Is it possible to lose weight and not have surgery?

I say "who cares what it is"... as long as it shows me a prettier number on the scale.. I like it!  ;)  Well.. not true... I'd be concerned if I was losing a lot of muscle mass..  lol

I just wanted to say keep up the good work. Make sure you read your labels and understand the sugars, carbs etc.. that is very important with being a diabetic.  I wish you the best of luck on your Journey. R

Thanks!  Just knowing there are others who understand makes a difference!

I was diagnosed 3 years ago with steroid induced type 2 diabetes.  With asthma and allergies, I had taken rounds of steroids so aI could breathe!  Because the diagnosis was early, I had no damage done from the diabetes. My doctor recommended the South Beach Diet book.  I bought it and applied it.  I had given up on losing weight.  But I soon discovered that as I controlled my glucose levels and avoided foods that made me spike, that weight had started to fall off!  I learned 6 weeks later in my diabetes classes that they felt I was not getting enough carbohydrates.  But my body responded well and I started to feel better.  I pushed harder and started to lose 10 pounds a month.  I also was not as hungry with high protein and low carbohydrates.  I took glucophage and tested 7 times a day to control the glucose levels. After I lost over 60 pounds rapidly, I discovered that my skin didn't fit.  It was getting loose.  I backed off from losing because I had never known that my skin would not fit with rapid weight loss.  I didn't know about this site then or I would have known what to expect and kept going. My A1c stays in the middle of normal now. Right now I am helping my husband with his meal planning and he is losing weight.  Now I need to get myself on track so I can start losing again too. Before my diagnosis, I never knew that glucose levels had so much to do with my weight.  Now I am still learning more about glucose levels and how my body works.  I understand better what my body needs. It is possible to lose the weight without having the surgery.  I hope I can lose the remaining weight and keep it off.  If I get to the last resort stage, then I would have the surgery if I can't do it alone. You are in a wonderful place where you can receive encouragement and ask questions.  We can support one another no matter which way we lose the weight.

I'm glad you mentioed the south beach diet.  When I ordered the atkins books, I also ordered the south beach diet books. (I got them all on eBay for 99 cents each plus shipping!)   My plan was to study both, maybe try both.  I found out the past week, after 3 years diabetic, what "carbs" actually were.  I was counting carbs all the wrong way.  Since I started on this site I have gained so much knowledge that I believe I have figured it out.  Since I completely dropped white potatos from my diet I feel like a different person in just one week.  I was poisoning myself.  I will never eat a white potato again.  Everyone says to do what my DR says, but I'm going to do what my body says.  My insurance only covered one visit to the dietition, and my DR just say "watch those carbs"  so I am going to do research and find out whats best for me.  My blood sugar was 112 this morning, it keeps dropping.  It stayed 300 forever.  It has been under 200 all week since I dropped the potatos and keeps steadily  falling.  Thank you for suggesting south beach, and all of the info.  All of the info I get from everyone gets me that much closer to my goal.  You're great! 

Of COURSE you can! You have to get that encouragement built up within you and RUN with it!! I'll be 50 in April... I'm 5' 2" tall. I started out in August at 218... have seen 235. I started out thinking this was likely going to be just like all my other tries the past 20 years... and my dh I KNOW thought that! I can hardly believe I've been doing WW for almost 6 months... because the plan I am on- feels like I'm NOT ON a plan! I am just making myself ACCOUNTABLE for what goes in my mouth!  I've lost 30 pounds- which is a little slow I guess- for 6 months. But it's still a 30 pound LOSS :)  You WILL LOOSE! Just figure out a plan- and WORK it :)  And oh my gosh... CLAIM that 5 pound loss! I've never heard that before... you earned it! Be PROUD of it!!!   I like the visual WW gives! You have lost the equivalence of.... a SACK OF POTATO'S!!!  YOU GO!!!!

OMG!!!A SACK OF POTATOS!!!  I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT LIKE THAT!!!!  I LOST THE SACK OF POTATOS THAT I DIDN'T EAT THIS WEEK!!  HOW WONDERFUL!!!!!!

I've only been dieting since 1-11 & I'm down from 352lbs to 325lbs as of this morning.  I never would have believed it, but for me the key is exercise...consistant, sweating (but not over exerting) exercise.  I have a recuumbant bike & the first day I used it for 5 minutes at 10mph.  The 2nd day I did it 3 times...5 minutes, 7 minutes & 10 minutes.  The 3rd day, 10 minutes, 4 times.  The 4th day (and for about 2 weeks thereafter), 15 minutes, 4 times a day.  Then after a couple of weeks I increased to 30 minutes, 2 times a day; then finally added an extra 30 minutes.  For almost 2 weeks, I've biked 3 times a day, 30 minutes each time, 14-16.5 mph.   I'm eating approx 2000 calories a day, 10% in carbs, approx 75 grams of fat & 25 grams of saturated fat (yes, I know I need to get that lower). Everyone's body is different, so what works for me, might not work for you.  But honestly, I'd recommend a physical & doctors approval & start (slowly) on a recuumbant bike.   I decided last month, that enough was enough.  I'm never going back to the way I was.  I track everything I eat & drink & exercise.  Its working for me. Good luck. Lisa

Logging everything is what I started doing.  I made a spreadsheet so it's something organized and consistant.

I agree with Kag. Track EVERYTHING! It keeps me honest with myself and it keeps me moving. I started 1/24/08 and am down at least 5#. It may be more than that but I honestly don't know what my actual starting weight was. All I know is I am down 5 since this past Friday, February 8th. I feel so good about that. If you aren't an exerciser, that's ok. The point is to get into the habit of doing it so even if you only walk out your front door and to the mailbox or something at first, it's ok. The point is to do it EVERYDAY. Gradually add to and before you know it, you have developed a habit for life.  Eating is the same way. At first eating less and eating differently is a struggle but over time it becomes habit and you don't even think about it any more. You just do it. Good luck and don't forget to track! Beth