PRE-OP but looking down the road....please reply

I am likely having RNY surgery in March. I am a "light-weight" I think. I am 5*4 and weigh 240...bmi is 42... My question is this...I only have about 120 lbs to lose and see so many post ops says that after 2-3 years they have regained 30-40 lbs...if I do that it will be a loss of only 50-60 pounds for me in the long term. Is it really worth having WLS for that amount of wt? I would love to have your opinions....

Only you can answer that question . Not us . Most of us here are doing great . Some have had bounce backs but for the most part .. we are all successful . I would love to know where your data comes from to suggest that so many have regained ??? I am almost 3 years out .. NADDA WEIGHT GAIN .. and I know several that are just like me here . Some do struggle to maintain .. but they have the tool .. and come here for support . http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/a,messageboard/board_id,5465/ If you are asking is it worth it .. I would truly suggest that you study this surgery more .. and do more question asking . And in a year from your surgery date .. . we will be more than happy to welcome you into our Grads Room .. Take care and best wishes on your journey .. Natalie 325 Starting Weight 127 Maintaining Size 26 to Current Size 3 RNY Saved My Life ! Let it save yours !!

If you will read the topic titled "grads-year out anniversary"written by tinkerbell and read the responses you will see a lot of people that are distressed about gaining weight,,,thats one place where I got my data.

It is just the laywer coming out in me ... but Your wrote: My question is this...I only have about 120 lbs to lose and see so many post ops says that after 2-3 years they have regained 30-40 lbs It is a lot different than being distresses about gaining weight . I stress everyday about it ... I have weighed every single day since my surgery .. and I always will . Please understand that this surgery does work , look around , not only this board but many others ... so many success stories .. Are there people that have significant weight gain .. yes .. why .. most did not get the head hunger undercontol , did not exercise .. forgot their plans .. but I am here to tell you that for the most part .. you can maintain a healthy weight with this surgery . My doctor told me that I would loose down .. maybe even become emaciated ... looking .. than I would have a regain of about 10 pounds . While I lost below his goal .. I have not regained .. look and feel healthy . Keep researching , listening .. asking questions .. is a good thing .. Take care, Natalie

Hi Deidra, I was considered a lightweight myself.....heck yea WLS was worth it. There sure is a possibility of weight gain......WLS is a tool only that we must work everyday. During the early days after surgery, the surgery itself does the majority of the work for you, you go through the honeymoon period that you literally cannot eat enough to sabatoge yourself. About 6 months or so (seems to be approximate time) post-ops start feeling hunger again and therefore have to make good choices. If you really follow the rules and retrain yourself during the first 6 months (don't take anything for granted), there is a good possibly you won't see a regain. I'm almost 2 years out, so far I can control the weight.....when I see a couple of lb gain on the scale I get serious and watch closely everything that goes in my mouth for a few days. Am I afraid of regain? You betcha, but being afraid isn't bad in this situation IMO anyway. Fear has helped me so far and if I can keep that fear and determination in the front of my mind, I feel I can avoid the regain. I have no regrets about WLS and would absolutely, positively do it again if needed. I'd also like to invite you to the Texas Message Board, there is a great group on the TMB, the board is very active, I think you'll meet some wonderful people that are super supportive. Best wishes, Dana

Hi Deidra. Only you can make this decision with the help of your dr. I am 2yrs post op and am maintaining nicely. Some do regain, but that doesn't have to be the "norm" or what will happen with you. For me this surgery has been the best thing that I've ever done~I hated being overweight, trying/failing many diets, etc. Good Luck no matter what you decide to do!!! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

I was a lightweight, also. My "team" told me that a 10% bounce-back is not all that uncommon. It usually happens when someone becomes too relaxed in the new life-style(i.e. slows down the exercise, stops being diligent with food intake, etc). However, a 10% bounce-back for you would be 12-ish#. That COULD happen if you're not careful. It's a lifetime commitment to make, not just that golden honeymoon period of 18-24 months. But, as others have stated, you have to make a decision that's right for YOU. Good luck! Julie BTW, no bounce-back for me, at least not yet and, hopefully, not ever!

Hi, Deidra! Another lightweight weighing in (no pun intended)! I am 5'8" and my highest adult weight was about 270 (several months before my surgery). I weighed 254 on the day of surgery, and lost down to 160 for my lowest. I regained to 190, and am working right now to get myself back to around 170-175 (I'm at 182 today). It was definitely worth it for me to have WLS. I had tried many, many diets in my life, crazy ones and sane ones, but had never been able to lose "all" the weight I wanted or needed to lose. I think WLS gave me a better chance at keeping this weight off. Yes, I have had regain, but I think I'm getting it under control, and I WILL learn how to maintain. Only you can decide if it's worth it to you. A lot of factors may play into your decision - such as your level of self-discipline, if you have food addictions, have you been obese a long time, or was it a relatively recent occurrence in your life, is it easy or difficult for you to lose weight, are you an emotional eater. Good luck with your continuing research, and on your WLS journal, should you decide to pursue it. Carlita

Sorry, I meant to type WLS journey! Of course, if you would like to write a journal, I'd be happy to read it and comment! LOL Carlita

Deidra- You have to remember this is a tool how you use it will determine how you will do. If you read the post about people who gain weight back you will notice that they all (usually) admit to going back to old eating habits. Know that wls isn't a magic solution, most of of if not all of us are food addicts. You have to find out how to control your addiction, thru theraphy, self help books, OH etc...... Deidra just research, research and research. One important fact that people often gloss over is most people never reach their goals weight. But this doesn't mean that wls wasn't sucessful, the most import thing is reclaiming your health. Studies show that losing at little as 10% of your body weight can improve your health. Wls is considered sucessful if you lose 50-75% (depending on the type of surgery you choose) of your excess weight, so for you that would be 60 - 90 pounds for you. For me personally, I'm going on 4 years post op. I am 30 pounds under my goal weight. I have been able to maintain/ manage my weight for the for the last 3 years. But I watch what I eat and exercise. I constantly monitor my weight....Theses are things I didn't do pre op. Bototm line is you have to really lok at yourself and decide if you are ready to commit to and make the changes necessary to keep the weight off Hope this helps. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Donna open rny mar 18 2003 282/141/140 lbl 1/9/2007