Let me have it! Opinions and advice welcomed!

Hey all~      Okay here is my story in a nutshell. I'm 5'5,270ish, and soon to be 26yrs old. I'm a first time mommy to my son (1yr. old) and I am hating myself. I am so tired of being fat. Have been my whole life. I have recently considered WLS, but just don't know if I should give the old diet and exercise a try again. I did the Weig watc thing before i had my son and lost almost 40lbs. I've considered all* too. Anyone know if that really helps? I haven't done any over the counter diet pills or anything. I also have a friend (aerobics instructor) who has offered to help and teach me working out stuff 2 times a week for nada. So, I have a lot of weight to ditch, and I just don't know what to do. I find myself getting so frustrated trying to decide, and thinking about my body lately it's throwing me even farther in the dumps. Please let all your opinions, advice, whatever fly. All the help would be appreciated. Don't worry about hurting my feelings, no one can be a bigger critic than I am to myself. ~Frustrated and Confused~

It's very simple.  Eat less and move more.  Become educated about nutrition, what is good to put in your mouth and what is not.  Optimize your energy, take advantage of your friend with the aerobics offer.  Do it all. I'm not being short with you, not at all.  I'm telling you that it is fairly simple.  Read the posts on this board, check out some profiles, see what has worked for others.  Be accountable!!! Put down what you eat, track your food, drink your water. It's simple.  Have I mentioned that before?  Oh, and by the way, it's about the hardest simple thing you will ever do.  sucks, huh? One important this is to be honest with yourself.  How hard have you worked it in the past, how long have you allowed it to actually work?  We didn't gain it overnight, we won't lose it overnight.  It has to be a change of life -- yeah, that cliche' -- or it won't stick.  It has to be something that sticks for life, something that you can live with, something that feels natural while you are doing it. Eat less, move more, figure out what works for you. Please keep coming back!  And good luck.

Well since I'm still a mess myself, I'll give an opinion...WLS does not and will not ever negate a healthy eating pattern AND exercise.  Meaning even if you do choose WLS, you will still have to do all those things Donna mentioned and take about a dozen pills daily...forever.  I can sympathize with your frustration and confusion because I experienced it before WLS and to the umpteenth degree afterward when the scale began to creep up again.  On the bright side of things, you're still young and you've got a little one that is ready to run you ragged at the drop of a hat!  I don't care if it's 5lbs or 50, it always starts with that first pound in the right direction...take the time to think clearly about where you want to be and the steps you can feasibly take to get there.  Free always sounds good (unless it's a cheesecake sample at Sam's Club!) so take your friend up on his/her offer.  If cost is an issue and you have a YMCA conveniently located near you, they offer free or significantly reduced memberships if you meet financial criteria...even WW offered scholarships at one time.  All in all, turn that frustration into motivation to be a healthier you and the weight loss will be a pleasant side effect!  Be blessed!

I'm going to agree strongly with what Mommy here said-- WLS is quite literally just like any other life-long dietary change. It's not magic. You don't have the surgery and then eat what you like and drop weight (although the press surrounding it makes it seem that way-- like it's some kinda magic)--- some try, and fail---miserably. I lost the 68 pounds pre-surgery exactly as quickly and exactly the same way I lost 100 pounds post-surgery. It's not a magic bullet, just a tool. Initially, you malabsorb fat, but that lessens a lot after the first year. Initially you have a very tiny pouch or stomach, but that grows significantly with use. The ONLY way anyone is successful long-term with WLS is by watching what they eat, accounting for their calories and nutrition, keeping portion sizes small, and taking nutritional supplements for life. You can easily overeat (especially carbs, which pass through your system easily) and regain every bit of what you lose. I see it every day. Some call that a surgical failure: I call it not using your surgery "as directed." WLS is very much user-dependent: you still have to do a lot of work, just as you do dieting. For me, there's been literally no difference. As far as taking 12 pills a day for life goes-- I suspect if most obese people had labs drawn, they'd have malnutrition issues serious enough to require supplementation as well. Most people in North America, for instance, are Vitamin D deficient, just because of the lack of sunlight, especially in Winter months. I take 25 supplements a day-- but my surgeon only requires three. I like to make sure I maintain my health istead of having to take corrective action once something breaks. As for the cheesecake sample-- hell, I'd eat it (and I do)-- I just account for it and plan my day so it's possible. I eat lots of lovely treats, just in very small amounts.

True story...had a sample of that cheesecake yesterday (except it was Death by Chocolate- chocolate cake/chocolate cheesecake/chocolate mousse)...I must have blacked out or something because when I came to, I was driving home with two large pieces of said cake sitting next to me in the front seat !!!  Apparently, someone at my local Sam's decided it was a good idea to start sell these delectable treats in "individual" portions so those of us who are saved only by the fact that we will not bring a cake for 10 into our house of 2 won't feel left out...THANKS SAM'S !! BTW...that cake was so wrong on so many levels, I couldn't even enjoy it...ate about half a piece over several hours and tossed the rest this morning!

On Special Occasions (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) if the Sig Ot and I go out, we split a dessert-- and I take 4 bites. I discovered that's what I need to have more than a taste and less than "OhMyGodImGonnaDie." But I don't ever buy stuff like that and bring it home, uhh uh, noooo way. Sample lady got me today though with a storemade barbecued chicken breast stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese and wrapped in bacon. THAT, I can make work-- I just cut it in half first!

Hi tme! I am a WW fan, so that is worth a try again, and again, until you get it right. It's good because you don't leave any food out, portion control is learned, and the accountability piece is there.  Exercise alone will not do it, someone used the percentage of 80% food management and 20% exercise, and that is about right. For a select few, exercise alone does make a difference, but most of us don't work out hard enough or long enough to do more than slight damage control on a couple big portions a day. Unless you are a competetion level athlete! Even then, those guys do not push that envelope tooooo far. If fast food is an issue, stop that crap right now - just set a goal for one week clear of "that kind" of food. If it's sweets,again, set small goals of one day, then three days, then a week. If soda, same ole thing.  Like for me, it was usually too much any food..a calorie is a calorie whether you overeat 3 apples a day or one snickers bar...you just ate about 300 calories too much. I really thnk i was of the mind that if one sweet potato is good for me, then what must three do for me? (except negate the good effects! LOL) You DO have to move every day - even ten minutes, but pick your own block of time and keep it sacred - no whining, no excuses, just do it. Every. Day.  And...don't kick yourself too much. This is hard to learn how to change your life, walk ten steps, fall down nine, but always give yourself credit for making small changes.  Each one gets you strength to find your path. Glad you are here....hope to see you more!

Neecee~      You are right on so many levels. I think it really is portion control for me. That and the quick meals (fast food). I have definately decided that I am going to give WW a run for their money again. First meeting is tonight! I can't wait. I've got the proactive me back. I'll keep everyone posted.