First time poster! Just saying hello!

Hello,  This is my first post.   I am 34 yrs old and weigh 425 lbs.   I have finally given in and made an appointment with a bariatric specialist.   My first appointment is January 14.   I was against surgery for the longest time as I thought it was the easy way out and cheating.   It wasn't until recently that I started considering WLS.   The pain and restrictions of my weight are getting to me.  I find my self depressed and I am embarrassed by myself and for my wife, *****cently went on a diet and exercise program and looks amazing!   She is 5ft 4 and 130lbs and I am an ogre that is ashamed to be seen in public .   

Since I have decided to do the surgery  I am consumed with it!  I am learning everything I can, I am like a kid looking forward to Christmas day.   I hope to use this forum to post and get my thoughts and feelings out to people I hope have felt and gone through the same thing I am.   

Thanks!

Welcome to our little slice of heaven. As Albert Einstein said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting different results". I'm sure most if not all of us have thought of WLS being a shortcut. IT IS NOT.

I'm sure, like the rest of us, you've tried all sorts of different diets. You've probably lost weight from time to time as well. The difference is that you couldn't stay consistent, nor could you stay disciplined. When you make the decision to go for WLS, you are saying to yourself that you are finally ready to make a change dammit. With that surgery, you will have a tool that at first helps you lose weight fast - its a good feeling. After that its a tool that helps you to maintain. 

WLS gives you a tool to take control over your diet. It is not a surgery on your brain, nor is it a silver bullet that is effective regardless of our eating or exercise habits. In these regards, its most definitely NOT the easy way out. If you decide to go forward you are taking control over your life, and that is most definitely the sign of a strong person. I can tell you personally, that I fight food demons every day. I can also tell you that I work on my health through diet and exercise every day. So far, I'm very happy with my results. 

From a personal perspective, I struggled with a decision to have WLS for 13 yrs. I almost got surgery in 2003 and chickened out. I wasted those years. I had surgery 2 years ago this month, and it was the best decision I ever made. The only positive of those 13 years was that I'm convinced I was more mentally prepared in 2015 than I was in 2002. This has been a huge factor in my success these last few years. 

Best wishes on your decision making process. Please feel free to check into our group and ask any questions you have. There is no stupid question. 

QaJohn is absolutely right!  I also contemplated the surgery a few years back, at first my wife was against it because it seemed so drastic and choosing a surgery in her mind was elective and surgeries can go wrong.

She was tentatively supportive this time, and now is completely on board after the surgery, how my health has improved yada yada yada.  She would be the first to support anyone who has the mindset to do it and follow the general rules that we must live by.  Lots of people with good advice on here about the different types of gastric bypass, the diet, the daily plan for the rest of your life.  Take it all in . . . . this board is very supportive of us all.

Good luck and share as you go along!

Welcome.  I'm 3 monthe in and its the best decision I've ever made.  Down almost 100 lbs.  You'll be happy you did it.....your wife will be hapoy also.

It is a fantastic tool to lose the weight. You still have to have restrict what you eat and increase your activity, but it makes it so easy. Since the surgery I have not been hungry. I was very lucky in that the procedure was painless. I got a pneumonia and a flu shot while I was in the hospital, the pneumonia shot was sore for about three days, while I had no pain from the surgery. I feel it was the best thing I ever did

Welcome to the board. I'm glad you found us. You have heard all of us saying it's been good. We all have had a very similar story to you. I put this off and tried to do it without surgery a long time. I lost 100+ pounds 4 times but each time I gained it all back and some. I'm so happy I did this. I would do it again tomorrow if I needed to. Just follow your doctor's teams plan and you will be the next success story. Good luck with you decision. 

Eric 

Thank you everyone who has replied to me !   I appreciate the encouragement and the sharing of your stories, my first consult is Thursday morning 1/14.  I will keep posting and hopefully become an asset to this site!!  

Good luck with your first preop appointment I hope that it goes well

I am about three months postop for RNY in October I have lost about 62 pounds

I feel like I made the right decision and wish I would've made it seven or eight yearS ago

I also  wanted to avoid surgery because also I thought it was cheating or the easy way out

I feel so much better since surgery prior to surgery I had chronic pain for almost 4 years I know longer have the chronic pain I have so much more energy and I feel better mentally

keep us posted with your progress good luck

sorry for the delay in response guys!!  I appreciate it!    I had a bit of a medical bout and was hospitalized for a week and had to go through a bunch of stuff.   I had found out that I was not 425 after all but when i got out of the hospital I was 445 and my parents could tell I lost some weight!!!!    That was a kick to the ole morale!    but I am on track again and monitoring my food, i got started with my surgery program and have been attending classes and am down to 430 at last weigh in about 2 weeks ago.....