anyone ever feel like this??

Well guys... I finally have a date November 9th. I am so excited.... I have not posted in months as I was for sure I would never get approved after waiting almost a year and being denied once. Anyway, its insane how fast things are moving now. I have been spending most of my time on these boards reading and looking at before and after pictures in amazement... Here is my concern. I am not so scared of the surgery itself. I love my surg and have 100% confidence in him. I am scared I will fail. Is this normal??? I am scared I will lose all my weight and then put in right back on. I am scared I will stop using it as a tool and figure out ways to eat the things I shouldn't be eating. Why do I feel like this? Has anyone else been more scared about this then the actual surgery and pain? I read about a woman on here that gained 80 pounds back and others that have gained 20,30,40. I am also scared to death of being hungry. I feel like there is no possible way that "I" wont be hungry. I read mixed things about this. Sorry this is so long... thanks for your support Maris

Maris, I think everyone feels like that. We are taught that, as heavy teenagers, we were failures in general. It's natural to be afraid of every possible outcome when you're going into something this big. I will hit my 3-year post-op anniversary in December. I maintained for over a year...had plastic surgery...and have maintained since then. I wish I could lose 30 more lbs. And it's SO hard not to fall back into bad habits, even after 2 years! But you're not going through something so major to not work hard to make sure it works. If you're determined enough to have this surgery, you'll be determined enough to keep up the work. Trust me, sometimes it IS work! ;) I don't know you, but I'm sure that the people in your support system believe that you can do this...you have to believe in it too! Good luck! Whitney

Maris, I was totally sure I'd be the one person that fails at this surgery the first year. And here I am approaching my one-year mark and down 100 lbs. So it does work. But yeah, I'm worried about putting weight back on. I try to channel that concern in keeping the daily healthy habits I've started, like eating better and working out, so that in the future when the surgery honeymoon is over, I'll have the resources to fight the flab on my own. And I still battle emotional eating issues. But now I've got some new ones, I fluxuate from not wanting to eat anything to wanting only to eat crap food like candy and sugary carbs. So the demons don't go away, but the support group that my doctor's office runs is a resource as is this board. I guess only time will tell if I'll put back any of the weight I've lost, but I hope I don't. I love my new slimmer body and don't want to go back! -Kari

Maris, Oh my goodness, have I ever felt like this?!?! TOTALLY! I swear that I am going to be the only person that fails at this. I don't care how well I am doing (about 4.5 months out and down about 65 pounds) I still feel like today is the last day of my weight loss. Everyday is the best that I am ever going to get to. It is the most frustrating feeling ever. It has been unfortunate too, because since I seem to feel like this so much, I go out and buy a bunch of clothes in that size...well, low and behold, I lose more weight and then I do it all over again (can you tell that my issues that were once with eating too much are now with shopping too much...frankly...one that is much more fun and makes me feel better about myself then the eating and then feeling disgusted that I just ate that as opposed to the shopping and then feeling good about the way I look). I have to remind myself that I have the power to make this happen, that I can do it with the help of my tool! I have to remind myself that I am successful and that I will continue to be successful because I won't accept anything but success with my WLS. I pray about it and I talk about with my close friends and family. It is all about reminding yourself that you are a success no matter what.

I was and still sometimes am scared I will fail! Its perfectly normal. Yes, there are a group of people that have surgery and do gain the weight back. I learned about the surgery about 51/2 years ago when a friend of mine had it... I also have friends that are 5 and 4 1/2 years out. While they were all having surgery I thought - ooooooo I would NEVER do that and tried and tried again to lose weight on my own. For me - I had to reach a certain point where I knew in my heart of hearts that surgery was the last option. I knew that it was my last resort and I WOULD make it work for me. By knowing so many people who had the surgery it gave me great insight. I saw all the mistakes they made, saw all the struggles they went thru so I had more time to prepare mentally as well as know exactly what I would be facing. I am now 3 months post-op. I am still learning how to eat properly... I do struggle some days with wanting to eat "bad". I dont punish myself if I have a few fries or a bite of a cookie. I dont go "scale psyco" like a lot of people do. I believe that the key to this surgery is you. You have to be prepared to do the work. You have to be prepared to "face your demons". You have to be preapred to face the facts... face the overeating and the reasons for it. You also have to be ready to change your life! Listen to your doctor and NUT... follow all of the rules you are given FOR LIFE! Hopefully this will help you out and I make sense (ahha). My friend who had surgery 5 1/2 years ago only lost 80lbs and gained back 40lbs - she weighs around 250 now and is only 5'4" or so. My best friend who had surgery 5 years ago went from 380+lbs to now being around 170ish (she wont tell of course!). The difference between these two people was this - my frist friend thought it was fun to see what she could and couldnt do postop... a few days after surgery she was SO excited because she snuck 1/2 a bagel and was able to eat it. My 2nd friend also has struggled but has completely changed her life and made the surgery a success. Anyways - I wish you the best of luck if you have any questions feel free to email me!