Happy Friday - it looks like I'll set for surgery for May 19th with Dr Maytorena.  PHEW one hurdle over with.

Now here's my question. I've looked at 100's of photos of you who have been post op for a long time.  WAY TO GO.

I'm curvy - always have been at 18 and 120 pounds I was 36/24/24..  size c cup.  Think Marilyn Monroe curvy.  I know there is no guarantee I'll look thin, but anyone disappointed in HOW THEY LOOKED once they reached goal weight?

thanks ya'll

Tnkrrbl

BMI 31; start weight 190 - 56 years old, F.... VSG  set for 5/19

I did not like my stomach before or after surgery so had a tummy tuck.  If you don't like something, you can always save your money and get it fixed,  I was 59 and took very good care of my hair and skin, got in all my protein and all my vitamins.  I am thrilled with how I look now.

I used to worry that I wouldn't like my skinnyface, but as it turns out, I like it just fine!

Jen

 I was surprised to see that the 22 y.o. wasn't looking back at my 60 y.o. face when I had surgery;  somehow I don't think that's going to be a surprise to anyone else.

Because of "empty skin" I was not comfortable in shorts or sleeveless tops.  Oh well, I am 40 years older now, so who wants to see that old skin anyway!?

I don't mind the trade-off when it is a normal b/p, a normal blood glucose level, and a lot better life.

I am 54 years old and I already know about what it's going to be. I lost 108 lbs on ww and regained about 80 of that pre R&Y this March. So, I know I already have the batwing arms and thighs...really don't care..nothing the right clothes will not hide!! I know I will still feel better and look better than I did before WLS!!! That's what it is about feeling better and being healthy and being able to do things I couldn't do when I was heavier!

"nothing the right clothes will not hide!! "

This is so true! the only thing i dont like is my inner thighs (they are wrinkly but I was 270-275 so what did I REASONABLY expect?). This is easily resolved with flattering skirts and shorts.

Dont worry too much about what you body is going to look like. There are so many factors in it that you CANT control (e.g. weight/genetics). 

What you CAN control is: 1) your diet; 2) whether you exercised and 3)your response to your body changes.

MY NUT swears up and down that the reason I had such a good response (very little excess skin..only in the damn inner thighs) is because I worked out. I know that working out/running/wieght lifting has given me a toned, lean look. My arms rival those of Linda Hamilton in terminator (i.e not BIG..but cut. You can see the muscle groups). I dont have bat wings. 

I know that working out has gven me an outlet for negative emotions (which are temporary) that meditation CANT handle and I used to stress eat away. I work in the law field and sometimes the people I work with are jerks. The attorneys can be pretty bad too. And when I get the urge to drop kick someone and stress eat (my previous way less violet way to handle these negative feelings) to get through that moment, I know that it will not meet my goals of maintaining/losing my weight. It is very hard for me to "rationalize"/mediate myself out of anger and stress. There is something about the adrenile rush/heart pumping that I feel when I want to open a can of whoop-ass that deep breathing just cant over come. That is when I check my calendar and put on my running shoes.

Usually about mile 4 I am not so mad anymore and dont want to eat every potato chip and cracker in the vending machine!

So work on the stuff that you can handle.

Also, think of all the pretty clothes that you will be able to wear!  They will be inexpensive because they arent in the specialty boutiques. Size smalls and Xs are ALWAYS on the clearance rack! Always! You want that, don't you?

What about activities you have lost?  You can get those back! You can!  I got running back (try jogging at 300 lbs...not so easy)! I love going on long trail runs and seeing fox, deer, squirrels, and woodchucks!

I got figure skating back.  Didnt even notice that I missed it until I put on smelled the cold humidty of the rink (and the hockey players), my old skates,  and felt the cold air rushing around me. It was like I was flying!

So lots and lots of reasons to go forth in confidence!

Dont worry about what you will look like when you are done. That is why god invented plastic surgery and Mexico!

:)

Just do ALL you REASONABLY can to get the goal that YOU want.

I'm mostly curious about how I'll look. Will I gain a waist? I am a bit worried about what my neck is going to look like since it is currently really fat. That said, I will be thrilled with however I look because I will be healthier and lighter. Also, I've started a plastic surgery savings account just in case.

There have been a few posts here through the years of people who were miserable with their thin look. Mostly due to excess skin. I would say the overwhelming majority of us are happy with how we look after we lose the weight, even with excess skin. I will say I LOVE how I look now and yes, I am happy that I am healthier, but I will admit it is pure vanity that keeps me fighting every day to stay at goal.

Honestly, I don't even know what I'm going to look like at my goal weight! I have always had a thick, muscular body and my entire adult life has been spent getting heavier and heavier. I am one month post-op and am starting to see changes in my appearance, but nothing drastic yet. I am concerned about excess skin and droopy boobs, but my husband and I have already starting joking about what I'll be going through instead of trying to ignore or be ashamed of the aftermath of massive weight loss. I am expecting to need plastics (at least a LBL and my arms done, and probably a BL while I'm at it) but I'll deal with that later, right now I need to focus on my health and new habits, my appearance isn't as important during this part of the process.

thanks for those of you who took the time to respond.  I guess I'll get what I get.

I remember being 135 when I got married 35 years ago - and being mortified that I needed a size 14 wedding dress..... I know now that wedding dresses, maybe more then than now, are not true sizes.  So the fear that I'll get to 135 again and still need size 16 jeans.. well then why should I bother......

My husband says "go for it, everything has risks, you'll be happier and healthier."  I'm usually happy until I look in the mirror.  (I know I can make what I have look good "for my size".  I guess I want to just look good.")  is it wrong to be so vain?