is it possible???

I started at 432. I'm now 386. I haven't had surgery but am in the process of getting things done for the sleeve. BUT, is it possible to lose the weight without surgery? Has anyone around been able to do that???

 Anything is possible...however, I was just commenting tonight that if it weren't for the complete change in diet that I committed myself to for the first 2 years after surgery AND the expense I went through financially and mentally - I don't know if I would have the motivation to continue to live the necessary lifestyle to maintain my weight loss.  I could not have done it for the long haul without the help of the WLS tool.

 Tracey,
I did it twice without surgery through Overeaters Anonymous and then FA (Food addicts in recovery anonymous).   I gained it bck both times.  That is not a reflection of the methodology but more a statement about how it is a brain and thinking problem - this obesity.   I know that surgery is just a tool and I have known many folks who've had the surgery and gained all the weight back as well.  

I wi**** was just a done deal where I would lose the weight and be able to adjust to the new life and stay in a healthy body but there are so many facets to this affliction.   

The short answer is yes...there are ways to do it without surgery.   They are all just tools....we need an entire psychic change to be able to stay in a healthy body...in my opinion.

 Yes, it's possible.  But no, I was unable to have success with doing it sans surgery.  I lost 25-50 pounds over and over again... and always regained them, plus some. 

Surgery isn't the route to go for everyone.  But it was right for me. 

It's possible, but not likely to last. I believe the stats are that 2-4% of people who lose weight w/o surgery are successful at keeping it off.

Whereas about 50-70% of people remain successful if they have weight loss surgery.

I did it once before w/o surgery and gained it all back- this time...it's permanent!

:Danni

I think anything is possible if you put your mind to it... However I lost a lot of weight multiple times and kept it off for about 2 months and something triggered old eating habits... My WLS is a tool that I will use going forward ... and use it for the rest of my life... I paid too much money not to!

I've lost large clips of weight many times in my life.  Each time just to put more back on.  Then when I got to my highest weight I needed a solution that #1 could get me ALL the way down and #2 a tool that could help me stay there and not have the regain. 

My most succesful weightloss was with Weigh****chers.  I say successful because I learned so much with the meetings.  I still use so much of that in my everyday life and thought processes.

As others have mentioned... Anything is possible.  Just pick a solid stratedgy that works for you and go with it :)

Good Luck on your Journey :)

Brendan

Congradulations on the weight you have lost. i think its hard work. I am pre op also. And yes i believe that you can lose the weight without the surgery. I just dont believe it will stay off. I think there are many reasons wls is so successful but the fact is the odds say it is in keeping the weight off.

I dropped from 400 to 250 on Weigh****chers between 2000 - 2002. So, you can lose weight the "old fashioned way."

Then I got an injury, quit exercising, started eating like old times... headed right back  up to 388 before I had surgery in 2009.

The surgery is really just a head start on losing the weight. You have to work on the head stuff that caused you to abuse food or you will fail. 

If you go back to eating crap, regardless of the surgery you had, you will probably gain back some, if not all.

Keep plugging along. Any weight you can lose preop is good. If you're doing really well and decide to opt out of the surgery, good for you. But realize, surgery or no, you have to do the work to lose the weight. Nothing's magic.

Good luck.