New Here

Hello,

I am new to this site and I am new to thinking about bariatric surgery.

I have been overweight for all of my adult life and have been on almost every diet out there.

I am just posting to say hello and to see if anyone has any suggestions about the first steps to take. I already met with a nutritionist and I think that I have chosen a surgeon.

Thanks!

Hi, Glad you stopped by to introduce yourself.  Sounds like you are on the right track by using the professionals.  Hopefully you have read some of our past posts, that is our best introduction to you.  We have a lot of experience in here and will try to answer any question.  We are also very good in the azz kicking arena when needed.

Good Luck on your journey,

Thanks for the response!

I am sure that I will need some serious butt-kicking at some point. LOL!

Do lots of research. There's a lot of great first hand knowledge on this site.  I have been obese since age 6 and just had LAP RNY in Jan and it's been one of the best decisions of my life.  The first thing I would do is go to a seminar at a bariatric clinic or hospital.  There's lots of great info there too.  I would do some research to find a center of excellence in your area if possible.

Good luck on your journey!!! 

Thanks for your response.

I am attending an educational seminar tomorrow, presented by the surgeon that will probably do my surgery IF I decide to go ahead with it.

Hi and welcome.  I had LAP RNY on 2/7/11.  At my heaviest I was 506.5 lbs and am now under 370 and literally feel like a million dollars.  I know what you are going through now and had that same battle in my mind for years.  I was healthy except for the weight and thought that I was being weak to have the surgery.  Boy was I wrong as this has the best thing and given me the most control of anything I have ever done.  I am exercising more than I ever have at any time in my life and really enjoy it.  I have a completely different relationship with food and that is really only in under 5 months.  Its hard to explain but now I'd just as soon have a protein shake than something unhealthy.  I have very little appetite now (although this as I've been told is temporary (6-12 months)) but I'll take it.   I am flying through clothes sizes and have dropped from a 7X to a 3X which is rapidly getting loose.  Kind a strange trip that I am currently on but although there were some complications early on (Don't get me wrong the first month after surgery SUCKED) but looking back it was a small price to pay for where I am now.   I am physically and mentally so much stronger than I have been in many, many, many years.

My biggest piece of advice is to do your homework and you will succeed.  I was lucky enough to attend a Pre-Surgical Weight Loss Group at Tufts Medical Center for the 4 months before my surgery which was wonderful and taught me everything from Mindful Eating, to Emotional Triggers, to Proper Exercise, To what to expect after surgery, etc...  Great if you can find something like that in your area as it was priceless.

Good luck as you embark on this journey of a lifetime and feel free to ask anything as the men on this board are not shy and will have an answer to any trouble!!

Thanks for the response.

I am getting the impression that the emotional changes and mindset changes are more dramatic than the physical changes.

I think that you hit the nail on the head (although the physical changes are very impressive and in a very short time).  I have been on every diet under the sun and have succeeded losing 100+ pounds on many occasions throughout my life but never have I been so mentally and emotionally committed to this and I think that is what this "Tool" provides you.  The Dr's, Nut's, Behavioral. Psych's made sure to emphasize that this is not a miracle cure for being overweight but a "Tool" to help you succeed and I wholeheartedly agree with that.
You have the Tool now go rebuild a Life!! 

Welcome. Glad to see you are doing your due diligence before making a commitment. I was a member here for quite a while (several years) before making the final decision. In actually went to three different doctor's informational meetings over that time period before I finqlly decided it was the right time for me.

As I have posted to many newbies, it is very important that you understand both the ups and the downs of wls. My first six months after surgery was a full-on ***** Many time i wondered what in the hell i had done to myself. Even with several years from first inkling to decision, I had only done half-hearted research into the "what if's" of surgery. Beyond that, the surgeon and the bariatric group did not do a good job of setting expectations. I had listened only to the good stuff and had not prepared myself for the reality.

That said, I am now a cheerleader for the procedure. Keep in mind that you will need to be ready to make the commitment to succeed and change your life. But, if you do, WLS can be the one real opportunity to make a major change in your life quickly.

Good luck and if you have any questions, ask. The group of guys here do not pull any punches and will give you a true picture of what this is all about.

Ken