Congrats to you on your weight loss! I know how hard it is too loose weight. I am down 107 myself and it is almost as hard for me to keep it off as it was to loose it. I did not have surgery but I did lots of research and the subject and know several people who have had surgery. Somedays I think it was easier to loose than to maintain. I want to bring up the point that anyone can loose tons of weight by a vast array of methods but you also have to address the issue(s) that got you to that point in the first place. I believe the only way to loose weight (and keep it off) without surgery is to mend your emotional issues. If you are addicted to food before you have gastric bypass or lap band, your addiction could shift to other not so great things. If you find that you eat because you are bored, then changing up your life routines and trying new things should help you. That is why the counsel you receive before surgery is just as important as the procedure itself. The people around you need to believe in you and support your efforts for you to be successful long term. Obesity doesn't just go away (for most people) after large weight loss. There will be a transition period into your new body that can be very scary. I know that I hid behind my weight for many years and I had to find out who I really was again after the weight was gone. Sorry to write a book but this subject is close to my heart. Good luck to everyone.
Congrats to all of the "big losers" on here! Losing that much weight is a great accomplishment, not matter how you go about it.
Glad you spoke up about the emotional issues. They were talking about this subject the other day on Oprah with Dr Oz and thats what several brought up - that if you're addicted to food, most will start another addiction, esp after having either of the surgeries where you food intake is so limited. One girl became an alcoholic - so now she struggles with that. Just something to think about. It is a lifestyle change - whichever method you choose to lose weight - and that is why 'maintaining' is just as hard, if not harder than losing.
AWESOME PCK!!! What an accomplishment! :hurray: My greatest worry is the maintenance ... when I get there. For some people it truly is just overindulging a bit. For me it is emotional and an addiction. I have to keep myself in check. I saw an interview one day with a woman who lost several hundred pounds. She attributed her progress to finding something else she was passionate about to occupy her time and mind. I find that to be true. When I have something else I am driven to do...food is not as important.
I wanted to post about an episode of "True Life" that come on MTV at 6 AM Friday morning. They will rerun an episode from last night about weight loss and trying to maintain the loss. It is glamoried of course but still interesting.
