Am female and 50 and I had a gastric reduction surgery 2 years ago. Not a bypass, and they left the stomach larger than most people's. I lost a lot at first, then slowed down. But it has forced me to figure out a way of eating that I can live with and not put the weight back on as many people unfortunately do. It is two years later and I am down 175 lbs. I like the way I eat, it's convenient and I choose my foods, though I limit or change high-fat foods to lower choices.

I have gradually added exercise to my life-style. It was difficult at first, because I have arthritis and had knee replacement surgery before the gastric surgery. I also have 3 deteriorating discs in my back and my hip sometimes comes out of the socket. In spite of these problems, or rather because of these problems, I began exercising to get my hip back in the socket. Got those from the chiropractor. Began back exercises, got those from a booklet in my doctor's office. Began doing them on my bed since I couldn't get down on the floor due to knee surgery. Now I can and I do them regularly as well as use my exercise bike. I get up during TV watching times and workout while the commercials are on. I can do a mile on my bike and be back before I miss anything, or do the other exercises on the rug in front of the TV. Who'd of thunk watching TV could promote exercise?