SOMEONE HELP!!!!

Okay so my surgery is in 19 days now and I am WAY over thinking everything. Well not everything I am ready for surgery and know I am doing the right thing but I have the whole "what if" thingy going on. What if I don't lose? What if I have tons of hanging skin? What if I hate the way I look after? Anyways. Okay so what I was wondering is if there is sorta like a rough guideline of how much you can expect to lose...like after one month, three, six, eight and one year? I mean I know everyone is different but I am having a -- what if I only lose 15lbs in 3 months?---what if I lose 50lbs in a month? I want to have realistic expectations so maybe you guys could tell me how your weight loss progession was and maybe what to expect? I'm 23, 5'7 and weigh about 270ish if that helps any.........WOW 19 DAYS .........WOW!!!!

First take a deep breath. Now Congrats on your surgery date comming so fast. Like you said everyone is different. Everyone looses at different rates, everyone hits stalls at different times, everyone tolerates certain foods at their own time and sometimes never with certain foods. The one thing that I have come across is as long as you follow the program and do what your doc and surgeon says.....you will be successful. You are having major surgery, you are mentally preparing yourself for months now, you have researched inside and out what to expect. Now you just need to put everyting into play. YOu are going to do amazing. Dont compare any part of your journey to anyone elses. You just focus on what you are supposed to do and in a couple of monts we will be looking at some amazing before and after pics........ Hang in there..... LisaMarie

Hey chickie! You have youth in your corner! The older we get, the less elastic-like our skin is. With all the water and other fluids you're drinking and will continue to drink are also a true benefit to ths skin! I am also wondering what to expect. When can I begin to exercise? Will it be just walking or will I be able to return to CURVES, softball, volleyball? So, so many unanswered questions! From what I have been told at my support group and from friends who have not undergone any type of WLS, you will be a changed person inside and out. I mean, can we expect to lose 50, 75, 100 or more and not have it impact who we are? Will we have more confidence to venture out in life? I hibernate, not wanting those around me who knew me when I wore a size 9 to see me, due to being ashamed of what I let myself become. I'm in the kicka$$ and take names later mindset right now! I told my friends at work, I pity the poor man who finds me first! WOOWOO! hehe YAY for you!!!! 19 days! (13 for me)

Nicole, Relax............we can all "what if" forever. It won't help to do that. Just take it a day at a time. Concentrate on doing what you are supposed to and things will be ok. ~~Betsy

You are going to do just great. DOn't worry. Remember, the most weight you will lose will be within 12-18 months. I had my RNY 2/05 (age 42). I weighed 269 lbs the morning of my surgery. I'm 5'3 and now weigh 157-158 lbs. The majority came off by one year (93 lbs), I had a few cosmetic procedures to remove the excess skin on both my lower and upper body with liposuction also. I also watch what I eat and exercise regularly (4-5x/wk). Weight loss surgery is a tool. You have to be diligent to see the best results. You have an advantage - age. You are young and your skin still has elasticity. I had 2 children before WLS. Follow your doctor's advice. Be a great patient and you will be extremely happy with the results. Best of luck to you.

Nicole; Hi! Finding inner peace w. our decision to have WLS can be challenging! Living life in the moment not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future is also difficult. How often do we put off happiness, joy and peace until....... "I will be happy when..." The reality is we do not have control over many thing in life, turning over what I can not control to a higher power than myself brings comfort. I always thought I'd be happy when I lost wt, well it just isn't so, being happy in the moment is all we have, living now is so freeing when I do it. Fear disquises itself as worry, I think I just read worry is the interest we pay on tomorrows problems. Answer the what ifs, what if you don't lose as expected, truly what can you do about it? You can choose to accept it or continue to be unhappy, and judge/shame yourself keping the happiness far far away. There is no roadmap on this journey, it is wonderful and individual. there is typical, expect that you will most likely lose 50% of your excess wt. that is ~ 60#, ANYTHING else is a bonus, how fast it happens is partially in yiur ability to control by the lifestyle u live, the rest is up to yiur body and genetics.... MOST lose 2/3 of what they will lose in first 6 mo but that is a generalization. Learning to trust YOUR process and accept you are where you shuld be at any moment has helped me. I lost most in 6 mo wheras my friend lost same amount in 18 mo, why? Well no true answer to that. Do people not lose 50% of excess, yes a few do not, will it be you? Most likely not unless you are totally non compliant. Expect that there are no expectations, expect this will be a challenging process, filled w/ some struggles, plateaus and lifestyle changes you will have to make for longterm success, expect you can change, you can become a warrior on the obesity battlefield. Frame of mind is what will help you. There is always a way to look at a situation and learn from it and grow. WLS is not truly about wt loss I fel it is about a way to change our lives and be healthier in body mind and spirit, that does include wt loss as a bonus but the real joy and succes is learning how to deal w/ life in a positive manner, healing ourself and for me learning to manage my emotions w/o numbing w/ food or changing to another addiction! For myself I can put a whole host of energy into the whatifs, which does not serve me well, it only keeps me from enjoying the happiness I have at this moment, ir robs me of vital energy to manage the challenges lif wil have for me in the future. Worry does not change the future it only changes my state of mind today from enjoyeent to fear. Acknowledging my fear and moving thru it now helps me avoid the obsesive worry, I am not perfect I strive to work on it and myself continually, I embrace my imperfections as who I am and I am ok as I am. Framing this as your life change may help you, and learnig to say SO WHAT IF, WHO CARES I will deal w/ it then but for now this is WHAt is AND i EMBRACE IT AND ACCEPT IT! yOU ARE A WARRIOR AND YOU WILL GROW AND THRIVE ON YOUR JOURNEY, WHATEVER THAT IS AND WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU BELEIVE YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT AND TO THE OTHER SIDE HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER EVE IF YOU CAN NOT SEE WHY RIGHT NOW! I will leave u w/ the motivational Quote I received today!: "One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today." -- Dale Carnegie: Let go and trust, faith heals fear! HUGS~ Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45 before Surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hey Nicole, I guess we all go through the same thing at one point or another. I was fine up until a week ago when I started my per-op diet. Then it hit me, I got so nervous and have been ever since. I keep telling myself to relax but I can't. This is a major decision with a lot of what ifs? I just keep telling myself I am sure I will be better off after then before! You will be fine

Check this link out. I felt the same way as you are ...I printed and cut this out and is on my refrig. - It is nice having a BASIC idea - I have to say its been pretty close to my monthy weigt loss. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/forums/postopplanner.phtml?ID=980512295 hugs, Britt

Hi! I am so excited for you. I remember doing the count down too. I lost 15 pounds before I even came home from the hospital. It seemed like I would loose a pound a day for 5-7 days then I wouldn't loose for 2-3 days then I would losse a pound a day again for 5-7 days. It pretty much went like that for a few months. Then it chaned at about 6 month to 3ish pounds a week. I have everything written down some where, but I know between July 14 and October 1, I lost 60 pounds. I am also 5'7, stared at 311 and was 29 when I had my surgery. I have been at the same weight for 9 months now. Enjoy the first 20 pounds because the last 20 pounds are a b*tch! LOL Oh, and bring a fan to Sisters Hospital it was hot as hell in there and even if it's not hot yet for your surgery, you will be glad to have the fan to drownd out the sounds in the hall.

Nicole my lovley...PEACE! You are going to do so good! You have gotten this far on your determination and you are NOT going to fail at this! YOU can do this! Don't put expectations on yourself for what you should lose...just let your body tell you...if you listen to it...your going to do just fine! (((HUGS))) sweet one! I am keeping your seat warm hun!