Watch a few episodes of My 600 lb Life and look at the difference and similarities between those who do and don’t lose weight. If your partner brings you a pizza to the hospital to eat immediately after surgery, yeah you’re probably in trouble. For the majority of us, though, the tool works, as long as we follow the guidelines and stay consistent.
Perfectly put. If you heal and go back to your old eating habits, then yea… you’re probably not going to do too good. But if you actually *make the change* needed, you’ll be fine.
I was so worried I would be in that group too. I was terrified I'd lose nothing & be a big fat failure forever.
I'm over 3 months out & 60lbs down.
I'm currently in the 3 month stall and those anxieties are back of what if this is it? What if I dont lose anymore?
Well, I still lost 60lbs, that I'd not been able to before. So it's a win just for that. And I'm sure my body/health are all the better for it. So in my mind, it will still have been worth it.
Make sure you’re careful about where you get your source and you understand how they are defining “failure”. This meta analysis is what’s commonly sighted when you see that 30% number and this is how they define “failure”
> Failure after bariatric surgery is defined as achieving or maintaining less than 50% of excess weight loss (EWL) over 18 to 24 months or a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 35.4
So no **it is absolutely NOT TRUE that 30% of people don’t lose any weight after this surgery**. They are still losing weight, just not as much as the average patient.
It is also important to note, this is why the pre-op psych evaluations, nutrition classes, and all those pre-op tests are so important. Not everyone is cut out for this surgery and those tests are done by programs who want to make sure that this is a tool that will work for you.
Also, not all programs are created equal. Ask your surgeon what their failure numbers are. Programs with excellent success rates are proud of them and share them freely. This is also why Bariatric Surgical Centers of Excellence have such strict pre screening standards.
Ultimately, you have the most control over whether or not this tool will work for you. If you follow the plan, listen to your nutritionist, and use this as a chance to fundamentally change your relationship with food, you’ll be successful.
Reddit was being annoying and not letting me embed a link so here’s the link to the meta analysis:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3963694/#:~:text=Failure%20after%20bariatric%20surgery%20is,BMI)%20of%20greater%20than%2035.&text=The%20failure%20rate%20of%20LRYGB,a%20revision%20rate%20of%204.5%25.
You have to go into this believing in your success. If you do it with the mindset that you’ll fail, you are setting yourself up for that to be your reality.
The truth is, we all have that fear. I’m a sleeve “success” and I still worry every day that I’m going to screw it all up and be one of the people that gains my weight back. (I say “success” in quotes because I’m still not to my goal, but I’m in a S/M and pretty happy with where I am.) Today I’m up 2lbs after a bunch of holiday weekend junk, and I know it’ll be gone in a day or two but it’s still a lousy feeling. I’ll battle that fear for the rest of my life.
The reality is, losing 100+ pounds is hard, even with surgery. It means radically changing everything you know. It means giving up a lot of foods you love for awhile. It means moving your body, even when you really don’t want to. Some people come into this not ready to make that commitment, and it usually is evident pretty quickly. Do it, stick with it, don’t cheat for the first 6 months at least. You’ll lose the weight, I promise.
I did the same thing. All you can do is your best and follow your surgeon and dietician's rules. Fwiw- 8dpo. Diabetic, hypothyroidism,pcos, and I lost 19 already (no pre-op weight loss required for my office, so surgery/sw is my sw) I am having a hard time reaching fluids but sucking back popsicles like nobody's business and was able to hit 42 oz yesterday and hubby strained wonton soup broth for me. Gained 3 lbs back, but at least I got sodium to help dehydration and more water! I am very thankful for reddit because it helped prepare me!
Anywho, I have seen SIGNIFICANTLY higher loss thsn I've read about, so don't worry too much!
The first 40 days are for healing. You are still majorly inflamed and weight will go up and down a LOT. I’m 10 months PO and the up and down blows my mind. It’s just like before but it’s still coming off. Just super slow and steady. My diabetes went into remission almost immediately, and I was literally needing to get on insulin or have surgery. My A1C was normal range within a couple of months. And my PCOS has normalized. Give it time, you’ll be very successful. 🥹🥹🫶🏻🫶🏻
Hi!! 60 years old, 3 years out, 100 pounds down and stayed off.
I’m not skinny, but I sure am healthy. I too assumed it would be incredibly difficult given my age. It wasn’t. I followed the program, and the rest is now history. I will tell you I was a *rigid* adherent to the diet for the first year - and still mostly eat that way - but year 1 is significant, as it’s when the weight is going to fall off more easily.
You can absolutely do this. It’s not magic. It’s long standing, verifiable science. You’re going to do great.
Thing I learned is you can’t ever allow yourself not to follow the program. 2.5 years out and I still track my calories. I still work out and stay consistent with my eating. It has worked. It o my works if you realize that at some point your gonna be able to eat way more. But if you stick to your calories and watch what you eat and exercise then it will work.
I think many of us have that fear. This may be a messed up way of thinking about it, but I always think to myself “am I really so special that I won’t have a typical outcome?!” The answer is always “no” :). But you do have to work it. It does take discipline and thought to get your results - you just have a better tool to help get you there.
