I would definitely recommend reading a lot at obesityhelp.com. That is where I started a little over 3 years ago.
I wasted 20 years dieting. I did triathlons, worked out at the gym like a crazy person, worked with my doctor, tried nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, etc. Nothing worked. I did lose 20 pounds or so on Meridia but it seemed to stop working after a while. My weight would fluctuate by 60-80-100 pounds. I'm 5'8". My highest weight was 311. After losing in another attempt down to 239 I started going back up again and I was worn out. I just couldn't take anymore. By the time I got back up to 280 I did a 180 degree change of mindset (I had previously thought weight loss surgery was stupid) and decided I was at my wits end and had to try it.
I had roux-en-y gastric bypass almost 3 years ago. I lost 150 pounds. I have maintained my weight loss - no bounce back. I did gain 8 pounds during the few weeks before my wedding, but I have taken those back off. My life is SOOOO wonderful now, I wish I had had surgery a long time ago. Now, I can do anything I want to do. I'm not limited by my body. I can breathe!
There is still a negative stigma attached to this surgery for some reason. Probably because people don't really know how many THOUSANDS of people are successfully having it and living better lives. The mainstream just thinks that "people die from that". A few do, but not many. My feeling was, I knew I could come thru surgery fine since I had had my gallbladder out previously and I knew I had very good docs who would take care of any problems that arose. It IS important to find a surgeon/Bariatric Center of Excellence preferably who has done many, many of these surgeries. You want someone who has a lot of experience!
I know literally hundreds of post-ops from various boards I'm on and pretty much all of them with one or two exceptions are thrilled with their results and wish they had done the surgery much sooner. It gives you your life back.
Patti
hubby and I met later in life and are 40
IVF Baby, First Pregnancy
