PRE-OP but looking down the road....please reply

Hi Deidra, I am not a graduate, not by a long shot but your question really HIT home for me so I wanted to take a moment to reply to you as well. I am a lightweight, starting weight 217 lbs and had my RNY - Proximal exactly 1 week from today. I have researched this like crazy and been exposed to many that are long term as well as new as I am or even in between both sides of the spectrum. I had the surgery because of dangerously high blood pressure that was not responging to medications any longer. After many years of dieting and regain I have grown to realize that the only foolproof (figure of speech only) way to ensure you do not regain is to really work on your HEAD. For many years, I have gone to counseling off and on to trirf to understand my relationship with food and other things in life that nag at me. Since I have had the surgery, my goodness, the bells and whistles are blowing all around me with all the things counseling tried to help me see and understand. There is no doubt this surgery will take care of the weight loss, for sure initially and a good part of what you set out to lose, knowing you have to work a little more to get the additional off by learning to incorporate exercise, nothing too major, and to your healthy eating habits. We are all human and we stumble sometimes so expect that, BUT also know you will need to expect to be in control of that for what you do immediately afterwards. Here is what I am noticing by many that are very new with this surgery from what I have heard some saying. Saying things like this "I had my surgery less than 2 weeks ago and the doctor told me I can't eat certain things but I did it before the 2 week period and I did just fine" this was said with the attitude like I'll show them that they don't know everything. Now let me ask you this? Do you think it's the surgeries fault that this woman may be already setting herself up for failure? No way, this is all in her own mind and already trying to push the requirements of the program. She will enjoy the ride of weight loss early on but the question is, is she preparing herself for when the "honeymoon" is over? I think not. My personal strategy at only 1 week post op is looking to maintenance. I feel I will follow the program to the very best of my human ability and the maintenance piece will be for me to be ready to take on when the time comes. It's all up to me to get my head ready and keep my focus on having control over my weight. Am I a fanatic? NO WAY....I just reached a time of life and death, literally, and suddenly the reality of what really matters ha**** me like a lead balloon. I was at the crossroad and WLS is literally saving my life and remember I was a lightweight to start. Good luck to you and I hope you will focus on knowing that this surgery really works but what you need to do is soul search and ask yourself if you are really ready to make such an important and healthful decision for yourself? If you know you are doomed, perhaps the time is not right for you yet. If you know you are determined, NO QUESTION, you will be very successful. Please remember, we human beings are complex and have traveled our unique individual road which has formed our thought processes. When you read about all the weight regain, keep that in mind. It depends where their HEAD is at that point in time. Please make your decision based on what you feel inside....deep down you know if you are strong enough or not yet. If you are doubtful, please do yourself a favor and go seek some counseling (I speak from experience) you will do yourself a very good service to do that moreso than basing a decision from other peoples failures and/or success stories. I hope this helps you. Signed, Darla (someone that was just recently where you are today)