Nerves

I am a little more than a month until my surgery, next week I meet with Dr.Clarke and I start Medi Fast. I am having wicked butterflies in my belly is this normal?

OHHHH YES it is very normal to feel that way.  I can remember the day of my surgery that I kept telling my mom that I really wasn't sure I really wanted to go thru with this.  But I just had my 6 months check up today and I would do it 6 more times if I had too.  It is not easy at all BUT after a few months you will be so happy you did it.  i have lost 102 pound...31 B4 sugery and 72 in 6 months.  I feel and look like a new person.  Everything about yourself changes good and bad.  I can do things that I never thought I would do again.   The bad part is buying clothes all the time cause you can not stay in them( good and bad)!!!!!!  I would say you weren't normal if you didn't have jitters about this life changing surgery.  keep the faith and B4 you know it you will losing!!! 

it is the going to be great keep telling your self that




 

Definately normal... It's a huge change in your life. Consider it the first day of the rest of your life. Keep your eye on the prize and you'll do just fine.

it is funny i have the same butterflies but i think i finally realized they arent nerves they are total excitement. Its time for ME. I am so close to changing my self in to the thin healthy person i know i have buried deep inside.

Like everyone said it is definitely normal!! It is for an awesome cause though!! Don't forget why you are doing this!!! I truly believe that the Medifast was the hardest part of surgery for me... I had 12 bleepin' weeks of it & it truly was a test!! I know now I could've done so much better but I got stubborn at one point!!! I can't undo what was done but I've made it pretty far considering & I won't let it derail me from my goal of at least a size 10-12!!!!

Keep a positive outlook & you will do just fine!! (& when you feel like straying come on over to get some support - or a butt kickin' depending on what you need!!)
Good Luck!!
Cece

This is so normal about 2 yrs ago I decided to save a post about this to resend to all that ask, as it is so common!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is that reply!

Hello!
To assist in finding inner peace with your decision to have WLS consider YOUR CHOICE reflects the responsible, powerful masterful spirit that you are and you're ready to start creating miracles in your life. Taking some time to meditate, journal, pray, use positive affirmations http://www.dailyinspiringquotes.com or http://www.nawls.com/public/department27.cfm or here http://www.unityonline.org/pray_prayersaffirmations.htm etc on your decision. Writing all the reasons why this is your choice, what your expectations and goals are (*consider those beyond wt loss itself), what you are fearful of.

Those that have goals that are health focused and functionally focused do the best (vs. those that are scale or weight/number focused). I am such a firm believer in not allowing the scale (or hunkametal that it is) to rule or dictate ones life/thoughts/feelings any longer, I agree we want to lose wt but gaining our health and ability to function in life are far more important than any number the scale can read; otherwise if it never reads the number we think, others say, a chart suggests we fail and that is simply not true!!!

As I have said before in other forums: Most of our lives we have set RIGID, UNREALISTIC WEIGHT LOSS GOALS for ourselves that are BOTH UNATTAINABLE and CHRONICALLY DISAPPOINTING and lead to DEVASTATION & the slippery slope of self-sabotage...Review the UNDERLYING lifestyle change such as exercise, food choices, self-awareness/monitoring, avoidance of emotional eating, adherence to living self responsibly in a CONSISTENT way that is the foundation to our long-term success. For me I keep telling myself daily that***THE GOAL SHOULD NEVER BE A NUMBER***

Consider that happiness and success will NEVER EVER come from an external source (person, object, number on the scale). It can and will ONLY come from internal self-discovery and love. Listening to my BODY/Mind/Spirit/Heart now and though your journey can be most helpful. Many times we are so busy or do not find the 'me' time needed to really connect internally w/ ourselves. Anxiety is just fear in disguise, ask yourself what are you fearful of? The changes you will go through physically/emotionally/relationship wise, pain, dying, complications, loss of food, fear of failure? Write about them, get them out of your head, feel them....

The goals you write today and reasons may help now as well as down the road when a complication or stressor or plateau happens, it can re-center you within your self, helping you refocus on the big picture and choice you made, well aware of a few bumps in the road. Deciding to have surgery, being as well informed and educated as possible, having supports (in person groups, online, friends and family) to talk to, to normalize and validate ourselves and journey is a key as well.


ONLY you know if this is the right thing at the right time for you, anxiety/fear is common and normal, consider embracing the feelings, they are only that feelings they have a beginning/middle/end and serve us well if we listen vs avoid/repress/stuff them. See this opportunity as one where you can grow. I was motivated but scared as well of dying..a hard decision but one I do not regret making....

I recommend you consider trying to fill your mind with as much optimism and positive thinking as possible! Basically, become more conscious of what you are thinking and feeling, and start preparing yourself to think of food and your life in a different way. This is a courageous step for you to take, and it's not just about weight changing -- it's about
life changing. This is why so many of us are challenged by the enormity of the decision.

http://www.livingafterwls.com/Library.html this site has many good articles for preop/postop! Check it out periodically many good topics!!!

Maybe use positive thinking such as:
"I AM COMMITTED TO FACE AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF LIVING" (i.e. no longer be morbidly obese)

"MY SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON MY CHOICES AND MY BEHAVIOR IN THE PRESENT" (i.e. having the surgery, committing to a healthy lifestyle)

"ALTHOUGH I MAY NOT HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS IN MY LIFE, I CAN ALWAYS CONTROL MYSELF AND HOW I RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS" (i.e. complications but how I manage them if they happen is up to me).

THIS EMPOWERS YOU NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS!!!

YES THIS IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT! It takes extraordinary courage to make the decision and live w/ the choices we make to consciously limit food choices for the rest of our lives (and potentially limit social opportunities built around meals) among all the other potential complications it can bring short or long-term....

There will be plenty of opportunities to grow/change in life as it can be one stressor/problem after another but deciding to keep on keeping on will always help! Hugs!

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! You are a warrior and worthy of this opportunity to change your life...Be well.