Wonderful post. I would have loved to hear this whole conversation. We all know that there are some profound changes that occur with appetite and capacity with a properly performed sleeve and that different surgeons have different ideas about bougie size but thats only a part of the equation. The tool is a tremendous help and I couldn't have lost this weight without it but that doesn't mean it was effortless or different for me because my surgeon uses a small bougie.

And if if were possible to lose and maintain a large amount of weight there would not be so many obese people as no one wants to be obese.

So you are right that we all have to march to our own drummer in this journey and if someone has ignorant ideas about it and isn't interested in learning, then so be it. Not for us to get upset about.

Like you I am just grateful I finally got the right medical advice and the right procedure and that I had the determination to do the rest.

Diane

Great post Brandi.
When are people going to learn that surgery is only one component to this entire journey?

Wonderful, very RELATABLE post Brandi! 

You know what? I am a big proponent of getting a small sleeve for the best long term success. But that said, I am going to CALL BULL**** on her entire post! In particular this:

"Surgeries are based on surgical weight.  Not highest weight.  Not hormone levels.  Not family history.  It is the BMI on the day of surgery"

Bull**** bull**** bull****

First of all, sleeve size is based on individual surgeon preference. Some surgeons give EVERYONE the same sleeve. Some will loosen it up or tighten it up depending on individual cir****tances, but it's not like there is some formula based on BMI the day of surgery. That's just ridiculous. Only a moron would do surgery that way.

Secondly, there is no direct relationship between boughie size and success. Yes, there are studies that show that having too big a sleeve decreases your chances of success. But there are so many factors and it's not like everyone with a 32 f sleeve is exactly 2% more successful than someone with a 34 f. Again, that's just ridculous. Even when sleeves were made 2x as big as they are today, many people were perfectly successful.

This is what I think... when you are successful, some people are inspired by that and want to know what you did so they can maybe do that too -- or a least try it. But other people are threatened by it. Your success shows them that it is possible and that their lack of success is something they could do something about. So their response it to tear you down. They look for ways to discount your success and make it something that's impossible for them.

So... you aren't successful because you work very hard to be so. No, no, no. You are successful because your sleeve is smaller than theirs!

Yeah, right.

Yea, I agree.  I, also, am not of the mind that a smaller bougie is going to save you if you are hell bent on self destruction, and have seen PLENTY of folks who have small sleeves and surgeons with reportedly incredibly programs still not get where they want to be, or touch and bounce to a place they never wanted to go again.  I do not care how many studies or peer reviews you wanna cram in my face, I still believe that compliance is going to lie in the person ultimately, not the program.

I get that the more stomach is left the more chance of regain, especially with the thought that more ghrelin would be there than less stomach, but I am of the impression that the choices we make are going to win over bougie size if the only thing a former bad habit person has going for themselves is a small stomach. 

And the person she was defending is a person who is working on her 3rd WLS, has cycled through all the metabolic reasons why she cannot lose weight/cant/wont stop sabotaging herself with more carbs than her body can handle *and* lose, and so, I dunno.

It bums my heart out for the original person.  They assumed smaller amounts was going to work for them, with the first 2 surgeries, and it has not, so now they are trying to find another surgery so that maybe *this* time they can be saved from their choices.  Not the right surgery, should not have had surgery at all?  I dunno.  But either way, they are miserable and cannot/will not stop sabotaging themselves, and its a bummer.

Thanks friends.  I know that I am mostly preaching to the choir here.

I wish somehow I could split open my chest so my intent was easier read for the tender people, but I mean, dang! 

We wanted to much to change our lives, did not we?  Is defending self destruction really helpful ? 

I just cannot see that it is.

Brandi - You are so wise! Love reading your posts - they are always right on! It's like you are reading my mind (which can be a very twisted scary place sometimes!).

Thanks for sharing!