Newbie! Excited to start my new life!

Aww thank you! You're really pretty too! And I know what you mean-- I know I'm doing it at an early age but I still wish I had done it earlier when I was 18. I feel like I've missed out on so much.

I'll be adding you as a friend! Looks like we have a lot in common GL with your surgery as well!

Done! Look forward to following you!!  

Monica!! I am sooooo excited for you!! I too was heavy (my way back then of describing myself) all my life and yo yo dieting. I went thru jr, high school and college but luckily I had enough self esteem to be out there enjoying my life and being a social butterfly.....or so I thought. Truth was...I too was in denial and being a social butterfly was how I made it "OK" to be "obese" because I was accepted for the most part although I experienced what every other obese person has from society. I knew I was obese and truly did try losing weight several different times with several different diets and I was very active playing racketball, softball and volley ball all the time but I could never seem to keep what ever weight I had lost off. I got married, got separated and then did the worst thing possible....I began to hide in my misery and became very depressed, sedentary and isolated. When I joined this site a few years ago I had ups and downs trying to have this surgery and it finally came about. My message board also said "waiting to have VSG surgery so I could start living my life". I had a major reality check when I took my before pictures. I had the surgery on March 15th and have lost 45 lbs and have changed my message board to say "starting to live my new life". I have 2 regrets.......the first that I did not have this surgery earlier in my life (so you are very lucky that this is an option at your young age) and 2nd...that I let myself get to the point that I felt that I was not worthy of being out there with the rest of the world living my life right up till I had the surgery. Please start living now...experience some of the "college life" your speaking about because what others think of you does not matter and you can never go back. The low down is what you think of your self. Changing how you feel and getting out is part of this journey of accepting yourself and making the changes needed to be successful. I wish you the best of luck , much success and always know that there are people here for you! I'm proud of you and know that you will be an inspiration for many future people here on this site. (sorry it's so long but you struck a cord in me)

Well Didi, you just stuck a cord in me as well! I was nearly in tears as I read your comment! I really wish I could start living my life now.. and believe me, I have tried. But it gets to a point where it takes me nearly an hour to leave my place because I'm so self-conscious in my clothes and how I look..that by the time that I'm ready to leave, I don't want to go anywhere anymore. And if I do go out, I literally feel like I'm about to have an anxiety attack because I'm so ashamed of the way I look and I feel like everyone's eyes are on me.. judging me and staring me down. I have been trying to get down into the "nitty gritty," so to speak to find out what got me here in the first place. I hope that this will help me in the future so not only will I fix the physical side of me, but the mental/emotional part as well. Like you mentioned, I need to start learning how to accept myself!

Thank you so much for your words! They really mean a lot. GL on your journey as well! You seem to be doing great already!

Girlie you need to have the attitude of "screw em". I have always had this mentality. I think I was born with it so it comes naturally, but you just have to hold your head high think about how things are gonna change in the future and not care what anyone thinks. I know it is prolly easier said then done but its something you really have to put your mind to and not let that hold you back. Get some of your friends that love you just the way you are, start small maybe a store or a mall or something and keep going from there. if you lived in my area I would go with you!! lol get going girl and get out there and don't let it hold you back! You can do it! 

It's funny because my mom has the same mentality as yours, so I always wondered why it was never carried on to me.. lol. Thank you for the encouragement! I really appreciate it! I will definitely try my best to not care as much!

Welcome!  I'm new as well.  Meeting my surgeon next Tuesday.  I also have turned into a hermit.  My dh calls me an "80 year old" even though I'm only 30.  I figured it's about time I take control of things and get my life back.  I have a one year old daughter who's about to start walking and I want to be able to keep up with her!  Not to mention that I don't want to pass along my awful bad habits to her as my mom did to me!