Should I just do it on my own? - ThinnerTimes

Ray8719 · 07-13-2008, 05:35 PM

Hey everyone. This is my first question here I believe. BTW, i'm Ray, and thinking of having RNY, but.........

I was thinking maybe I should just try to lose weight on my own. Ober the last month or two, I went from pushing 340lbs, to now close to 310. I'm about 6'0"-6'1" and am always told I carried my weight well. I really don't have any co-morbidities, (my liver enzymes are a little elevated if that means anything) and wont even be 21 until February. I was told about a month or so ago that I have to go on a 3 month check up thingy or whatever before surgery. I have to see Einstein Bariatrics psychologist (sp?) for once every two weeks for 12 weeks. That's what really made me start thinking of doing it on my own. (I mean, it's not a requirement by my insurance, but with some past issues I had mentally, I guess I have to do this. I guess that's the thanks I get for being honest) Also, she wants me to see a seperate psychologist once or twice a week. My question is, is it worth this. (Not to mention my BMI at the end of the 3 months will probably drop below 40 at the rate i'm going)

I know most people will think it's all up to how I feel, but I do feel I need some kinda support and answers from people other than myself. Any little answers will definately help me make the decision to start this 12 week thing, and just go along with it. (BTW, I start this Tuesday the 15th)

Thank You

VanessaSFL · 07-13-2008, 05:41 PM

Welcome Ray...We are often asked what if any regrets do we have about having surgery....well I have always said the only regret is that I wish I had tried just one more time to get healthy and lose the weight with out surgery.
This is major surgery and head issues afterwards are difficult at best.

That said, I know now that I need the "tool" this surgery has given me.I have control, well my pouch controls me really..lol..for the first time over my weight.

Gl with your deceisions,

Grammy O · 07-13-2008, 05:46 PM

Ray,

Unfortunately, what you are going to get is "it is all up to you"! This is such a life altering surgery that you must do alot of research on the types of surgery available and what it is you will be able to do. You do realize that this is just a "tool" and not a miracle pill. You have to work at it.

Listen to me, I haven't had my surgery yet, the 21st is my day, but from what I have read and read and read, it is definately not the EASY WAY OUT!.

It certainly wouldn't hurt for you to continue to lose weight on your own while at the same time taking time to do alot of research.

As for me, I have lost hundreds of pounds throughout my adult life but just haven't been able to sustain the losses. I do have lot of comorbidities and I am just not feeling very well. I can't exercise due to my bad knees and excess weight. I know that for me this is the only way that I am going to get healthy again and be able to do the things I would love to do with my family, especially my 2 year old grandson!

So, I'm sorry that we can't make the decision for you, but we are here to lend a hand, a shoulder, an ear, whatever it might be you are needing at the time. There are alot of great people on here with loads of experience from their weight loss journies!

Welcome, and good luck to you!

Ray8719 · 07-13-2008, 06:22 PM

Thanks folks. I realize it's just a tool. I'm really not looking for any miracles. I feel I would be very successful if I did get it, simply because I feel I can do what's right if I had that extra help. I'm not really a binge eater or anything as well.

kellyMASS · 07-13-2008, 07:23 PM

I think you should definely try on your own one more time. This surgery thing is a huge deal! You have to ask yourself if it is worth maybe losing your life for. I don't mean to scare you but it is a very serious surgery and not something to be taken lightly.I spent over a year researching this surgery and getting an idea of what my life will be after surgery.I even switched my surgery type after being approved. If you think you may be able to do it on your own try one more time. Wls is not going anywhere.and at least you will go into it knowing that you did everything that you could before going to this extreme.I have lost weight sense deciding to have this surgery and I think I could lose a lot more but I do not think that I will ever get to a normal bmi without this tool.because I am a volume eater.it is up to you but I hope you will take the advice from all of these people on this forum they are wicked smart!

garymarx · 07-30-2008, 05:37 PM

One of my big regrets, like many others, is that I wish I had given it one last shot at losing the weight on my own, and not some whimpy shot, a full forced, workout and diet, eating right, the whole nine yards. Sure, I'm in a weight range that is more healthy, and I don't have to worry about things I worried about when I was bigger, but there are times that I feel I have taken the easy way out.

You haven't had the surgery yet, and you might already be thinking about trying to do it again on your own, then do it. Give it your very best shot, and don't give up. Once they put you under and start cutting and moving your insides around there is no going back. You're in it for good at that point, whatever happens, good or bad, you've made that decision.

Withacy · 08-01-2008, 07:15 AM

I think age has a lot to do with how you approach this.

While I was never really "skinny", my weight didn't get out of hand (as in over 200 pounds) until I was past 30. Even so, my weight went up and down between 115 (during basic training) to nearly 200 between the ages of 19 and 30. I lost and gained back twice as much more times than I want to remember.

At 20 you still have a chance to make life choices, to put yourself into the frame of mind and take up healthy habits that will only get much harder to pick up as you get older. As long as you're healthy, you have plenty of time to work on them.

Once you get to my age - 44 - and you've tried the diets, and tried changing your habits, eventually some of us come to the conclusion that you're just not going to change. In my case, even that wasn't enough to push me to make this decision. That final push came from watching my health start to decline. I wish I could finally find the strength to make those changes, but at this point I've just plain run out of time.

Until you get there, there's no reason to rush into this.

My surgery is August 20th. Hard as it was, I made my decision - and I have no regrets.

Amandazon247 · 08-01-2008, 07:19 AM

Well ..... I dont regret my surgery at all... I did it to get healthy.. and sweety go read the post op threads.. this is by no means the easy way out.. that is the biggest bunch of BS there is... you still will need to practice self control.. and exercise.. I mean you just have to decide... that you need to do whatever it takes to get healthy.... I had so many tries and fails.. that what was ONE last try going to do?.. I needed to DO instead of try ......

Shell8170 · 08-01-2008, 01:43 PM

I just had my surgery a week ago and I am not feeling so well right now...going through I guess what they call hell week and just thinking, when will this get better but knowing that it will...

I went in initially two and half years ago with the thought of gastric bypass and chickened out completely...yeah, I lost weight on my own, sixty pounds but low and behold like many of us on this forum it wasn't long before the weight came back. So then I had to start all over again! Going to the surgeon, complying with all the insurance requirements...took another six months, seven till my surgery!!! So now I sit here and wonder what the heck was I thinking doing it on my own again...I need this tool! The difference the surgery makes is that it initially forces us to make the changes we weren't willing to fully commit to without it. Because of how much I have been through with this I can't imagine going back again and I know I never will!

So I'm not saying don't try to lose weight on your own but I would evaluate how many times you have done it on your own before and failed...you are young and if you stay committed then you will be fine. I AM saying though that I regret that last try on my own and wish I had had the surgery two years ago! I don't regret my surgery even though I am going through hell right now. Good luck and I hope whatever you decide works out well!

BIG TOM · 08-01-2008, 02:14 PM

everyone loses weight fast early on. then you start to even out and dont lose weight any more. then you start putting it back on because you are doing so well you start to cheat. my advice to you is do the dieting and see the shrink and jump thru all the hoops as if you were going to get this surgery. might as well your insurance pays for it right? then at the very last minute you can always back out if you dont think you need it or decide its not for you. this insurance and dieting and shrink appts. is a long ordeal. i started with my appointments back in jan. and i dont even have a surgery date yet. but back in my mind i know i always can back out, but on the other hand i know i just met the criteria to get the surgery.

this is just my opinion and there will be many others so take the advice from everyone on this forum because they have already done it .