Hello all well i just went to the doctors yesterday and he said i am a good candidate for wls i was so shocked i was weighed and i am the highest i have ever been 458 and then told me the only wls he does is vbg so i am looking for info on people who had vbg and was this big or bigger and find out if they lost alot of the extra weight with the vbg i know its all about the way You follow the program but was wondering the % of people that did loss alot or not alot plus i guess i am looking for people to share why they chose this surgery over the others and if they r happy with there choice Thanks for all your help in advance 458-5'11 Anastasia

Lia, started to not respond because they still have my old picture up and my new one has gotten lost or something. The old one is me at 115lbs. more. I guess I am just going to have to send a new one again. I had to write because I had my VBG 11-17-2003. I am 59 and my weight was 257. My goal weight was 144. I weigh between 130 to 133 now. I was 135 to 137 but after the flu I have been hanging on to the new weight. I thought it would be too thin for me but I love it. I am wearing size 4 pants. I didn't wear that when I was younger. Your doctor is right. I am very conscious of what I eat now and eat very nutrionally. Of course I am not an angel and will have dessert and maybe something fried now and then but on the whole I eat very healthy. I have gotten into the habit of not eating a lot of starches. I eat protein, good carbohydrates, good fat and veggies. I also eat several times a day. I can practically eat what I want just small meals many times a day. I have not had any after effect from the VBG except acid reflux right after the surgery. I took Nexium for the first year and I have not needed it since. I excercise at least 5 times a week except for the past month because of back problems. I thought sure I was going to gain weight then but I didn't. I ate as I always did and I actually would lose a pound. I weight every morning of my life to keep everything in control. I am trying not to lose lower than the 130's. I never thought I would ever hear myself say something like that. Imagine the little smile I had on my face when my doctor told me to be sure and not lose any more. Even though I am thin I still remember the obese and it will always be part of me. Far from having any ill effects of the VBG, it has given me a new life. My blood pressure is low again, my sleep apnea is gone, I am having no more injections in my knees right now and I can now walk without a cane and guess what???? I have energy. I am 59 years of age and born again. I will always have physical problems with my back and sometimes regress in my chronic fatigue syndrome but I must say I am a new woman. I have a relative who had the RNY which is more invasive and you have absorption problems. Any way she has stretched her stomach out, even doesn't get sick eating sweets anymore. She did not change her behavior and use her surgery as a tool and has gained back half her weight and guess what she will still probably have absorption problems. You have to always work with it. The surgery is just a tool. After the surgery its all up to you.

Hi Kim, Big Congrats for you!!!! How exciting I will say a prayer for you on your big day!! Hugs, Sara 356/266/175

Hi Robin, Congrats on your weightloss!!!!!! Big Hugs, Sara 356/266/175

trust yourself calm down and focus I am going in 4/22 to do vbg and I also went through the should I syndrome especially when I was considering rny it seemed like too much for me I am comfortable with my decision to have this vbg I am happy about the new life that I am facing. I did a lot of soul searching b4 reaching this point I am confident that I want to be thinner and healthier and more attractive .I believe that this will do wonders for my physical stamina and self esteem. I understand that this is a tool and that confronting my demons food, poor self image, etc that will be the work. learning to love myself fully enough to put down the fork. and excercise I had to visualize my new regimen and new life in my mind first b4 I could claim it in the real world. This is my take on the situation Good Luck