how do I keep going when I feel like I'm at the end of my rope?"

"I was close to getting weight loss surgery but life hit me hard, and now at over 500 lbs I've completely lost my motivation -- how do I keep going when I feel like I'm at the end of my rope?"

You need to pick yourself back up and make YOUR health a priority. You need to remind yourself why you wanted to get weight loss surgery in the first place. Remember what you were doing before "life hit you hard" and the success you were having.

Trust me we have all had setbacks at one time or another. Let go of the rope and grab the bull by the horns to get back on track with taking care of yourself.

The 'like' is for the fact that you aren't without hope...you came here to hopefully get help. What was your motivation back when you had it? When I got revision to gastric bypass it was health. Despite meds, I was a stroke waiting to happen. My young kids deserved better. Surgery worked great, bp was normal and the weight stayed off years till life hit me hard too. Eating was comforting and I even began drinking wine. Gained nearly all of it back and it took another health crisis (the bp again plus all the negatives from being sedentary and reclusive) but I got the best help. My new Dr. offered to help me try out a medically-supervised prescription route. It's working great, I've already got 52# of the regain gone. Do you have any health situations that would be improved and better your quality of life by having surgery? Will getting the weight down help you deal with your life issues? Also, have you reached out to your potential surgeon's office to ask if they have a monthly in-person or zoom support group? Years ago there were firm statistics to support long term success after bariatric surgery when patients attended in-person support groups.

If you don't have any chance for in-person support through a group, friends or family please do stay with us here at OH. We can't mend your life problems but we're all great cheerleaders. And just consider how much experience is here with so many who have already come over to the 'other side'. At one time or other all of us have been at the end of our rope(s) too. You are worth hanging in there and fighting for your health. Don't listen to any outside forces who want you to think otherwise.

Hugs, Molly