Keeping weight off - Decisions to make

i started another thread asking veterans how they keep the weight off after surgery. So many of you answered and I appreciate that. The advice I got was consistent- be careful of what you eat, weigh and measure, count calories, etc. my reaction to that is this: if what is needed is to watch what I eat (low carb) and count calories, then why even have WLS? Why not just count calories now? 

So I cancelled my appointment with the surgeon and joined Weigh****chers again. But I am beyond discouraged. I am willing to do the leg work, track and so forth, but I CANNOT control my appetite! 

I am open to any advice or direction. I have so many health problems and giving up is not an option!

There is a difference between counting before and after surgery.  Yes, you can gain it all back after if you don'****ch what you eat, but I have a bigger advantage now since I had surgery. 

I could count calories all day long before surgery, and drop weight,  but I would always give in and start eating bad again without any repercussions other than I started gaining weight.  

Now, if I over eat I am MISERABLE.  I have tried to do it presurgery, and was good for 6 months to a year,  but then when my willpower faltered, I'd go back to over eating.  It was a nasty cycle and I ended up weighing more each time.

WLS is not a quick easy fix,  but it is a tool that has helped me lose over 100lbs, most in the last 6 months.

I wish you luck,  you have a long hard road ahead of you,  and I sincerely home you are successful.  

I had tried all of the weight loss programs since I was a teenager in high school. Also worked out! Nothing I mean absolutely nothing had worked as well as my RNY. This was my last hope and I was determined to make it work. It is only a tool. Plus having this site OH has been a blessing to me. Do what is right for you and good luck to you.

Robin

Your stomach is about the size of a 2-liter soda bottle.  It takes a lot of food to fill that up.  After surgery my pouch was about the size of the bottle top on that soda bottle.

Before surgery I was always hungry and more hungry if I was dieting.  Eight years after surgery I have no hunger and a very small stomach to fill when I do eat.

Not having an appetite and not being able to eat much is the difference that RNY made for me.

because WLS is a tool. It levels the playing field for us. There is something wrong with our appetite control mechanism,etc. 

counting calories without WLS is just like pounding nails with your hands. You can't do it. Using a TOOL like a hammer to pound nails ,makes it possible. 

IMHO,you should cancel WW and reschedule your surgeon. If you could lose with WW,all these years,why haven't you? 

I tried measuring and counting calories for three years, and ended up less than 10 pounds from my starting weight. That's when I realized I needed help, and pursued surgery. Surgery gave me control over my appetite.

Hope this helps... http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2015/09/life- after-weight-loss-surgery-q-a_7.html 

Best wishes in your research,

You posted this a few weeks ago:

"I'm 47 and weigh 250 pounds. I've tried countless diets and failed."

I felt the same way and was tired of considering myself a "failure". I dieted my whole life. I needed a new plan. I had my RNY when I was 42. Weight loss surgery gave me my life back.

It's much easier to weigh/measure/count calories now that my stomach is the size of an egg and not the size of a football. It is still work but much much easier.

Weight loss surgery is not for everyone and we all get to make our own choices. I wish you the best.

The surgery helps control the amount you can eat. Eat too much and you will get sick. It still involves good choices and staying active, but I can get satisfied now on so much less food. Best of luck in whatever decision you make. I wish I had had my surgery at your age and not ruined my knees with all the extra weight for all those years!

About six years ago I came to this site and felt the very same way. I figured I could just apply the eating principles of one who had surgery, without having it.  I didn't do it and came back weighing more than I did when I was here before. Mind you, I can easily say I've never been one who was always hungry, I just ate to eat. So appetite certainly we not my issue. I'll say the little bit hunger I did get was eradicated with surgery, and has yet return. Certainly makes things easier.

There is a non surgical weight loss board here, try it anything to get healthier is worth a shot.