Congratulations! You have every right to be excited. If you take the change seriously, it will change your life.

Eating disorders are not just for thin people. Most, if not all, morbidly obese people have eating disorders.

Never had a day's hesitation nor a day of regret.

We are supposed to measure our food, not eat until we're restricted. At 17 years out, I rarely eat to the point that I feel restricted.

I'm shocked that a surgeon has revised and revised you and not given you the most basic of the lifestyle change that is necessary to be successful.

You should be eating at most a cup of food at a sitting. Protein first, then vegetables. White carbs, bread, pasta, rice, potatoes are not necessary if you want to lose weight.

You need to drink a minimum of 64 oz and exercise (consciously move) to regain your health

Best to not set expectations or compare yourself to others.

We really are all so different.

I've kept my loss off for 17 years. You?

I think this is a great idea.

My meal planning drives my partner nuts, but he's lost and maintained a 50lb loss since I met him 9 years ago!

I really find it stops us eating "quick, grab & go" calories.

I also log EVERYTHING in MyFitnessPal, which helps me make good decisions. When I find out how many calories etc are in some foods, it gives me pause and I'll often make a better, healthier choice

I say go for it!

I was quite late to start to regain - took me about 4 years, but I was really strict for those years. Got a bit lax and pow, 10lbs suddenly appeared.

Now, I'm fighting a slower metabolism with age so find that I need less calories to lose or maintain. Having said that, I am still able to lose - have dropped 14lb since January (late Covid/holiday chub).

There are very few people who never regain, most of us have to cut down now and again after modest regains. The difference is, we don't get to the stage we give up and end up regaining the lot, which is unfortunately very common.

Your nutritionist sounds like a saboteur - keep that in mind when she gives you advice

I have had multiple regains and losses over the last 17 years, the last major one being over 50lbs, which I lost over 3 years ago.

You have to be prepared for it to be a long haul, it's not like the first year post surgery for sure. Took me about 14 months to do that.

For me, keto for a couple of months followed by low carb works for me - basically meat and vegetables - no bread, potatoes, rice, pasta etc. No alcohol of course.

I've just lost 12lbs of Covid/holiday weight by doing the same thing and I'm most grateful that I didn't have a larger amount to lose this time

You can do it, you just have to make a start and be determined. It's hard.

As long as you are in treatment, and seeing a psychiatrist for meds, there would be no reason for them to deny you.

We always suggest that counselling be a part of this journey. It really makes a difference to your weight loss journey in the long term

Fatty and enlarged liver issues are very common in people with morbid obesity. I think they'll check you don't have any other disease and then put you on a liquid diet to lose weight before your surgery.

Cutting down white carbs will probably help those symptoms and foregoing the cruciferous vegetables.

Dairy, especially milk, was also a GI factor for me, so worth cutting that out too