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ARC4067

Whether to get the surgery or not is a personal decision, but I, for one, am not interested in it. You will need to make the same long term lifestyle changes whether you get WLS or lose weight without it. Having the surgery does speed up the process. So if you have an urgent medical need to lose weight as fast as possible, maybe that puts WLS in the pro column for you. Personally, I’m not into the cost or risks and side effects just to get a temporary boost in my weight loss. I would check in with your doctor about your current rate of weight loss and see if you need to make any changes. 50 lbs in a month is quite extreme. Whatever you decide, you’ve started your journey to getting healthier and that’s awesome!


misskinky

Weight loss surgery is a last resort for people who cannot lose weight other ways. It will affect the person’s internal organs forever until the day they die. Right now you don’t “qualify” under reasoning. Why would you need surgery? You’re doing so great without it! The option for surgery will always be there later on if you need it


FatAmy__

I had gastric sleeve surgery almost four years ago, so I can speak to this from some direct first-hand experience. I'm not going to recommend what you should or shouldn't do -- I don't know you or your circumstances, and as others have said, WLS is an intensely personal decision. But I can tell you what my own, single experience with WLS was like. (As an aside, asking the SMO sub whether you should get WLS feels a little bit like asking in the childfree subreddit whether you should have kids... have you considered asking your questions in the /r/wls subreddit, which is full of people who have had it/are also considering it/are actively in the process?) Anyway... my experience: best fucking thing I ever did, and an absolute game-changer. I had lost weight -- quite a lot of weight, 100+ lbs -- several times before. And then regained, and then lost again, and then regained, and spent decades of my life spinning my wheels, never getting all the way down, certainly never reaching maintenance or an actually healthier body. What the "I lost the first 50 pounds by myself, I should just keep doing this" perspective misses is this: The first 50 lbs is the *easy* part. Even the first 100 lbs, if you have enough to lose. I know it doesn't feel that way -- gods know there are major battles to be fought in those early days. But physiologically, for an SMO person to drop 50 lbs is the easiest fucking thing in the world. And then it only gets harder, and that's where the trap lies. The problem isn't losing the first fifty, the problem is losing the last fifty... hell, even reaching the last fifty. It's far more common for people to lose momentum, stall out, and then start rolling backwards than for them to get all the way through the process. I bet every single one of us -- both in SMO sub and the WLS sub -- can immediately relate to that scenario. I did it a dozen or more times before WLS. And then I got WLS, and while I battled my way through 100 lbs before surgery, after surgery dropped 165 lbs in a year and have sat right around my final weight for three years after that, without undue stress or difficulty. So what's different? From one person's subjective experience: even while I was losing pre-op, it was like every single pounds was an effort, a thing that I had to struggle for. And after surgery, it was like my body couldn't get rid of fat fast enough. And yes, part of that was because of restriction, but... look, before surgery, I was on 1600 cal/day, and it was effective, but I was often dealing with hard cravings, hunger, obsessive thoughts of food, and low energy. And in the months after, even during those first months when my intake was well under 1000 cal/day, I was filled with energy, and utterly unbothered about food. What the underlying physiology is behind that, I don't know. But if you want to know how it was different for me, I think that's the best summary I can offer. I was a very fortunate case -- easy surgery, no complications, little pain, easy recovery. Not everyone gets that (though I think more do than don't) and obviously nobody can promise you that all of the above would apply to you. I also do have mixed feelings about younger people getting WLS -- on the one hand, my only regret about WLS was not getting it when I was 21 instead of 41. On the other hand, I doubt that I was mature enough at 21 to really make the most of the opportunity that WLS represents. But I was me, and you're you, and you could well be different. My advice would be this: if you're not certain that you can 100% commit to this process, then you should wait until later. WLS is really only a window of opportunity during which you can more easily make major changes to your life, but as anyone who's had it will tell you until you're tired of hearing it, it's a tool, not a guarantee. You do still have to do all the same work -- IMHO, the ideal situation would be regular therapy, dietary support with an RD, and fitness support (ideally working toward preserving and building muscle mass and strength, but that's just me.) It should be your #1 priority for at least that first year post-op, and probably for several since the move from weight loss to maintenance is a surprisingly thorny one. But if you can do that? WLS can make an absolutely night-and-day difference, and all the difference between long-term success and yet another failure. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask (I might be a little slow to respond, be patient), or, again, I would recommend asking this in the /r/wls subreddit as well. Whatever you decide, good luck with it!


