Good luck, Amber!  Long term weightloss can be accomplished without surgery. First, I'll say-losing weight is pretty easy. All of here are expers having lost and regained hundreds of pounds. The real challenge, surgery or not, is long term maintenance. 

To lose, I used a bodybugg and carefully tracked every calorie to cross my lips. I also run or bike almost everyday. I continue to eat an extremely healthy diet. I don't get a day off or a cheat day. If there is something I want I might have it in moderation....once. I've remained strict with myself and I believe that is what my success has hinged on. I have many "drug" foods that I don't consume at all....

When people say it is a lifestyle change they aren't kidding. My habits are completely different at 140 than they were at 300....and if I return to my 300 lb habits I am certain the weight will creep back on. 

I am here to cheer you on!  :)

I am 4 years out from VSG and lost 200 pounds. I continue to lose about 2-3 pounds a month. 

I eat according to "the rules" - protein, about 3-4 ounces, then veggies, & then if there is room a few bites of a starch or grain. No drinking for a half hour before and after meals. No carbonated drinks. No alcohol. Drink as much water as I can or, other liquids to reach 64 ounces a day. 

Breakfast is usually a half cup of oatmeal with nonfat half & half and artificial sweetener. Lunch usually some protein. 

It is not an easy fix but it takes hard work. No fast foods. An appetizer portion is sufficient if we go out to dinner . 

I started at a size 32 and now wear a size 10. I have never felt better, nor do I feel deprived, either. Chocolate no longer has any appeal, but new clothes do. I don't have to look for a sturdy chair or worry that the chair I sit in may break- it did happen once , but never again! 

Good luck on your journey. I hope I am able to help you. If you have any questions , you can contact me here. 

I should also add that I do take a multivitamin twice a day, along with Calcium + Vit. D, iron, B12 (liquid sublingual), and a fiber supplement (Konsyl - i take it 3x daily).  I also don't snack in between meals.

Thanks so much for such a thorough explanation. If you're able to eat so many healthy fats, how are you able to stay under 700 calories?

Hi Grits - i did not do liquids like most gastric patients have to do. I limited my calories to 400-600 calories per day.  I omitted sugar, processed foods (so no bread, flour, rice, pasta) and starchy veggies.  I ate lots of tuna (albacore tuna too) and chicken breasts, red meat, lamb.... drank whey protein after an intense workout... and most importantly, DO  NOT BE AFRAID TO EAT HEALTHY FATS (ie grassfed butter (unsalted), coconut oil, olive oil).  Contrary to popular belief, you need fat to burn fat.  Now, patients who have had WLS can't process fat the way we can, so that's why their diet is low-fat.  I notice on days when I have a higher fat intake (of the fats i mentioned above), my weight drops the next day. 

I am still on my weight loss journey, current weight is 192 (need to update my ticker).  But now that i have added more healthy fats to my diet, my caloric intake is around 850-900, and I'm still losing 2-3 lbs per week (my fitbit breaks out my macronutrient percentage, and I'm now eating 60-75% fat; 20-30% protein and around 5% carbs).  I am doing a dexa scan next week to get my exact body fat composition, so it will tell me how much body fat i need to lose.  When I was eating around 500 calories, here was a typical day for me:  breakfast - scrambled eggs (Eggland's best organic, 1 whole egg + 2 egg whites), 2 slices uncured bacon (Simple Truth @ Kroger's.. or any uncured bacon that has no added nitrites or nitrates); lunch - Starkist Albacore Tuna or Hickory Smoked Tuna (these are like 110 calories or less) and one sugar free jello cup; dinner - 4 oz broiled shrimp.  I always strive to drink at least 60 oz of water and green tea throughout day.  Sometimes, I drank an Atkins shake (this brand has around 9g fat, versus other brands that have 1g or less - Healthy FAT keeps you satisfied longer!!).  So don't be afraid to cook your eggs with real butter or your steak for that matter.  There are all kinds of diets out there, but you need to find one that YOU will enjoy so it becomes a lifestyle for YOU... and you won't want to quit.  I hope I've helped you some.  Feel free to ask me more if you like or want more detail.

Molly