Some thoughts I wanted to share with others, especially those considering bariatric surgery, as I cross into my second year with SparkPeople:

I had a gastroplasty (stomach stapling) back in the earlier days of bariatric surgery (1992) and lost a lot of weight but gained it all back and THEN some.

Since joining the Sparks one year ago I've lost 69 pounds...had already lost around 27 pounds during the six months before hand...so I'm nearing 100 pounds lost in the past year and a half without benefit of any surgery.

What I've learned from all of this is that bariatric surgery affords one rapid weight loss within a limited period of time (a year? perhaps a big more?) to make permanent lifestyle changes...if those changes aren't made there are many risks of re-gaining the weight lost. For me, as I look back over the success I've enjoyed over the past year and a half WITHOUT the risks associated with going under the knife, I've realized that it truly CAN be possible to lose this weight without the risks of surgery! AND during roughly the same period of time, if one counts the AFTER-surgery adjustments necessary to insure the success of bariatric surgery.

I know early on in my efforts I never would have dreamed that this was possible, but through the inspiration, support and motivation I've picked up through SparkPeople this has truly been a wonderful journey and not as difficult as I once thought it would be. I used to look at my weight as if it was an insurmountable MOUNTAIN bigger than EVEREST!

But I'm here to tell you: It isn't!

Just some thoughts to consider as you move forward in your journey to recovering your health and wellness.

Don