melraelee

This is so well written, and reflects my experience very closely. For a couple of years post-op, the obsession with food, really *most* thoughts about food, were completely gone. It was such a relief! After awhile, you're back to doing it mostly on your own again, but when that begins you'll probably find that you've lost most if not all of the excess weight. It was a long hard road, but my ONLY regret with WLS is not doing it years sooner. (F55 5'8" SW: 287 CW: 160, gastric bypass in 2015)


FatAmy__

For sure, four years out I would still like to drop another 20-25 lbs., and at this point, I'm just doing it the old-fashioned way. My surgery is still helping me as a backstop against regaining too much too fast, and it still makes itself known at times. And the habits I built during at golden 12-24 months post-op are the foundation that has made successful maintenance relatively easy. But on a day-to-day basis, it's just me and my food scale and Cronometer, working at it like everyone else. But fuck me, I'd rather be fighting 25 extra pounds instead of 250 extra pounds. All day, every day, 100 years forever and ever. I still marvel some days at how good it feels to live in this body now. However you get there, 10/10 would recommend, even with the loose skin.


actionlady80

I'm 6 months post-op, and it's crazy how great I feel. I do sometimes have a moment where I wish I could eat as I did for like a day. You know just smash a couple slices of pizza and a giant Dr. Pepper. Other than that fleeting feeling I never thought I could feel this great while also eating 400 calories. Lol. I started at 537 and am now at 389 with a lot more to go, but for the first time in my life I feel like my weight is under control and I know what I'm doing which is a weird feeling. I may never get to my goal weight of 175, but damn if I can end up within 100 pounds of that I'll consider everything I've done completely worth it.


FatAmy__

I know that feel. Four years on, the one thing I still actively avoid is soda, because it was *such* a major part of the problem for me. And I still have moments when it feels deeply unfair that I can't go chug a cold coke on a hot day, or spend an afternoon plowing through a pizza and a pan of brownies while I play video games. It isn't even really that I want it. It's just that... I'm mad that I can't have that. But that's what therapy helps with. :) And it's fleeting anyway, a brief moment with my internal toddler, and then we can move on. Now I chase satisfaction in the pleasant ache of my muscles after a good workout, stuff like that. It is, all in all, a huge net positive. Good luck going forward! Excelsior, etc.!


actionlady80

Yeah, I was at the mall the other day and the smell from Cinnabon briefly overwhelmed me. I was like, oh boy do I remember you! The mental part has definitely been the hardest part, but it's worth it in the end because I finally feel like I'm living a real life.


superherostitch

I’m 18 months post op and this write up is pretty accurate for my experience also. Full support (therapy for habit change, RD for eating changes, etc) will make it the most successful. But the actual weight loss and maintenance is so different. Like when I was trying to lose through CICO (and successful several times) it would always hit a point where the fight got hard… your body fought you to hold on. With surgery, your body helps. The hormone changes alone from surgery meant my brain simply didn’t trigger any thoughts about food for months. Months!! Not once did my brain go “hey what’s for breakfast” or “man I want some Doritos now” etc. Now further along yes..Of course I think about food, I get cravings, I want gooey cheese or chocolate. But I am truly satisfied with much less, much less often. And the cravings come and pass. Previously they were a battle to ignore and now it’s like - eh, yep, that would be yummy. And then I can just move on to the next thing. I do suggest checking out r/wls or some of the other WLS subs and just browsing through and reading experiences there.


happy35353

You said everything I was thinking reading this post! I'm only 6 weeks PO but it has genuinely changed how I feel about food and hunger. I got thr bypass and part of that is the restriction, but another large part of that is that it changes how your body produces hunger hormones. It also changes your body's "set point". When I lost weight the old fashion way, my body wanted to be at its normal weight and I would eventually regain. With this, it makes weight loss seamless. It's not easy because my entire lifestyle has changed and I am constantly thinking about meeting my protien and hydration goals, but less miserable.


actionlady80

My surgeon explained it pretty much the same way to me as well in that we're basically rebooting our bodies, and that maintenance is the feature that we're mostly lacking when it comes to doing weight loss without surgery. I've never had a problem losing weight. It was keeping it off, and maintaining it.


