Question:
Will I still lose even if I am not a big eater?

Im becoming concerned because although I make poor choices and do not exercise, I am not a big eater. I wonder if this surgery will be effective, or as effective since I am already not taking in a large amount of calories.    — [Anonymous] (posted on January 5, 2001)

January 5, 2001
Anyone who is at least 100 pounds overweight consistently takes in way more calories than they burn up. Some of us are a bit blind to how many actual calories we used to consume. Making poor choices likely includes a lot of empty calories, it could include a lot of "grazing" on such choices and the calories add up and up and up. Certain surgeries will not help you as much with these problems as other surgeries. I'd highly suggest you get RNY gastric bypass surgery as it has side effects that would be advantageous for someone such as yourself -- it makes you unable to eat sweets and highly fatty foods (at least usually it does, at least for the first few months.) I hope this helps.
   — Cindy H.

January 5, 2001
Actually, there are people who do not eat a lot and yet still become larger. I am one of them. Much research has gone into explaining this, and all of it explains that the more you diet the fatter you get. Due largely to the process of your body learning to live on fewer and fewer calories. I myself don't eat a great deal. I don't graze either. I will eat three small meals a day and sometimes a snack. I also don't eat a lot of candy or high fat foods on a regular basis. I think my biggest problem stems from a great deal of inactivity and of course a malfunctioning thyroid in my early twenties. I have not had my WLS, but I am hoping the malabsortive aspect will help me lose weight and keep it off. I will say that it is true that the quality of food is important as well. But people often make the mistake of assuming because they eat a lot, that means everyone does. We are all different, and not every fat person is fat because they stuff down a package of donuts at one sitting. I have never done that. But, I do know people who are emotional eaters. We all need to remember one thing, to encourage everyone to eat good food and exercise. That is what I intend to do with my new year! Good luck.
   — Diana M.