CommuteCommando

My take on it is that it forces you to eat the way you should. I have known many who found work arounds and put the weight back on. The bottom line is that you have to be very willing to eat that way for the rest of your life.

Aahzz

Not to derail the thread, but I just noticed your sig line and laughed out loud, had to commend you on it . Turn signal use has become such a pet peeve since I started riding again....

ReTyred Al

There are many ways to lose weight by diet alone that work, even long term. The best ways are typically some form of low carb high fat. Usual names include: Ketogenic (extreme low carb < 20g total per day), Low carb high fat (very low carb (20-60 g carb per day) - See Diet Doctor.com or DenverDietDoctor.com, or the fatemporer.com), or the mediterranean diet (several versions, typically not as successful as the first two mentioned, but a good intermediate step). Surgery is an expensive option in terms of risks, post procedure (mental and physical) health and long term success.

Adding bike riding to any of these diet modifications will help weight loss by using up readily available stores of glucose and depending on how many carbs you ingest can get you to use your own fat as an energy source. For more rapid weight loss, consider the ketogenic diet. If you are diabetic or prediabetic, these dietary approaches can help you to get off of many or all diabetes meds. You can reverse diabetes - get your BGL in the normal range, but you may remain carb (insulin) sensitive which means that you will have to continue to eat low carb forever.

As with any new diet adventure, be sure to work with your doctor (provide them with the information that you research), do your research (due diligence), and know that if you fall off the wagon, you can get back on track in just a few days. This is a permanent change in eating habits and relies on non-processed, low carb high fat homemade food. There will be weight loss plateaus, weight ups and downs, "keto" flu if you pursue the ketogenic diets (but you can get through this in the first 1-2 weeks). Carbs are not a required primary nutrient (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) because your body can make all of the glucose it needs using your own fat stores and your brain and muscles can function of ketones. Note this is different from "ketoacidosis" which is a life threatening condition.

This approach may not be for everyone and your doctor may not be current with this approach, but is definitely worth investigating! I would be willing to share links to information. This is a decision that you have to make on your own after researching the matter.

StephenH

I know a couple of people that have had bariatric surgery, and they are both about as big as they ever were.
Reminds me of a quote that people have bariatric surgery, then "wind up sitting around drinking melted ice cream until they gain it back".
Anyway, I'd look seriously at statistical results for success, if there are any.

squirtdad

+1