My mom had gastric bypass when I was young. She lost fifty or so pounds, and then gained everything back and then some. I'd seen for myself that it didn't work; it was an extreme lifestyle change that she couldn't adapt to and I didn't want a temporary stop-gap/Band-Aid. I wanted something that would really work.

I chose DS because of the research that showed it was most effective for keeping weight off long term and that you could resume a realistic way of eating (gastric severely limits how much you can eat; I eat pretty normally with DS. And by normally I mean how other people eat, not how obese me used to eat).

Everyone has periods of regain. It is always possible to lose that regain, although it does seem harder the further out from surgery you get. Everyone finds what works for them. For me, it is strict counting of the calories I take in and tracking what I burn. I also find I must weigh myself daily so that I don't get that shock in the doctor's office.

I have also had good success with the Weigh****chers point system. Please keep us updated. I am wishing you great success.

Would I do it again? Yes, yes, yes. A thousand times yes. Only thing is I would have done it years sooner. I had stomach stapling in 1996. I had ds in 2006. I don't think the ds was available in '96. I lost 80lbs in'96, '97. It came back and brought friends. I got down to 143 with the ds from 340 on the day of surgery. I leveled off at 150. But since Covid-19 and being stuck inside with nothing to do I've gained 24lbs. So now I'm not only bored but depressed and angry. Oh yeah, I've had no major complications. Oh hey, I just realized it was 14yrs ago today.

Im glad to chat a bit with the info I know and my experiences. But all in all the choice is yours. But glad to chat

Hey DSrs

Im around but quiet, dealing with alot craziness but nothing bad(none of it Covid). I have no regrets and truthfully most days my DS isnt even on my mind. Cause well life is "normal".

Now for my long term vets lets talk labs. I FINALLY found a family dr that listens. So I got indepth labs done for the first time in sorry to say 10 years. Ive had basic pulls and random checks but not a really deep pull.

For the most part everything is good. Yes even my D (103), yeah its a smidge over the high end of normal. So I take 1 D less a week now (50,000 iu 6 days a week instead of everyday). My labs truthfully are great besides 3 of them which all are a hair below low end normal. Thoes being my E, K and LDL (and total cholesterol in general). My diet is mainly meat and veggies. Some fruits. I do have to watch potassium levels of foods I eat, as I sodium waste and cannot let things get out of balance. But hey add more salt.

With the E, my alpha is 5.1 (according to my lab 5.5 is low normal) my gamma is 0.2 (0.0 is low normal so its a hair above). I never really supplemented it before but have started to. Even though I do eat many things rich in it (veggie wise).

My K is 0.15 nmol\L (.22 is low normal) again I eat plenty of veggies ri***** Ive started supplementing. I get retested on thoes in a few months.

Now Im actually more concerned about my cholesterol being so brutally low. Our body and brain does need cholesterol, its just in excess its not good. So my total is 104 , yeah I said it my total is 104. My LDL is a measly 38, which everything Ive read below 40 isnt too ideal but so few people deal with low cholesterol there isnt much info out there.

Opinions vets?

The kicker with this....and I point blank looked at my dr and said at the follow up. Look at thoes labs and look at me....dont match do they. And she agreed that you wouldnt think they were right. Im 5'9" and 228lbs(dont look it) in a size 12 jean but cant wear normal jeans as they arent big enough for my legs now, lol, damn weight lifting. So Im finally going to get testing done for the multiple connective tissue disorders that we think are at play.