My friend is having surgery in a few months to lose weight. It's called Sleeve gastrectomy. It's similar to gastric bypass. She's sort of secretive about her weight which I understand. She did say that she wants to lose 75 pounds.They have her going through all sorts of pre-surgery tests now such as cardiac, upper GI, bloodwork, even a sleep study. She always had a nice figure, but after having two children, she could never lose the excess weight and started to gain more. Her husband is supportive, but she knows he liked having a thinner wife, and he's concerned about her health. Dieting doesn't work for her. She says it's been more difficult since she turned 40 two years ago.

Does anyone know someone who has had weight loss surgery? Does the weight stay off?

The gal who cleaned my home had a gastric bypass. I met her after she lost the weight, but she showed me pics of when she was overweight. The difference was remarkable. She didn't have any problems or regrets. There's a lot of success stories out there, but it's not for everyone. Carnie Wilson lost 150 pounds, then gained it all back. It's a new way of life, not a total solution.

The gal who cleaned my home had a gastric bypass. I met her after she lost the weight, but she showed me pics of when she was overweight. The difference was remarkable. She didn't have any problems or regrets. There's a lot of success stories out there, but it's not for everyone. Carnie Wilson lost 150 pounds, then gained it all back. It's a new way of life, not a total solution.

That's a good point. It takes work. The surgery sounds like it will really help. That's great that the woman lost weight.

I know a few people who have it done. One gained all the weight back and the other has kept the pounds off. You still have to eat right and keep moving.

A friends mom had gastric bypass a few years ago, but didn't make any lifestyle changes and gained the weight back. She was in her 60s when she had the procedure, and looked awful at her lowest weight.

Another friend, in her early 30's had the procedure done a year ago and has steadily lost 120 pounds. She looks terrific and has become very exercised focused. I think she will lose even more weight before she is done.

Please do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions before you make any decisions. Good luck!

I wouldn't go for it. Years ago I wondered if I'd ever need something like that when I was morbidly obese. Three years ago, when I was at 300, I took my doctor's orders and joined a fitness center and started eating properly. My weight is currently at 195, but a lot of it is muscle. Doing things to tighten up a little flab, but I am lifting tons of weight to build muscle tone.

The problem with gastric bypass and things like that is that it's a temporary remedy and without adjusting diet and activity levels, the weight will come back

Please do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions before you make any decisions. Good luck!

My friend is having the surgery, not me.