Hello. I am 44y old male and I am seriously considering SG. I am 5’7 and around 195 lb. I know this is not too obese -I am in fact BMI 31- and normally bariatric surgery should not be an option. Yet, after extensive literature reading I believe it is a good option. I have high blood pressure , high cholesterol and early non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Moreover , I have been always struggling with weight issues since I was a teenager, alternating times of physical activity and good diet habits -and a relative healthy weight as a result - with bad periods of overeating and sedentary behavior. All in all, the aggregated tendency is adding up weight on the long run.

My wife is highly critical of this decision, blaming me for taking the “easy way” instead of modifying my eating / physical habits. I’ve tried to explain her several times the apparent inconsistency of deeply wanting to get rid of my weight problem with the fact that it is nevertheless not easy at all. She’s naturally skinny and cannot grasp how fat/obese people relate with food.

I’d love to hear from those on a similar situation. I believe it is the right step to do, but I want to hear open, sincere opinion -so not just for reaffirming my choice but rather to have well grounded , unbiased, facts for a well informed decision.

Thanks so much for both of your replies. It does encourage me a lot. I had yesterday an ultrasound in preparation for the surgery , and was told I am grade I Non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Plus my high blood pressure and high cholesterol. All in all, I am more reassured today. In fact , I started thinking about SG as a mostly aesthetic issue to my overwheight, but now I am paying much more focus upon the positive health issues.

The best thing is have her go with you to appointments, and she will soon see how this is not the “easy way”. We have to change everything about how and what we eat for the rest of our lives, and if we slip up we can have even bigger issues

i did not let my husband go to appointments, and now I’m wishing I had, because he would have heard everything from the professionals and having me repeat it, but he has no idea what I have to do other than what he sees me doing from day to day

On 10/26/2022 at 4:00 AM, SpartanMaker said:

Hmm, I look at it completely the other way around. How I wish I'd done this when I was 44, or even better 34, instead of waiting to my late 50's.

I think of all the opportunities to enjoy life I passed up on because I was too fat. How many opportunities to do things as a family did I pass up on because I was to heavy to do them. How many times did I stay home instead of go out because of my weight.

I also think of the fact that I lived decades in pain that probably could have been avoided had I been healthier when I was younger. How many of the 15 plus surgeries that I've had could have been avoided? How many of the conditions like diabetes, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure could I have avoided entirely had I done this decades ago?

I think of the fact that I now see the same patterns of disordered eating showing up in my grown children and have to wonder if I'd addressed this obesity disease when I was younger, could I have modeled healthy living for them and perhaps have broken the cycle? I have to wonder if now it's too late for them to see me making health changes and make their own changes as a result.

So yes, how I wish I'd done this while I was "awfully young".

I completely agree with you. I'm 57 and had my sleeve 11 weeks ago. How I wish I had done this when I was in my 30s or 40s as I also feel like I missed out on so much due to my weight! Already feel its the best thing I've done and down 17kg (38 lb).

I say go for it! It's a great tool to help with our weight loss journey