"Obesity is not cured, just put into remission."

This is a harsh reality. I guess I probably knew that, but to read it from someone else... thank you.

I am also an alcoholic, so I have put alcohol aside with the same knowledge that it is not cured only in remission as long as I do the work.

I've been to some OA meetings, but have not found them very helpful really. Do you do any groups outside of this online group?

Surgery gives you about two years where losing is quick and easy. But the body is smart and it learns how to get back the weight that it feels you unfairly starved it of .

Think of your body like a person working at a job. Every week they expect to get paid and have money to spend. But one day the body is doing its same work, but the food is suddenly cut to almost nothing. It has to work with far fewer calories and loses weight.

Then it gets better and tells you to give it back all of its food. And by the third year after surgery, you can eat all of that food again.

The trick is to continue on the diet plan even after you are able to eat as much as before. Take the first years to learn new habits and then continue those habits and you will never have to worry much about regain.

I am on a diet and I will be on a diet every day of my life. If I quit the diet, I will gain the weight back.

I am so with Kim's and Laura's opinion here...

You just 1.5 years post op. You are talking about the experience you have here and now. I think you may get a rude awakening as the times go.

In my first 2 years, actually 2.5 years I had a problem stop losing. I got 10 lbs below my goal. And I was eating more. I had to eat more to maintain.

And then came year 3 post op and not doing anything different to what I was doing, I started gaining. I wanted to gain 10 lbs, but in almost no time I gained over 35 lbs. It then took me 6 months to lose 20, and then another year to reach my goal.

I am close to 12 years post op, and I know hat and how much I need to eat to maintain or lose. And what almost always guarantee I would start gaining.

I know one a couple of people IRL ( who are maintaining their weight (not counting people 5+post op here on OH). I know bunch of people IRL *****gained, and regained most if not all, or even more than they lost. Those people returned to eating the same things what they ate before WLS, and just eat less of it. They are gaining. some gain slowly than if the were before WLS, but after a few years it is visible.

You are very wise, both to recognize that WLS is not foolproof and in recognizing your personal difficulties. This gives you a massive advantage over those who think they've got it licked before and soon after surgery.

Rocky's reply above gives you great insight into what is expected and what you will need to succeed.

There are several long term successful vets here on OH who are here to both give and get support - that need never disappears. They have lived this surgery anywhere from 5 to 30 + years and they really have BTDT, so are able to guide, advise and kick ass when necessary. Use and appreciate this resource - it's maybe the only group that doesn't encourage hand patting or smoke blowing. Too many groups out there are lessons in failure.

So while those posts about not making goal, stalling and regain worry you, they are doing you an awesome favour by giving you an opportunity to consider ALL sides of this life changing decision.

I think people with significant/complete regain are way more common than those of us *****gain and lose.

Most of the peers I keep in touch with have either never lost their excess weight or have regained and then some.

Never underestimate the long term successful veterans here - they are not typical in our population.

The OP is wise to be mindful of the very real possibility of not being successful in the 5, 10, 15 ++ long term