New here, hoping for some support.

I am just starting out my journey and hope to find support and get some questions answered since I have a lot. I weight 258 pounds now and am 5'3" I am 35, no kids, and have tried so many different diets I just want something that works. My doctor said to try reaching out to others for their experiences and recommended this website as a place to start. Hoping to get some guidance!

Hi Haleyy, and welcome to the forum. I was 275 prior to surgery, and am now 127. I'm 5'4, so our situations were pretty similar. I was very concerned that WLS wouldn't work for me, since diet and exercise had failed, but as you can see, I've been successful.

You'll find a lot of good advice on here. People will give you a balanced view; they won't try to talk you into anything. We know that surgery isn't right for everyone, and it isn't always the right time. You have to be mentally prepared.

One bit of advice: While you're considering surgery, and before surgery, only tell the people who need to know. This will help you avoid a lot of negative comments from people who don't know much about WLS but heard a scary story via the grapevine. After surgery, as the pounds come off, you can tell more people. The reaction you get will usually be better (no point in trying to talk you out of it once it's done). And even if someone does give you grief, you'll be able to shrug it off more easily because you know it's working.

Thank you, I never thought of that. I'm glad I haven't really mentioned anything to anyone and will take your advice into consideration.I am usually a pretty open person so keeping something like this will be different. I appreciate you commenting and with what I have looked through, your representation of this website is more than accurate. I hope to gather as much information, especially from those who've walked the path.

The current obesity rate in the US is 39.8%. Another 31.8% are overweight. it is close to impossible to overcome obesity without weight loss surgery. About 97% of people who lose 50 or more pounds on their own will gain it all back within 5 years.

Those people would greatly benefit from weight loss surgery, but most will never get it. They may not have the money or insurance coverage to get it. Or they may be too afraid and swayed by other's opinions.

In many ways, weight loss surgery was the easy way out for me. I had surgery, felt great after a few days, went back to my life, and just never got hungry again. The weight fell off effortlessly. After a few years, it was harder to maintain the loss, but never as hard as before surgery.

I do track what I eat, weigh myself daily, and get plenty of exercise. I know which foods are right for me and how much I can eat without regain. My life would have been very different without surgery. It is possible I would not even be here at all have I stayed obese.

I never even thought of the surgery as being the easy way out. I feel that I have fallen exactly in the middle of that statistic. I have lost and gained so much but this last year was an eye opener for me. I have yet to see if my insurance covers it but I know people at work who have had it and have the same insurance.

Welcome! You are amongst good people here.

Thank you! Have you had surgery? I've gotten some great stuff even being here 24 hours!