Question:
Is suragey the key here? or just a starting point?

as I read in profiles, after you have suragy, you start exercising and eating better or less? is this only giving a boost to the weight loss? or is the suragy really helping here.... I dont' want to have suragey if I can find another way around it.. my bmi is 47 ... but if I say anything about this at chat.. people get fussy .......... I wonder If i can't loose the weight without haveing suragey?    — c C. (posted on December 10, 1999)

December 9, 1999
You are the only one who can answer that question. Have you tried conventional dieting in the past? I did, and it would work for a short time, then I would gain it all back plus a little extra. The surgery changes your biology... it makes it so you eat less, but it also changes the way your body processes the food that you do eat. It was the best $8.00 I ever spent! (my co-pay)... Good luck and have a great day Mary Anne
   — Mary Anne M.

December 10, 1999
For me, the surgery did it all. I simply observed my doctor's guidelines, went from 262 to 112 and have stayed there ever since, 5+ yrs. I STILL observe the guidelines, however. It wasn't an entirely FREE ticket, but certainly better than ever before and any "diet". It very much depends on who does your surgery, which surgery you have and your post-op nutrition. Some are merely a jumping off point. Some procedures are not good ones for 90-100% weight loss, and require "dieting" to reach a "great" goal. Some will do the job with only a little assistance from you. Virtually all require some change. But depending on the above criteria, the amount and type of change may be non-disruptive. In other words, suffering with the "new life" is not required.
   — vitalady