Seriously thinking about getting the sleeve but have questions.

Hi. i been seriously thinking about getting the sleeve done for years but i always put it off. i have researched it(pro/cons), went to a seminar, and had an ex go thou the RNY about 14 years ago and sat thou many classes and support groups. I ask myself this question and i would really like peoples input on this. I just turned 40 and i feel that is worth doing the surgery now or have i wasted to much time. I was a fat kid, fat adolescent and fatter adult and i feel the years of abuse on my body from beening obese(eating bad and abusing my insides). I'm afraid i will get the surgery and due to age and years of abusing my insides i will not get a chance to live a post obesity life. i know it's irrational but it is something that holds me back.

Thank you.

I had wls at 54, lost 150lbs and enjoy being very active at 59. We're all very fat for many years, or an entire lifetime prior to wls. It's never too late to enjoy being healthier.

I had a sleeve at 61 and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. I feel 10 years younger than the 65 that I am now and have been told that I look the same. Before my VSG, I looked and felt 10 years older than I was.

The surgery and adjustment afterwards were much easier for me than expected. That is not necessarily always the case but I was very motivated and lost 1/3 of my excess weight prior to surgery. I am way more active now than before surgery. Previously I couldn't walk a block without my back and knees killing me. Now I walk 3-5 miles daily.

Past and current pictures below as I know that I looked at many before and after pictures prior to doing it.

I had surgery at age 55. Lots and lots of us on here had it in our 50s and 60s - and we occasionally even see a person have it in their 70s. So 40 is definitely NOT too old - in fact, I'd say having it in your 40s is pretty normal - I see lots of people having it in their 40s.

You can expect to live for another 60 years. That is a long time to enjoy being slim and healthy.

I had VSG at age 58, so you're nowt but a young'un. My recovery was quick. I felt only slight discomfort (I wouldn't really call it pain) and slight nausea, and both were gone within about 12 hours. Not everyone has as easy a time as I did, but the point I'm making is that being older doesn't mean your recovery will be difficult.

Getting the sleeve was definitely one of the best things I ever did. My BMI is normal, and I have so much energy now.

I had RNY at 41 and have enjoyed the last 16 years immensely.

Not one day of regret

I wish I could have gotten the sleeve when I was 40. Finally got it when o was 55 and it was hands down the best decision I ever made for myself.

You say "I know it is irrational" but it is not irrational if you have a concern. I do know that the best person to ask about this is your primary care doctor. That being said, the process does include many pre-surgery screenings in order to insure you are a good candidate for success. I had to be cleared by a cardiologist, pulmonolgist, gastroenterologist, mental health provider, and primary care doctor in order go have the surgery.

The bigger question is, are you willing to live now as if you had already had the surgery? Are you willing to make the changes required to be successful.

I write this as a failure, not a success. I had the surgery over 10 years ago and have regained all my weight back again. I did not change anything except the anatomical make up of my digestive system. I did not put the emphasis on treating my body in a non-abusive way.

You need to decide whether to stay where you are in life, in fear and worry, or step forward in power and truth to decide either to have the surgery and change you life, or to embrace you life you now have.

On one of my recent doctor's visits, she told me either I needed to do something to lose the weight or begin to make plans for my life where I will not be able to take care of myself without help. You need to make the same decision.

In my opinion, I?d suggest doing it throughout the day in various activities rather than in a single workout. For instance when I run a 5K, I burn about 400 calories. When I swim a half mile, it?s about 300. I forget what I burn on a bike ride, but it?s a bigger number because it?s relatively easier to ride for two hours than to run or swim that long. Where there are apps that shows how much calories have u burnt per day whereas i used one of them for my records. Trying to do a 2,000 calorie workout in a limited range of activities, and without rest and recovery intervals, risks straining the muscles involved. Your goal should be to prepare your body to do it all again tomorrow, not to do a week?s workouts in one day and then lay in pain the rest of the week.