In December 1996 I weighed close to 300 pounds and now I hover around 155 and at 70, have never felt better in my life. Although weight control is still a daily struggle, I am amazed at how much energy I have, how wonderful it is to wear the same clothes season after season and not take any medications other than an occasional ibuprofen before my line dancing classes at the senior center on Monday morning. Losing weight is a very personal thing, and the one diet fits all is a hoax. I found what works for me and I follow it, ignoring all the "must dos" that "medical experts" suggest. I eat healthy in my own way and by my own guidelines. That doesn't mean that when I read about a new study attributing obesity to something other than willpower, I don't cheer, but I figure that by the time someone discovers that it really was in the genes, I will be long gone. I feel a great deal of empathy for the morbidly obese I see on the streets and I know what a struggle it will be for them to lose, but it can be done.
On another subject, my only physical problem is pelvic prolapse and 12 years after being diagnosed with a recommended hysterectomy and pelvic sling, I am still OK with just a pessary. I continue to seek out a surgeon who will create the pelvic sling without insisting on the hysterectomy. Also, the fact that possible side effects of the surgery are urinary and fecal incontinence is somewhat a deterrant!