd be one helluva lawsuit! Sorry you're going through this dilemma!

I don't think you'll completely need to start over, after all you're down 70 pounds "the hard way"! Can you take vacation in increments? Or is it too soon? Do you not have vacation yet? At my job, I couldn't take FMLA until I'd been there a year. But, anyway, you are making steady progress and that's fantastic! You may need to have the surgery later than you'd like, but nothing you've accomplished so far is "wasted", it's an investment in the new you!