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Just had to vent today-  Sunday I went to a bridal shower.   My sister somehow took a picture of me holding her 7 month old granddaughter-   I was sitting down, and it is a side view.  Bad enough she had to send it to me but she sent it out to my other 4 sisters as well.  Can't tell where by breasts end and my rolls start- roll after roll-  I am so sick of myself looking like this.   I have a date to talk to a surgeon on July 23.  I am excited but nervous about the whole thing-  Can I really do this, can I adjust to the big changes,  did/does anyone have these thoughts.  It is so scary for me to think of what little I can eat after WLS (if my surgery is approved), but I know in the long run, how beneficial it will be to me also.  I desperately want to get up to the cities sometime and meet with one of  the group, as I have so many questions but when I get on the board, can't remember any of them- Having a hard time loosing weight before I see the surgeon too.  If it was easy, I would not need the surgery.  My stepchildren and their families are coming up for 10 days over the 4th of July and I do not want to tell them about the surgery.  They are expecting to come up and eat, drink, have fun and "stepmom" don't want to be the party pooper-    so this has me getting more nervous as the days get closer- and guess what makes me feel good????  yup-  food.   OK, I am done venting - thanks for listening- and hope everyone has a great day!!  Jan  

Hi there. I can definately say that I have had the "oh my...am I really going to do this?" moment. My insurance was approved a few weeks ago and after that it hit me that this is real!  I am moving towards damatically changing my life forever. But then I take a step back and think about what lead me here. It was pictures of myself that I hated, feeling like the biggest one in the room, feeling ignored in Macy's, etc. and being scared that my life may end sooner than I am ready because I just had to have that piece of cake. I've learned that these feelings are perfectly normal. I just know that what I want is a better, happier, healthier life. So I'm jumping in, feet first! I meet with the surgeon on June 26 to get my surgery date. I'm ready!  The way I figure it...I read these boards and this many happy WLS people can't be wrong! Good luck to you on sorting it all out. I also have step-children and just told them a few weeks ago. It went ALOT better than I thought it would.

Congrats on being approved.   I am worried about that aspect also.  Just never know who will be or who won't be approved .   I have high BMI, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, have tried almost every diet or pill on the market- even phen-phen so I don't know what else I'd have to do or have in order for them to approve surgery for me.   Jan

I wouldn't guess you'd have trouble getting approved.  I have no co-morbidities and have been approved without any problems. Think positive and you'll have a positive outcome. Also, I had a period where I was in food mourning...I ate anything I wanted whenever the craving struck for about 2 weeks. I guess that was how I said "See you later carbs and sweets"...and then I felt ready to move on. I'm preparing myself now for my "new life" and found that the longer you stay away from certain things, the easier it is to say no or to not crave them at all.  I'm here anytime you need to talk :)

Keep that picture with you and when you feel yourself slipping back into the I don't know if I can or want to do this stage -- pull it out and remember how you feel when you look at it.   And then after you have the surgery and are losing the weight and you don't think you can stick with the program, pull it out again and ask yourself if you want to look like that again???   Either way the picture sounds like a good motivator!!!  And even though some may feel horrible after they have the surgery, when asked later, most would do it again in a heartbeat!!!!  Problems and all included..... And eat so little -- who cares when eating so little you are full and way !!  I still have to not order to much when we go out -- the old "will that be enough" brain fart???  That's another reason you continue to measure food after the loss stops and maintaining begins too.  And I'm eating almost everything I was eating before -- just way less.  Can't do sugar any more so that really  helps with staying away from the bad stuff any way. 

And having fun when family is here -- why can't you eat healthy, drink healthy fluids and still have fun??  Anyone who thinks you are only fun when eating and drinking should be dope slapped.....You are way more than that.   And they can still eat....you can only be accountable for what you eat.  My family didn't have surgery -- I did.  So I still bake, cook, pick up treats for them, etc.  I just don't eat it any more.  And no one thinks any less of me -- there is just less of me to think about!!! And telling them about the surgery, only tell them if you feel comfortable about it.  Some things people just keep to themselves.  I personally told everyone so they wouldn't talk behind my back about why I was losing weight so fast -- "is she sick", etc.  Plus they will have healthier choices for me if I'm visiting them because they know I can't eat what I used to. Keep marching toward the goal and know you can always come here for support......You can do this!!!!  Stay strong......and ea****ermelon -- counts as fluids and you can eat a ton of it before you go to the doctor to help you lose weight..... XXOO

 

Barb - I didn't know that fun fact abou****ermelon! Thanks! I anticipate surgery by mid-July and still have a pesky 9 lbs to loose and I was just telling my DH yesterday that I was craving watermelon!

Hey, thanks a lot about the watermelon-  I love it!!  Yes, I will put this picture on the fridge with my other fat pictures.  You have a good attitude on the food.  Your family did not have the surgery, you did.  It is just my hubby and me at home (with the dogs and cat of course) and I just know NOT to have cookies, and cakes, etc in the house as I have no willpower when it comes to sweets.  That I spose is why I have diabetes.  It is not that I don't want to tell the stepkids about my surgery, it is that I want them to see "stepmom" slimmer and I want it to be a surprise.  One lives in Nevada and one lives in Ohio so I would have time to 'shed' some weight.  (again, IF I am approved).  Thanks again for your input.  Jan

Jan, be gentle with yourself through this whole process.  Once you begin working with the surgery center they will give you guidelines and plans to begin working on addressing nutrition and the emotional issues that go along with it.  I know that when I first started the process I was working with a therapist and she was *really* getting worried because I actively resisted everything that I knew I needed to do for about the first month.  Once I made the decision to really put the work into changing my life though, things got easier.  Not perfect, but easier.  When your family comes, just try to eat as sensibly as you can.  Yes, it's better to lose weight prior to WLS, but maintaining your current weight is also OK.  The key is not to treat everything like it's your "last supper" and end up gaining weight. Anyway, I might get flamed for my next suggestion, but it works for me.  I keep my bathroom scale in the kitchen.  I've been on a liquid diet for three weeks now and every time that I think about eating everything in sight or just calling my surgeon and canceling the whole surgery because I will absolutely *die* if I can't eat - I step on the scale and I hear my weight (too fat to look down and see it) - and reality comes back to bite me big time. Hang in there and I hope that your process goes smoothly.

I know what I am suppose to be doing and not doing (eating) but it is so hard to get that image stuck in my mind.   What a great idea-  move the scale into the kitchen where the food is.  Such simple ideas.   Thank you for your  kind words of wisdom.  Jan

Hello Jan, Have you looked at all of the surgery options?  Have you researched the DS?  CHeck out the DS board if you have not....it may be the surgery for you (your co-morbidities and the DS have great success). Jennifer