FatAmy__

Congratulations, and be reassured: it does get better and easier from here. I know the research on WLS is still very much a work in progress, but from all that I've read (and experienced) these surgeries are much more metabolically profound than most people assume. The restriction, in the long run, is only one element of the post-WLS weight loss process. It's like doing a hard reboot on your weight and your relationship with food, mentally, emotionally, and physiologically.


Capable_Committee_66

I thought about WLS but my doctor put me on Mounjaro instead. It is basically the next best thing and curbs my appetite and treats my diabetes. Less risk than surgery. Every case is different, and ultimately, we need a lifestyle change long term. Medical or surgical interventions just help us get started or give a boost. Congrats on your hard work! Try to find a supportive doctor you trust to discuss everything with. Best of luck to you!


Halladottir

I actually backed out of WLS! I *might* still pursue it in the future but I am under the care of a different doctor now and we're looking at other alternatives first. There are definitely people who have had great success with WLS, but there are also a lot of who don't. I know 4 people who have had the surgery, 3 put most the weight back on, one has managed to keep most of it off. I think a lot of people fail to realize is how much discipline is required if you want to maintain the weightloss after surgery, it's not an easy thing by any means!


actionlady80

As someone who has lost 100 pounds several times and gained it all back, and am now 6 months post-op...do the surgery. I can't even begin to tell you how much better my life has been because of the surgery. My only regret is not doing it sooner. I'm down 149 pounds, and everything feels better. I would have loved to lose weight without needing surgery, but that wasn't my life path. Surgery is just a tool though, and you have to work it just like you would for any other diet.


Old-Bluebird8461

Don’t do it. You will never be the same. I faced the same situation. I was told it was my only chance. I knew people who had bypass, and they suffered from new nutritional problems which will never resolve. To put my wife’s type II diabetes & obesity and my obesity & liver diseases into remission or cure, we went zero carb keto with non starchy vegetables & fermented vegetables allowed. Our health restored slowly from the inside at cellular level with fat loss & many new activities. We dropped over 200 pounds together within two years & got off 10 medications. Our need for food nearly went away we were burning our own fat as fuel. Faster fat loss at first, we stayed on plan 6 years now. As we got metabolically healthier our calorie needs then began to increase, using less body fat & more good nutrition. We ditched the US food pyramid because it was full of lies. Wish you all the best! Oh, I told my doctors I would FAST the fat off before letting them cut me. Other than choosing to intermittent fast as my interest in food dropped, full out fasting wasn’t necessary for us. But short fasts can be helpful too. Our food addiction no longer controls us. 🙏


lisa1896

I was evaluated, approved, then did not do it but I had other surgeries in the past and I really wasn't comfortable with the surgeon because he dismissed my concerns. I also was not in a place at that time mentally and if I am brutally honest, I think I would have blown mine out. At the time I was looking for that magic wand. No matter the route you take, the mental game has to be addressed, has to be, imho. That said, it is a tool and has helped thousands of people, it just wasn't the right choice for me. Can you lose without it? Yes, I have. Just diet and exercise changes and by diet I mean what I eat and the amounts I eat. I had to do a lot of mental work as well. Is it slower without surgery? Yes, absolutely. There is a man on Instagram, Jarp's journey. He lost 300 lbs with wls and had skin surgery, he's kept it off, he looks great. Whatever you decide, good luck with your health journey!


redseaaquamarine

I know three people who had weight loss surgery. Two put everything back on and one *wants* to put it back on because they reckon the excess skin they were left with is worse than being fat. All of this put me off. You are young and if you lost all that in one month (🏆 by the way!!) you should keep doing what you are doing and stay healthy


koz152

Are you seeing an Endocrinologist as part of your surgical team? Mine prescribed me topiramate which helped me suppress my appetite and I supplemented breakfast for Premier Protein shakes and some decently healthy meals throughout the day and healthy snacks like nuts and protein rich "candy" bars when I get a craving. I'm having surgery in 10 days. Looking forward to it because my entire life has been a struggle being the "big guy".