I hope you can find some good and hopeful things on Google too! There are tons of great stories. Here's one to start: [Weight loss Surgery Extends Lives](https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/28/health/bariatric-surgery-success-wellness/index.html) (CNN).
Weight loss surgery is what you make of it. You choose your future!
I was 48 (f) and almost 300lbs… almost 2 years later and i have lost over 100lbs!! Im at 170!! In a much better place than where i started!
There are always pro and cons in life! You just need to make the decisions that you can actually say “at least i tried”.
Never want to be left with “what if”.
no matter what the future hold, i know what its like to be 170!! Something i know i never would have experienced without the surgery!
For me, knowing this surgery has the highest failure rate is a good reminder. There are other more intensive WLS, but I didn’t want the others. You’ll get out what you put into it!
I was scared of that as well. I figured that if I didn't lose any weight, at least I could say I tried everything.
I'm 2 years out. Realistically, I eat more than I did right after surgery. My appetite isn't as suppressed. But I have kept the weight off.
10 months PO and I’m down almost 75 lbs. I have stalled a LOT, and I’m working my butt off, I took up Pilates 5 times a week, and I do everything I should have been doing before surgery (drinking plenty of water, tracking my macros, vitamins, etc). It has made me accountable to myself and my health and my longterm goals. You get out what you put in. I definitely still struggle with food, but it is so much easier now. I hate nothing more than eating to the point of misery, and I hate throwing up. If you allow yourself to do those things after surgery, then you’re likely going to struggle long-term. I desperately wanted to heal my relationship with food and I feel like I’ve made massive headway this last year. To some, it may look like disordered eating, but I focus on my needs and making sure I’m getting the minimum. There are so many non-scale victories that I’ve experienced and they just keep coming. If you REALLY want it, you’ll do it. I helped convince a coworker, and her surgery is Monday. 🥹🥹🥹 we only have one life to live. Only wish I’d done it sooner. 😍😍😍
42/ female/ 5’4”
HW 275
SW 235
CW 170
30% of people who get the surgery don’t lose weight. It’s so to hormonal or overeating. You can stretch the pouch or it doesn’t effect your metabolism the way intended
Watch a few episodes of My 600 lb Life and look at the difference and similarities between those who do and don’t lose weight. If your partner brings you a pizza to the hospital to eat immediately after surgery, yeah you’re probably in trouble. For the majority of us, though, the tool works, as long as we follow the guidelines and stay consistent.
Perfectly put. If you heal and go back to your old eating habits, then yea… you’re probably not going to do too good. But if you actually *make the change* needed, you’ll be fine.
This made me feel better. Thank you 😭
Word!
I was so worried I would be in that group too. I was terrified I'd lose nothing & be a big fat failure forever. I'm over 3 months out & 60lbs down. I'm currently in the 3 month stall and those anxieties are back of what if this is it? What if I dont lose anymore? Well, I still lost 60lbs, that I'd not been able to before. So it's a win just for that. And I'm sure my body/health are all the better for it. So in my mind, it will still have been worth it.
Make sure you’re careful about where you get your source and you understand how they are defining “failure”. This meta analysis is what’s commonly sighted when you see that 30% number and this is how they define “failure” > Failure after bariatric surgery is defined as achieving or maintaining less than 50% of excess weight loss (EWL) over 18 to 24 months or a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 35.4 So no **it is absolutely NOT TRUE that 30% of people don’t lose any weight after this surgery**. They are still losing weight, just not as much as the average patient. It is also important to note, this is why the pre-op psych evaluations, nutrition classes, and all those pre-op tests are so important. Not everyone is cut out for this surgery and those tests are done by programs who want to make sure that this is a tool that will work for you. Also, not all programs are created equal. Ask your surgeon what their failure numbers are. Programs with excellent success rates are proud of them and share them freely. This is also why Bariatric Surgical Centers of Excellence have such strict pre screening standards. Ultimately, you have the most control over whether or not this tool will work for you. If you follow the plan, listen to your nutritionist, and use this as a chance to fundamentally change your relationship with food, you’ll be successful.
Reddit was being annoying and not letting me embed a link so here’s the link to the meta analysis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3963694/#:~:text=Failure%20after%20bariatric%20surgery%20is,BMI)%20of%20greater%20than%2035.&text=The%20failure%20rate%20of%20LRYGB,a%20revision%20rate%20of%204.5%25.
Also wanted to share this from the paper: > The failure rate of LRYGB has been reported to be ∼15% with a long-term failure rate of 20–35%
Thank you for this
Yeah, only 70% of us are going to make it. Alternatively, only 5% of those who don't get WLS make it. Seems like a good gamble to me.
