Trying to explain

During this whole process I told anyone who would listen that I was having WLS. Nobody ever asked why. At 350lbs I guess it's obvious. The only thing I was ever asked was if I had to pay for it myself.

I don't know how I'd explain it. I don't think I would except to say that it's likely the only thing that'll help me lose weight and keep it off long term.

This surgery has made me feel as if I now have a 'fighting chance' to be successful.  I wake up in the morning feeling peaceful and calm about food and the decisions I will have to make that day  regarding it.  What a gift that is!

Barb

Well, once again, you have all helped.  I keep hearing that WLS is a tool, but what I was missing was that diets and programs are ALSO just tools, not cures (obviously).  So I am trying a new tool.  One that is a little more extreme or intense but will likely have more permanent results.

As for the quote about the "ones that matter"....it sounds good, but in reality the ones that are having a hard time with it are my sister, my best friend since grade 8, my cousin, her daughter....all people that have known me the longest and love me very much. They are just scared and don't want me to make a decision that I will regret. So I can't blame them, just needed the words to explain my feelings about WLS and why I think it is right for me.
 

Tthis became a viable alternative to my endless dieting-deprivation-weightloss-resentment-eating normally-weightgain-unhappiness cycle after my surgeon first approached me with it.

He made me list these factors:
1) I had lost over 100 pounds in 25 years.
2) I had gained well over 150 pounds in those 25 years.
3) I had dieted dozens of times, and deprived myself and been miserable, dozens of times.
4) My problem was not weightloss - it was keeping it off.
5) So malabsorption was a major motivator. If my body could no longer absorb fats and sugars, that was a head start, so to speak.
6) If, by the time I went back to "eating normally" (i.e. healthy veggie-heavy meals), I had lost a significant amount, I would have had a head start.
7) A lot of this was in my head. I HAD to get a handle on the Head Hunger.
8) So I made the whole thing contingent on getting psychiatric support. I see a sympathetic person who agrees with me that Head Hunger is very similar to addiction - our bodies don't just crave - we need certain foods on a much deeper level. She's helping me to cope with that aspect of "normal" eating again.

Okay, that was longer than I meant to go.
I don't regret this decision at all. It was absolutely right for me.
Good luck to you, but make up your OWN mind - don't let others' approval/disapproval shake you.

I'd quote stats.  What I read was - someone who is MO has about a 5% (at most) chance of losing a significant amount of weight (over 55% of their EW) and keeping it off.  Someone with RNY or VSG has around 40-60%

To me - that's a no brainer.

Ooooo, I 'm writing that down! Thanks