Silly question - no flames please

Hi all My surgery is coming up quick - two weeks from today at this time in the evening I will be post-op - over the past few days while at work and especially while getting ready for bed and I look down at my body and I start really thinking is it really possible that all this fat will go away? When you were going into this did you have a vision of yourself on the other side? Did you have an idea of what your body would look like thin? I mean I can't even imagine it - I look down and think - even if I lose 100 lbs this skin will keep me in the same clothes I am wearing now. I am really having a hard time "seeing" me on the other side and wonder if anybody else experienced this. Am I just crazy? Thanks Andrea

Girl - that is NOT a silly question! I think it's a great question that all of us either have asked or are asking. I am 8 days out and I still can't believe I'm "on the other side". I have lost 29 lbs (22 of it because of the pre-op diet) and I STILL can't believe I'm going to lose enough to be "thin". It just doesn't seem possible. I keep making deals with myself... "Okay, carol, you'll believe it and be happy when you get under 220..." (220 is my "magic" weight that I've never been able to get under). But something tells me that when I hit 220 I'll make a new deal with myself (that I won't believe it and be happy until I'm under 200 and so on). I also had myself psyched out into thinking that I would be the one person with all the strictures and leaks, etc etc. I've had zero complications. I feel great! So great that other than some pain from eating too fast, I feel totally normal - which screws with my head also. What if I'm the only person on earth that DOESN'T lose weight? What if I lose 20-30 lbs and then stop losing and it's as difficult to lose weight as it was before??? See? Told ya you weren't the only one. YOU ARE NORMAL. And guess what? As a WLS patient - if you follow the rules YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT. I promise!!!!! Your anxiety is normal... you'll be on the other side before you know it! skinny, squeezy hugs to you! carol L. 263 > 234 > 141

I have had the exact same thoughts! I have said more than once, that I will probably be the one person that this surgery won't work for! If you have been overweight for a long time (practically my whole life!!!) then of course it is hard for us to imagine ourselves any other way. I'm just planning on following the drs. orders, walk, walk, walk, and FROG (Fully Rely On God!). I wish you the best and let's help each other keep going! Susan

I think we all try to envision what we'll look like on the other side. It really is hard to picture that. I've been overweight my entire life and I have NO idea what person actually lies beneath this fat. It should be fun to watch though.... never a dull moment! We may have excess skin and such, but we'll feel so much better and I feel pretty confident that I'll just plain ol' enjoy life and living it to the fullest. This fat has held us back for WAY too long and we're kicking it's a$$! Just be healthy, eat healthy, follow the rules and let's get ready for the time of our lives! Good luck on your surgery! Mine is on the 15th so see ya on the flip side!!