Back again

Welcome!  My first experience at a support group meeting was listening to members talk about clothes and shoe-buying.  I sat there thinking, "this vanity-talk is driving me crazy."  Today, I kinda get how intoxicating a new pair of heels can be.  It wasn't that long ago, I could only wear slip-on, men-size shoes.  Sometimes, I think new-found vanity is a red flag, other times I think it's motivation to stay on-track. It's pretty easy to conclude, health comes across loud and clear as the main reason for WLS, however.  It sounds like your self-esteem is already healthy which should help you succeed over and beyond.    

Hello,

I'm so sorry it took me forever to respond. Somehow I missed the e-mail that you had posted.  I agree that a little vanity can be a good thing!  I love getting manicures and pedicures and my hair colored.  I just wanted to be sure to surround myself here with positive people.  I have had some significantly overweight friends/acquaintances, and most of them had profoundly low self esteem.  I am ridiculously empathetic to others, so I want to try to steer clear of that environment.  

My NUT has a goal quite a few decades less than mine as my goal weight and I don't think she quite gets that I am being quite truthful when I say I don't mind if I don't reach it.

thats not to say I won't try, but if I make it to my goal of 200 - it's 112 pounds healthier, dmsII resolved (already! At 60pds down), fibro less of a problem and not lining up for an early heart attack, fitting in seats, participating in life. Those things were my goal. And knowing plastics will have to be a lotto win away, all that extra skin means vanity was very second best.

Do I enjoy being able to walk in to a store and buy pretty clothes, oh yes - but it's a nice side effect, not my goal.

Hello,

I know what you mean! I see people's tickers on here, and I can barely manage to think of myself as under 300 lbs, let alone in onderland!  I completely understand about plastics.  I have a very low income these days, so it isn't anything I'm counting on either.  

Every time I type my weight into an app to update it I always start with 3 only to catch myself and change that to a 2, it is definitely taking getting used to but it is a happy mishap! Started 345 now at 232 (I just did it again typed 332 at first!).

I'm not a fan of how I look now but I'm honestly worried about how I'll look after I lose the weight. After being heavy I don't know how my face will look since fat fill in all the wrinkles.

But 100% the only reason I went through with the surgery is because I had cancer 8 years ago and I have a gene that gives me a disposition to get it again. I also had my ovaries removed because of that which means I shouldn't have periods but last year I started getting them again. That scared the crap out of me!! My GYN said that could be because the fat cells store estrogen and it's possible that is what caused the periods to return. 

Side note - I'm from Sidney OH :) Have you gotten your surgery scheduled yet?

I wanted to lose weight so normal seats with arm rests don't bite into the sides of my legs painfully in doctor waiting rooms anymore. I wanted to lose weight so the steering wheel didn't rub up against my belly even with the seat all the away back. I wanted to lose weight so I wouldn't be out of breath just climbing a flight of stairs to get to my condo. I wanted to lose weight so I could get off some of the 12 pills a day I was taking for type 2 diabetes and blood pressure (no longer take any meds for either of those conditions!). I wanted to lose weight so my back wouldn't hurt me all the time anymore.

After that I suppose losing weight to "look better" is a nice bonus.

Don't get cold feet, go through with it, it will be one of the best decisions for your health you have ever made!