Should I still do this?

Hey folks,

Just joined - my first post. I've been referred for surgery, so just starting the journey...but I keep seeing so many people talking about regaining. I feel terribly for them, but now I need advice...should I still do this?

Even those who have regained, are you glad you did this? Truly?

I have spoken to some people who swear it was the best thing they ever did...but they are the successful ones that come to the support group....are there even more who wish they had never done this?

thanks for any thoughts.....

regain does absolutely happen...however it is extremely rare for people to regain all their lost weight back. average long term loss is about 50%. I started at 260 and am currently at 140. if I regain to 200 I won't be happy, but I'll be a hell of a lot healthier than I was at 260. I of course like most don't plan to regain and will be vigilant with my food so that I don't.

People who are part of support groups statistically have better results. So you want to remain successful long term? follow the example of those in the support groups. it is not that successful people go to support groups, it is that people who go to support groups are more successful. also some data suggests those who get plastics to fix skin also tend to maintain their weight loss (scheduled for next year).

My current planned maintenance range is 140-150. if I drop below fine. but this is the range I feel healthiest in.

Thanks so much for the response. I really appreciated you taking the time to respond and I like how you phrased this, gave me confidence.

Totally worth it. People *****gain don't eat like they should. It's a lifestyle changed

HA ! agree...and thanks so much. I am already starting to work through the food changes and 'thinking' changes needed.

I kind of have to disagree. I was in my 50's when I had surgery and seriously never had a pound of regain. It can be done

Thanks...I am 50 now...so really appreciate hearing that from you.

Regain can happen. 5 lbs here, 5 lbs there. And before you know it - you are up 20-30 lbs. you did not gain all the weight in just a few months or a year. It just piled up, year after year, little her, more there.

A year post op RNY I lost bit too much and I had some complications so at one time I had a problem eating enough to gain. So I stopped tracking, I started drinking wine with my dinner. Way too much wine. But wine helped me get more food in me without being in pain after. I stopped just moving around (exercise). And gradually, over 2 years, I gained 35 lbs. 10 of it was on purpose - the rest - just came along. But I still was "normal" size 8-10-12. Hardly "a big person". But my back went out again... and my doc told me to lose 20 lbs. So I did. Losing the regain was a very hard work. And long. But I have my tool, and the pain was the motivation I needed.

So - now I am back to "skinny" but still with back pain, issues. Stuff happens. My weight and couple of car accident probably contributed to the herniated disks. Things like that happens to skinny people as well.

At least now - the pain can be better controlled. Except I can't take NSAIDs (Advil, ibuprofen, etc) and need to deal with the root cause - the spine.

But i am no longer told - lose the weight the back gets better. As you know there is obesity prejudice in medical field.

"I am tired all the time" - "Because you are heavy, lose weight."

My back hurts - "Because you are heavy, lose weight."

"I have allergies" - "Because you are heavy, lose weight."

etc etc..

do I regret RNY? Yes and no. Yes - because I had it very late in life so my body was already damaged - but RNY makes some condition worse. (i.e. food allergies, intolerances) ;

No- because now - I am " a Skinny *****" they have to deal with me and my conditions.

I.e. like Adrenal Deficiencies - that I probably had before RNY and I was "treating" that with coffee and sugar. The "pick me up stuff" when you have no energy to keep going, but you have to.

it is easier to deal with age related stuff when I am no longer size 20 but size 6. Even spinal injections are easier for docs to do, MRI - no problem with space in the machines. etc etc.

but - WLS- is just a tool for us - if you are dedicated - and plan to be dedicated - you will lose weight.

if you are very dedicated - you will keep it off. IMO _ losing weight is easy - with or without surgery. keeping it off is much easier post op RNY than it was ever for me. But I had to completely change what I eat. How much - as long as I make good choices - my pouch limits my qty.

I have a few friends who still think that the surgery should do more for them - they still eat the same foods as before RNY - just smaller qty. And they regained. Slowly regained. At least 50% of what they lost. Plus - they deal with health challenges post op RNY like vitamin-mineral deficiencies.

if I have to deal with the negative consequences of RNY - I better have something to show for it - like a size 6 body, with a relatively low body fat %.

I worry about older age - and possible nursing home. If I have WLS today -I would opt for VSG. I would gladly "gain" 20-30 lbs in return to a more normal life. Ability to eat "everyday" foods like a bite of pasta or a birthday cake without getting sick.

But - VSG can cause a severe GERD. So anyone who already has that may not be a good candidate for VSG.

Sorry for a long post.

Thanks Hala. I appreciate your long post and the pros/cons you discuss. I know that I have to accept that there will be a new 'set point' and I can't really control where that will be, however, I can eat well and exercise to support the new set point.