ocean_ophelia

If you think it's just to test you, then why are you complying? If it's arbitrary then have something not clear. How will they know? My point is: Everything is arbitrary to a degree; this is the human body, not a machine. You have to make the best, educated decision for YOU.
And please, please don't tell others not to do it just because you're having a bad day. I don't think that's entirely fair. You're having an emotional reaction, not a rational one. Yeah, it sucks, but the idea was to limit the food intake. It's major surgery. You just had 85 percent of your stomach removed - clearly you're not going to be eating steak right after.

If you think it's just to test you, then why are you complying? If it's arbitrary then have something not clear. How will they know? My point is: Everything is arbitrary to a degree; this is the human body, not a machine. You have to make the best, educated decision for YOU.
And please, please don't tell others not to do it just because you're having a bad day. I don't think that's entirely fair. You're having an emotional reaction, not a rational one. Yeah, it sucks, but the idea was to limit the food intake. It's major surgery. You just had 85 percent of your stomach removed - clearly you're not going to be eating steak right after.

I can't speak about regretting because I haven't had the surgery yet, but I know what you mean about mind games and vacillating between excitement and anxiety. Since I made this decision a few weeks ago I've been a mini-wreck, second guessing myself, and moving from wanting the surgery to being nervous as hell and wondering what the hell I was thinking. It's irreversible, so it's a BIG deal, but I would say 99 percent of the posts on this forum and other forums I've read say they have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat. Best of luck!

If you weren't approved, are you doing self-pay out of the country? That's the route I've decided to go, and I'm smaller than you. I'm 5'8" and 197 pounds, which means my bmi is 30. No insurance company would approve me, but my insurance doesn't pay for ANY WLS surgery anyway, regardless of person's bmi. But I know better than anyone how hard I've struggled and know if I don't do this NOW, I will just be 20 or 30 pounds heavier next year and the year after that and so on.
I have tried to lose weight and succeeded, but I can't ever maintain it longer than a year. After losing and gaining the same 50 pounds three times in the past 10 years I know I need something more permanent, a tool that will help me succeed.
I've done a lot of research and while I still have doubts and still get scared, I have a date to be sleeved in Mexico in early January. Only my husband knows. I'm sure I'd get a lot of comments about not being big enough. But I'm in size 16s now, and that's that; I won't get bigger. I already have high blood pressure and elevated LDL cholesterol, and my back and knees hurt. I feel like crap and am ashamed of my weight and am tired of using food like a crutch.
This is not the "easy" way out by any means; it's a major decision, and there will always be naysayers, because unless you've walked a mile in someone else's shoes it's hard to understand.
But I'm tired of yo-yo-ing. If your appendix was inflamed, you'd get it taken out; well, this is a surgery like any other. Yeah, it has risks. But it has a LOT of benefits. People are scared of stuff they don't understand; most have not done research and have only heard the rumors and (possibly false) horror stories. Plus, often others are jealous and don't want you to succeed.

Cool. Happy birthday!
You look fantastic, and you are a true inspiration. We're about the same age. I hope I can be as successful as you following my sleeve.

Hi! I, like you, have always eaten for every emotion under the sun. I'd eat when I was depressed, I'd eat when I was angry, I'd eat when i was happy, I'd eat because there was a celebration of some sort, I'd eat because someone else was eating (even when I'd just ate and was already full)....I'd eat all the time and it didn't matter the reason or the emotion. I was out if control. And what went into my mouth most of the time was high carb, low Protein. I was miserable and I worried about the same thing your worrying about.
It's been about 5.5 months since surgery. What's changed for me? Well, my appetite for one. I don't crave things the way I used to. In fact, most of the time I have to remind myself it's time to eat something. When I do crave something, even when I'm craving a huge plate of something. (mind hunger)..i'll take 2-4 bites and am usually full and satisfied. My full feels like it used to feel when I'd eat a plate full of food then go back for another plate full...and because of that feeling, my desire for food at that point goes south. Once I hit that point, and remind you that it doesn't take much, I get a feeling of disgust for whatever I'm eating and I stop. It's so hard to describe. Maybe just saying that even when my mind tells me I can eat huge amounts, my stomach reminds me quickly that I can't and I'm left with no desire to continue to eat. I don't have to tell my self to stop, my stomach tells me. Now that I'm 5+ months post op, my weight loss almost seems effortless. Before surgery, there was no such thing...everything that had to do with food, control, and weight loss took an over abundance of control which I could not come up with on my own. For some reason, the sleeve gives you the ability to control without feeling overwhelmed and like a failure. Its so hard to describe. I just posted in my blog yesterday about a lot of the reasons I love my sleeve and some ways my sleeve has been life changing. You are more than welcome to read it. My blog is down below in my signature.
I hope this helps. Everything about eating and your relationship with food will change after surgery. It's just about impossible to image what it will be like until you've got your sleeve. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if needed. This was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

Hi. I'm new here. This is a great thread. I'm looking forward to my sleeve in January.
I would love to be cold all the time. I am HOT all the time, even in the middle of winter. It's 30 out, and I don't wear a coat. I've been like this always, even when I was 60 pounds lighter.
Being cold would be fabulous! I'd love not to be a slave to food as well.
I worry mostly about the possibility of complications, of course, and the possibility of reflux. I don't have any reflux now, and don't want to experience it!