I'm certain the numerous benefits of wls, including lowering many risks of diseases caused by obesity, are well worth having the surgery. I'm also convinced we are all at greater risk of various diseases and complications that arise from the imbalance wls creates in all of our bodies. It's still well worth it in my opinion but physical imbalances come with a price, and that may include higher incidents of certain types of cancer and medical issues. I asked my surgeon about this a few years ago and he agreed it's a possibility although there has never been a study on the exact topic.

I didn't even bother reading it. While I can appreciate the gentleman's efforts at losing 450 lbs, I bet it was no harder than me losing, and maintaining my loss of 180 lbs, for over 21 years....

I dare say none of us have breezed thru our journey....if you have...I might hate you...just a little

https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-e ating/

It's a lifestyle change, NO dieting, being kind to yourself, no restrictions, but learning to really get in touch with your body's satisfaction signals and feeling you've eaten enough.

I 1st attended a 12 week program right before the covid shutdown. I've attended 1 zoom refresher 12 week class, last fall.

I had to STOP logging everything I ate and limit my visits here. That was recomended for ME, personally, by my MD. Everyone is different; I do miss the comradery here, so I stop by now and again! This lifestyle 'clicked' with me, although I felt guilty about not following my RnY rules, but my surgeon sent me to this Bariatric MD, so...

Amazon has the books and workbook, that's where I got mine.

What Gina said 1000%
As much as you know that weight loss surgery can save your life, going through with it even if you know the life you will gain will not help you unless you get to the core of of why you emotional eat, especially if there's a foundation of trauma in your past that goes beyond losing your mother at a young age.

Without a lot of therapy you'll just find yourself without the emotional tools you need minus using food as a coping mechanism and that's the last think you want after going through what you need to, to have bariatric surgery in the first place.

I like Gina am a gramma grad, I see people who mourn losing food as a coping mechanism to the point that the engage in other self destructive behaviors.

Please, please, please get to the root causes of your emotional eating while going through your surgeron's protocols and if they don't include extensive therapy after cancelling 5 times, don't go through the surgery without it.

This is being said with enormous caring and a desire for you to succeed versus you going through whatever bariatric surgery you elect to have and not in recovery only for your surgery to fail and cause you more problems.

You deserve to feel healthy and whole and it's possible to feel that way not just going through therapy prior to surgery but making sure you have lifelong support professionally and with peers as you go through the process and life post operatively.

Wishing you all the best. Peace, Lisa

Thank you!

I am also sorry for your loss!!

Would you please tell me about 'Intuitive Eating'?