How to prepare...

Hello All... My surgery date is scheduled for September 1st - only 9ish more days. I'm finding myself wondering how to prepare for this day. I'm having the surgery for Severe Acid Reflux, and find myself grateful to God for providing this surgery as a solution to this problem in my situation. I look at this surgery as a way to cure my acid reflux, and as a bonus I get to loose weight too. God is awsome, and definitely works in mysterious ways. I have found that I am not really feeling overwhelmed because I have released all control to God. I have my faith in Him and know he is in control - always. My concern is with how quickly I will be losing the weight. I mean as far as my emotional status to work through this period of time and uncertainty. I am so used to dieting and failing at it, that I'm not sure how i will accept success. If anyone has input on this please post a response to this.

Well I know exactly how you feel. I have done so many weight loss diets it isn't funny. I would loose some weight but it ALWAYS came back and with buddies. I once thought I was going to be successful and at the time it felt great. I joined this diet program, (not going to say) and I lost 87 pounds. I looked and felt great. By this place's standards I still needed to loose like 70 pounds but if I never lost another pound I would be great. I started gaining and have been ever since. I have to say that the feeling of knowing I looked and felt great was amazing. I know I will loose weight but what makes me kind of nervous is what I will look like. Will I recognize myself? How will others treat me? Will it effect my marriage? So when I get off into one of those thoughts I just try and remind myself that everything will be great and not to stress over it. I mean lets face it, I can't complain because I am thin and everyone loves me. LOL Well I can, but no one will care. hehehehe Shannon

I know how you feel but how quickly you lose weight is by using the tool to your full advantage. Listen to your surgeon and nutritionist. Do what they tell you to do. They have your best interest at heart. As for the mental part....I have been mentally psyching myself out to do exercise, I have a neighbor who will walk with me, my hubby said he would walk with me at night (my street gets soooo dark at night). I am so excited about wanting to exercise that I can't wait for the surgery so I can get better so I can exercise. I have been filling my head with positive energy so it will give me the motivation to do this. How we use this tool is entirely up to us. I mean, if all I plan to do is sit on the couch and watch TV most likely we will not lose. (I mean 3+ months post-op) But every persons abilities are different but I do think no I do believe that WE CAN DO THIS and when we are upset or tired or scared, you have us to help you through it. Gosh, I hope this doesn't sound like a lecture.....LOL.....I apologize if I do...LOL.....But if you feel depressed (which can happen to some of us post-op) then that is when you make an appointment to see a therapist. I still see mine and I have been seeing her for 3 years now. (grief counseling) I have left my life in God's hands. He will help us and see us through no matter the outcome. As far as success, it is up to us to use the tool to our full advantage. I hope this helped some and not too lecture-y....LOL. Erin