Question:
I have been on diets for 35 years and have gainned and lost 60 lbs. many

times,then of course gainned it all back then some. I was wondering if anyone else has done similiar; and did it mess up your metabolism and make weight loss hard after WLS. I am so afraid that such a low calorie diet will not be effective, because I've tried it and I haven't lost much. ( I counted 20 diets I've been on since 1963)    — Jean B. (posted on March 18, 2002)

March 18, 2002
I worried pre op the same thing, and lost more weight and gained over the years than the 313 I weighed pre op. I dieted STRONGLY for 4 months lost 25 pounds by STARVING myself. One small meal a day like a small steak and one glass of Nestle quick sugar free. I was MISERABLE. Figured I would try surgery. Lost 125 pounds since july, see my profile. SURGERY WORKS! and once your a post op its WAY easier than dieting. Although worry and pre op testing is the pits. It will work for you too HAVE FAITH!
   — bob-haller

March 18, 2002
I worried about this too. I had lost as much as 100 pounds at a time and gained it back. I lost 75 pounds twice in the past 6 years ... and gained it back. I'm 8 weeks post open RNY and I've lost 50 pounds. I'm still in the "honeymoon" phase where I'm not hungry and I have to MAKE myself get enough calories and protein but I really think I can use this tool to lose weight permanently. However, you do have to look at it as a tool to allow you to get the weight off. You have to exercise and make good food choices. I have yet to dump, I don't know if that's because I'm not going to or I've been good to this point. Take a long hard look at WLS and what you are willing to do with the tool they give you. It's been a life saver for me and many, many others! Good Luck!
   — Lisa B.

March 18, 2002
I also tried many diets and diet pills. Lost and gained it back. WLS gives you a great tool to lose the weight you are not hungry especially right after surgery. I am 5 months post-op and have a small appetite now, nothing like before. I have dumped 1 time and that was the worse. I started at 296 and are now 214 and still losing. You just have to decide for yourself, but for me it is the best thing I have EVER done. GOOD LUCK
   — Bethany F.

March 18, 2002
I too share your "yoyo" history. My loss and regain has been 100 pounds at a time. I think that the metabolism thing does cause us to lose a bit slower. I am close to five months and down only 73 pounds. Many with my same preop weight have lost quite a bit more. I have found that so far this surgery has stopped the cycle of regain. I have not gained at all since the surgery. I don't have that insatiable appetite gnawing at me to binge the pounds back on. Hopefully, I will reach goal weight for the first time in my life, lose some of those nagging fat cells through reconstructive surgery and never regain again.
   — Julie S.

March 18, 2002
I have been on a diet every Monday morning since I was 12 years old. I've lost and re-gained 100+ lbs. several times before and had the same concerns as you about WLS. But guess what ... it works! I have lost 171 lbs. (so far) and only have a little more to go until I hit goal. Nothing else has ever worked for me, but this did the trick. Don't worry - you'll be fine.
   — Terissa R.

March 19, 2002
I was 51 yrs. old when I had my RNY surgery and weighed 268 lbs. I had done many diets over the course of 40 years varying from counting calories, Weight Watchers and liquid protein diets. At least 3 times I lost 100lbs but , of course, it all came back plus more. My surgery was 2 1/2 years ago. I lost weight for only 10 months reaching a low of only 170 lbs. Over the past 20 months I have slowly gained about 15lbs. and am now holding steady. I am grateful for the weight that is gone but I am sure that I would have lost more and had a much easier time keeping it off were it not for my long history of yo yo diets and my age.
   — Lois S.