Theres a huge percentage of bariatric surgery recipients that regain literally EVERYTHING- landing eventually even larger than before they started the process.

This is usually due to lack of preparation before surgery and lack of determination and commitment to make the necessary lifestyle changes afterwards.

This is why insurance and surgeons require nutritional and psychological counseling before surgery now and usually require some demonstration that the patient can and is willing to lose significant weight pre op.

When I got my RNY nine years ago I was on a huge bariatric ward with probably forty or more patients. I talked with almost everyone as I was there ( walking every fifteen minutes per doctors orders ) for a few days .

To my absolute amazement NOT ONE had visited or heard of this website ( and though I told them about it and wrote down the internet address ) - not one ever joined here .

I did hear that patients were starving as they were told not to eat fast food and that was literally all they knew to eat - so of course they went back to it .
Also every single patient just about flatly refused to walk - even on the ward in front of the surgeons team!!! Often they literally refused to get out of bed - even to use the Bathroom!!!

I saw many of these original ward mates years later at my surgeons yearly party for his post ops . Many had struggled with serious health issues , some lost no weight at all , and some lost and regained and were hoping for a second chance through revision.

Very interesting... and made me VERY glad I actually followed my docs instructions.

I sure hope so. The first day was ok. The second day is a little rougher. I have moments of hunger and am irritated with my husband's lack of sensitivity. I just had to do the dishes and deal w/ his leftover food while I am starving. I am a little grumpy now, and I am not a grumpy person.....so that makes me grumpier! lol I know it will get better. I just needed a vent.

I don't know if I would have been as committed and capable if I had it sooner. I feel like I had it at the right time to do both the physical and mental work so I'm good with it.

OMG! I should have weight loss Surgery a lot sooner. Be at over 700 lbs I did not think it was possible for me to have weight loss surgery, now that I have had my surgery I feel alive for the first time. So my question is Do you wish you had your weight loss surgery a lot sooner

Hi Chris -- good luck with the pre-op diet, it's just one more step on your way. Whenever you are ready, please feel free to jump over to the RNY board; there is pretty much always a daily thread for support, tips, questions, etc with a good mix of vets (people that are 5 years or more post op); middle of the packs, and relative newbies. It's a great group.