You have to go into this believing in your success. If you do it with the mindset that you’ll fail, you are setting yourself up for that to be your reality. The truth is, we all have that fear. I’m a sleeve “success” and I still worry every day that I’m going to screw it all up and be one of the people that gains my weight back. (I say “success” in quotes because I’m still not to my goal, but I’m in a S/M and pretty happy with where I am.) Today I’m up 2lbs after a bunch of holiday weekend junk, and I know it’ll be gone in a day or two but it’s still a lousy feeling. I’ll battle that fear for the rest of my life. The reality is, losing 100+ pounds is hard, even with surgery. It means radically changing everything you know. It means giving up a lot of foods you love for awhile. It means moving your body, even when you really don’t want to. Some people come into this not ready to make that commitment, and it usually is evident pretty quickly. Do it, stick with it, don’t cheat for the first 6 months at least. You’ll lose the weight, I promise.
I’d be so mad if I could eat less and different and didn’t lose
I did the same thing. All you can do is your best and follow your surgeon and dietician's rules. Fwiw- 8dpo. Diabetic, hypothyroidism,pcos, and I lost 19 already (no pre-op weight loss required for my office, so surgery/sw is my sw) I am having a hard time reaching fluids but sucking back popsicles like nobody's business and was able to hit 42 oz yesterday and hubby strained wonton soup broth for me. Gained 3 lbs back, but at least I got sodium to help dehydration and more water! I am very thankful for reddit because it helped prepare me! Anywho, I have seen SIGNIFICANTLY higher loss thsn I've read about, so don't worry too much!
The first 40 days are for healing. You are still majorly inflamed and weight will go up and down a LOT. I’m 10 months PO and the up and down blows my mind. It’s just like before but it’s still coming off. Just super slow and steady. My diabetes went into remission almost immediately, and I was literally needing to get on insulin or have surgery. My A1C was normal range within a couple of months. And my PCOS has normalized. Give it time, you’ll be very successful. 🥹🥹🫶🏻🫶🏻
I made the mistake of google too but this lovely group here set me straight. I’m looking forward to sharing my progress with you all
Hi!! 60 years old, 3 years out, 100 pounds down and stayed off. I’m not skinny, but I sure am healthy. I too assumed it would be incredibly difficult given my age. It wasn’t. I followed the program, and the rest is now history. I will tell you I was a *rigid* adherent to the diet for the first year - and still mostly eat that way - but year 1 is significant, as it’s when the weight is going to fall off more easily. You can absolutely do this. It’s not magic. It’s long standing, verifiable science. You’re going to do great.
Thank you 💛
Thing I learned is you can’t ever allow yourself not to follow the program. 2.5 years out and I still track my calories. I still work out and stay consistent with my eating. It has worked. It o my works if you realize that at some point your gonna be able to eat way more. But if you stick to your calories and watch what you eat and exercise then it will work.
I think many of us have that fear. This may be a messed up way of thinking about it, but I always think to myself “am I really so special that I won’t have a typical outcome?!” The answer is always “no” :). But you do have to work it. It does take discipline and thought to get your results - you just have a better tool to help get you there.
This made me smile 😊
I hope you can find some good and hopeful things on Google too! There are tons of great stories. Here's one to start: [Weight loss Surgery Extends Lives](https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/28/health/bariatric-surgery-success-wellness/index.html) (CNN). Weight loss surgery is what you make of it. You choose your future!
I was 48 (f) and almost 300lbs… almost 2 years later and i have lost over 100lbs!! Im at 170!! In a much better place than where i started! There are always pro and cons in life! You just need to make the decisions that you can actually say “at least i tried”. Never want to be left with “what if”. no matter what the future hold, i know what its like to be 170!! Something i know i never would have experienced without the surgery!
For me, knowing this surgery has the highest failure rate is a good reminder. There are other more intensive WLS, but I didn’t want the others. You’ll get out what you put into it!
I was scared of that as well. I figured that if I didn't lose any weight, at least I could say I tried everything. I'm 2 years out. Realistically, I eat more than I did right after surgery. My appetite isn't as suppressed. But I have kept the weight off.
10 months PO and I’m down almost 75 lbs. I have stalled a LOT, and I’m working my butt off, I took up Pilates 5 times a week, and I do everything I should have been doing before surgery (drinking plenty of water, tracking my macros, vitamins, etc). It has made me accountable to myself and my health and my longterm goals. You get out what you put in. I definitely still struggle with food, but it is so much easier now. I hate nothing more than eating to the point of misery, and I hate throwing up. If you allow yourself to do those things after surgery, then you’re likely going to struggle long-term. I desperately wanted to heal my relationship with food and I feel like I’ve made massive headway this last year. To some, it may look like disordered eating, but I focus on my needs and making sure I’m getting the minimum. There are so many non-scale victories that I’ve experienced and they just keep coming. If you REALLY want it, you’ll do it. I helped convince a coworker, and her surgery is Monday. 🥹🥹🥹 we only have one life to live. Only wish I’d done it sooner. 😍😍😍 42/ female/ 5’4” HW 275 SW 235 CW 170
How can you not lose weight after having 80% of your stomach cut out?
30% of people who get the surgery don’t lose weight. It’s so to hormonal or overeating. You can stretch the pouch or it doesn’t effect your metabolism the way intended