Ginger Snaps

So happy for you!!! I've been watching this thread hoping to see this post! YAY!

OK -- so just as a warning -- I live in NJ and it's been reported around here before that sometimes people will pull up to you to pretend to warn you about lights being out, etc., and then they carjack you. So, always be careful when something like this happens. Glad in your case it was actually someone being helpful!

@@ranchbrat I'd just like to encourage you to talk to your doctors and be brutally honest about how you feel Depression is very serious and it may not be related at all to your weight loss. When you're depressed, the last thing you want to do is reach out to get help -- it's like deciding on this surgery -- you get all kinds of advice to "just exercise and eat less" but that really doesn't work for some of us or you just can't make it happen. Some people will tell you with depression that you should just "get over it" or "focus on the good things in life" but sometimes you just can't make that happen and you need help like meds. I hope you get the help you need and start to feel better soon. You've changed your life so much recently and just need some help to get through this down period. Best wishes!

@vens1920 What a pickup line! Maybe you should start collecting them for a book or something! Sounds like he was responding to the confidence you have... Congrats!

I'm preop and new to this site, but I've never seen anyone on the boards who failed the psych test. Maybe if you're intelligent enough to seek out answers on this board, you are good enough to pass a psych eval. lol Mine was easy-peasy and I'm NOT the most mentally stable person I know!

I agree with one of the posts above -- maybe 100% is unrealistic. I think doubts will always creep in and it's normal. There are probably very few big decisions in life where you hit the 100% confidence mark. I think the best thing is to weigh out the pros and cons, decide what chances you can live with and then go for it. I'm a "lightweight" and I don't have a lot of complications yet but I can see the trajectory I'm on (slow and steady gain) and I don't want to end up 5-6 years down the road with more complications. Then the surgery will be riskier and maybe not even an option. I want to take control of it now. Best wishes! Only you can decide what's best for you.

Wow.... look at your arms! What a difference! Keep up the hard work!

Now that's a unique NSV! Congrats!

OUCH! So sorry to hear you're having problems. Hope all goes well with your surgery and you get healthier soon! Best wishes.

I had similar problems with the rapid heart rate and found my thyroid med dosage was too high Hope you feel better soon.

Incredible transformation! Congrats on all the hard work paying off! Maybe instead of 'normal' you could say 'extraordinary'! lol

I think you hit something on the head here @jacileggs... Magazines want fit, healthy and attractive... not just fit and healthy. Too bad they aren't just focused on the fit and health part.

That is SO COOL!!!! Way to go!

I'm only telling a few people post-op but will probably tell more people after. My only reason for not telling people before is that I don't want their opinions. This is my decision and it's not up for popular vote. I just realized that this whole topic (which has been hashed out hundreds of times on these boards) really comes down to how you feel about being completely honest -- do you feel you're lying if you omit some of the story or not. And, how important is it to you personally to be completely forthcoming when you're asked about your loss. I did have a comment about one thing you said -- you will be working out and eating right so that part is completely true. The loose skin isn't a side effect of the surgery, it's a side effect of losing the weight. So, I don't think having loose skin is a 'signal' that you had surgery.

@@☠carolinagirl☠ Thanks for that! I may just make that my Facebook profile pic! lol

@@Wallflower7522 It makes me CRAZY when people say a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat or vice versa. A pound is a pound is a pound! I want to build muscle like crazy and replace all this fat with lean, strong muscle. When people talk about avoiding exercise because they don't want to slow their weight loss, I just shake my head. Are we doing all this just to make a number on a scale go down or aren't we more interested in building health and being strong? Rant over.

I've been wondering about some of these questions as well. Newly divorced and looking to step out there into the dating world. I've tried Christian Mingle too but it seems hard to get anyone to respond to smiles or winks or whatever. It just seems to be so "looks" oriented -- you have those couple of pictures that people look at before they ever get to the profile. I sit there trying to figure out if it's the weight or my short hair or 20 other factors that keep people from responding. And then I try to take a step back and say to myself "Self, you are a caring, loving, deserving person and you deserve someone who looks beyond the exterior and gets to know the real you." It takes a lot of positive self-talk and reframing... maybe I'll get it down someday...

Fantastic progress Shmily! Hope you have a wonderful vacation!

Best wishes -- let us know how it goes!

I hear you on this one. When I was first in the workplace 20+ years ago, it was considered very inappropriate to wear sleeveless tops to work. Now it seems I can't find any professional type blouse that isn't sleeveless. Good old days... lol

I've attended a couple of support groups over the phone -- they are facilitated and have provided me with a realistic view of the surgery and lifestyle after. https://www.bsciresourcecenter.com/proddetail.php?prod=TELESUP Ginger

I've had that same thing with "silent" GERD. I seldom feel heartburn unless I eat late at night, but I too have that cough and sore throat. I even ended up in the ER one time feeling like I was having an asthma attack or something (don't have asthma) because I couldn't catch my breath and kept coughing. I had aspirated acid into my lungs. Looking forward to the surgery helping with my reflux.

My regular psych did the surgery clearance for me but even though I've been seeing him for 8 years, he made me come in for a special appointment for that. I guess he had to get his $150 or so. But, it was a very easy process.

@@marthaeb sounds like you have a lot of challenges but you will find great support on these boards. Try posting specific questions in the subject line of your topic and you'll get answers to some of your questions. But, try talking to your doctor about your concerns too. I keep a running list on the memo function on my phone -- questions I want to ask the surgeon the next time I'm in. I just open up the app and start asking. Best wishes!