I'm new here and when I see the tickers at the bottom of the posts where people have lost a lot of weight, I am inspired and motivated to make my ticker go down.

I was just wondering, though, for those people who lost a substantial amount of weight, was it through surgery? I would like to avoid surgery if I can and want to know if the people here have lost it that way or not. I know that WLS is a very difficult, lifelong commitment (my sister-in-law has had gastric bypass) but, for many reasons, I can't do it.

So I guess what I'm asking is... those people with the huge amounts of weight loss... did you do it without WLS? I really need to know it's possible! Thank you for your help.

Yes, it definitely is possible to lose a lot of weight without WLS I am living proof of that. I've been on Atkins for 9+ years now and have lost over 100 lbs. The key is finding a plan that works for you and making it your lifestyle. I chose Atkins because I knew it was the plan I could live with for the rest of my life.
So...to answer your question, YES, you can do this without surgery!'
All the best to you!!

I'm not one of those amazing people but I've seen 'em here at this site. I would say that many of them did not have surgery. It seems to me that only a few people on this site have had surgery, but I don't have actual numbers...just a feeling.

From what I've noticed, they have often suggested not thinking about the large number of weight they needed to lose. They found a plan that they could follow and were consistent (with some slips, but then they got right back on track) and didn't think about the final number. Instead, they focused on 5 or 10 lbs. at a time.

One of my favorite posters is Kaplods. You might try to find her posts by doing a search. She is incredibly knowledgable and has the right frame of mind. Rather than focusing on losing weight fast and with a time limit, she's all about doing what she can live with and celebrating losses as well as lack of gains.

Anyway, I hope you'll stick around and find something that works for you. This is a great source of info and support!

I lost over 120 pounds without surgery. And I lost the first 100 pounds in 55 weeks. I "ate less and moved more." I was VERY consistent. luckymommy describes my mindset well.

I have since gained back a bit more than 1/2 of what I had lost. Mostly because I stopped being consistent. But that's a different story.

Hi there!
I fully believe it is possible to lose it without WLS and to prove it, you will just have to stick around and watch me. I'm going to lose over 100 lbs without surgery. Right now it's slow go for me, which is very different than all the other times I attempted weight loss. Usually the first week or two I pulled big numbers. Even if it crawls off slowly, this fat has got to go. LOL
Welcome! Jump in, get to work (if your dr has given the okay), and hang on. Don't quit no matter what.

No surgery for me either. I lost my weight starting last July. I'm on a medically supervised diet and all that means is that I eat very low calorie and have my vital signs/blood work/food log reviewed weekly at a doctor's office. I needed the accountability and safety of the diet to get the weight off. My doctor suggested WLS but I was petrified. So I asked if I could try something like this first. The rest is history!

I have to agree with JerseyGirl you have to find a plan that works for you. I have been counting my calories, writing down everything I eat and walking. I stay away from sweets most of the time but occasionally allow myself something in a much smaller portion than I would normally eat. Smaller is my new normal! I try to eat more veggies and fruits and things lower in calories but also things that I love.
Best wishes in attaining your goals!

No surgery for me, either!

I started at 258lbs on Atkins in 2002, lost down to 150. The weight would stay off for a year or so, then I would creep up to 190ish. My issue - I wanted a 'quick solution' to my chub. I never tried a lifestyle change - as in for here and ever after I will figure out my emotional eating issues, deal with them and in so doing: eat real food (guilt free) and lift weights. I just did cardio until I practically dropped from exhaustion. It worked - but it didn't stick. I would be so exhausted (and cranky) both mentally and physically that I would 'reward' myself for achieving that number: 150.
This time around: I focused on getting stronger and performing better in the gym. So far so good! This is something I see myself doing long term- not racing to the finish line and 'celebrating' for six months....

My biggest advice? Lift weights.
And: Don't obsess over the scale. Ditch the scale if you can! If you can't - Remember it's just a number that can only tell you your relationship to gravity. Nothing else. It does not define your self worth - you do.
If you have a setback - no biggie - life happens and you have to live it. Just keep on going.

I lost my weight without surgery. My father had a gastric bypass, and while this is rare, it did eventually lead to a stroke that killed him very young.

Surgery or not, you need to be disciplined in your plan, whatever you choose. Best of luck!

I lost all my weight without surgery. I counted calories and still do as a maintainer. I'm not a very patient person and wanted to get the weight off so I stuck to my plan like glue until I got to goal.

Welcome to 3fc's and I wish you well as you work towards your goal!

I'm still losing, but I too have lost my weight without surgery. Just controlled eating habits and exercise seem to be working for me. Right now I'm doing low carb, but I lost 60lbs just counting calories and moving 4 days a week for 30 minutes.

I lost 90lbs without surgery. I gained almost half back and have lost most of it again. I am at 75lbs loss. I started out counting calories but found that a calorie wasnt a calorie and really have to watch my processed foods and bad carbs.

I am not at 100lbs loss but I'd like to get there and without surgery.

My advice is to try and enjoy as much as you can about the whole weight loss experience. Sounds crazy, I know. But a lot of this is about the journey and taking small steps and celebrating the achievements to move on to bigger changes in lifestyle. I used my first 10lb loss to change my diet. I used my 50lb loss to start exercising. At 60lbs I was jogging. And at 65lbs I was out with friends playing tennis and bowling.

Believe me when I say that this has been a whole lot of fun. So, as others have said, it's best not to think about the big number but to make small goals and then to use those small goals to move your life in new and exciting directions that are better for your health and that you enjoy.

PS I still drink a lot of beer.

Yes. It is possible without surgery. It's also possible with practically no exercise. That's me.

I had considered surgery, but felt I really needed to make a final, dedicated effort on my own before going that route.

Either way, with or without surgery you need to change what you are eating - permanently. I wanted to make sure I could do that before investing so much money and pain in surgery and have it all be for naught if I couldn't control my eating habits.

Losing and maintaining your weight is a life long commitment regardless if there's surgery involved or not. What makes you successful is finding the thing that motivates you enough to get started and enables you to commit to keep going on days when you waiver.

I agree with Vex on this part too, the eating changes had to happen either way.

And for my WLS if I had to have it, there was an insurance requirement to do a medically supervised diet for 6 months prior to the surgery so I'd have to do my diet with my doctor's office anyway. I had lost over 100lbs in 6 months on my diet so I would have been crazy to turn to surgery at that point where I was on a good roll losing every week. And...I'm not sure I would have qualified for surgery at that point (being just about 220).