Started the process

I still wish I could do it on my own but, it's just too much to do. I was thinner for 4 years in my youth I barely ate and exercised min 2 hours a day. I'm 47 I can exercise moderately but not excessively. And I enjoy food too much.

I think this surgery will still allow me enjoy food the end result not the liquid phase and eat less. Hoping for the miracle cure to my weight problem.

Any advice? Am I wrong? Does anyone regret surgery?

There is no "miracle" and in fact the stats are not great long term.

You have to commit to lifelong lifestyle change to be successful long term.

I'm 17+ years out from an RNY and am considered successful but boy, it is hard and as you get older, it gets harder.

I'm healthy because I follow all the rules - 1200 calories (less every year), 12k + steps, supplements. If you're willing to do this, go for it!

I'm just over a year out and I don't regret surgery, I regret not staying committed. The first 3 months I was on cloud 9 but then fell and have struggled with eating according to my meal plan and then slowly stopped exercising. Now I'm back on track and seeing my doctors/dieticians more frequently to help me stay accountable and I have a gym membership which I enjoy. If ever you feel like your not sticking to your plan, reach out immediately and know your not alone in your journey. I never thought I'd go to therapy, but it has helped me express my feelings/mood towards food. My therapist is such a great support person and helps come up with new ideas to curve my hunger for fast food, chocolate, and pastas-I over indulged. Wish you well on your journey.

it's not too hard the first few months, but after that, the challenge begins. Hunger returns, you're able to eat more, and bad habits start creeping back in if you don't monitor yourself.

I'm six years out and I have to monitor myself carefully pretty much all the time. Fortunately, I can eat in the 1500-1700 calorie range (that's going to vary for everyone depending on a number of factors) and maintain my weight. If I'm exercising a lot (which for me is 45-60 minutes cardio 5-6 days a week, plus two days of weight training), I can eat on the high end of that range - if not slightly over occasionally. But honestly, a lot of my never-been-obese women friends have to do the exact same thing. It's kind of a rare person who can pretty much eat what they want and never gain weight.

and no - I have no regrets. Zero. Best thing I've ever done for myself!

hunger doesn't return for everyone. I'm 11 years out and still feel no hunger.

yes - you're right. It occurred to me later that I should have added that. It returns for most - but not everyone. And there are also some people who never lose their hunger at all.

Thanks everyone I realize I have to watch what I eat, was doing more research I just think it'll be easier to maintain a lower weight. But after reading some remarks it's just as hard to maintain a lower weight as it was when I was young. Wondering if I really even need surgery. I can starve myself and exercise like a freak and be thinner. Do I need surgery for the same end result?

You can search the forums past posts "was vsg worth it" and see many great responses. Surgery is not for everyone. In my case regular diet and exercise would only take me so far before I gained it back and then some. I tried so many ways to lose weight, but could never get close to my ideal goal of being under 200. Vsg has all the tools, support, and long term focus I need to make healthy changes. I can't stress the word "commitment" enough! Although I've struggled to keep losing, there's not a point where I give up like I've done in the past.

if you could do it on your own AND maintain the loss, wouldn't

you have done it already?

it's a challenge to maintain, yes. But it's do-able.

the problem for me (pre-surgery) was getting to that point. I tried and tried and tried for decades (I'm in my 60s - had surgery in my 50s). On my more successful attempts, I'd lose 50-60 lbs. More often, I'd lose 10-20 lbs. But in any event, within a few months, the weight would pile back on, and I'd be back at square one. I had over 200 lbs to lose. I knew there was no way that was ever going to happen if I couldn't even keep 50 lbs off.

surgery was the only thing that worked for me. It kind of "resets" everything so that you can keep going as long as you stick to the rules. I lost all of my excess weight - 235 lbs (I've gained back 20 since then - although that's not uncommon after you hit your lowest weight)

I do have to monitor myself closely to maintain my weight, but as I said above, so do most of my never-been-obese friends. But the point is, I never would have gotten here without the surgery.