MarylandCrab

I love that quote from your mom. Moms know it all! Congratulations on the steps you've made. You must be so proud of yourself!

I'm 6 months and 10 days out and loving life. I hit goal at 5-1/2 months (lost 72 pounds) and I'm staying right at that number +/- 2 pounds. Tuesday, my surgeon had a holiday celebration for former and prospective patients. He asked me to be one of the models and it was SO much fun! Here're the transformation photos that tell the whole story without words
How incredible has this surgery been!

Hello Ladies! First of all, Congrats on taking the first steps! I am not in the beginning of the 6 month journey but my surgery was just the week of Thanksgiving so I remember all too well how my journey started. I had a horrible addiction to caffeine as I work midnights in an extremely high stress profession, and I work a lot of hours a week on top of having a family to care for. I thought i would NEVER kick the habit. I started by cutting back on the number of coffees I allowed myself in a day. I made a small "surgery bucket list" of things that I wanted my husband and I to do together before the time came to put all of my focus into resting, healing, and working out. We went hiking at a favorite location, we went on a few dates that we had been talking about doing and hadn't done, we went to a couple restaurants that I knew I would always experience in a different way after surgery, and I ate Wedge salad about six times because its my favorite taste ever and I knew it would be a LONG time before I was able to have a taste of it again. With that said, my list only contained four of my absolute favorite restaurants and we went to about one a month for the first four months of the six, and I made healthy choices at ALL of those meals to test myself. I found that I was NOT any less satisfied with making healthy choices than I had been with prior meals at those locations. I learned that what I enjoy most is the environments, the company, the conversation, the time with my family, and good quality food, not quantity or fat content. So as it turned out, I was learning new things about myself and my eating habits while I was completing my bucket list. Start slowly by picking one or two things a month to work on within yourself, and start rewarding yourself with things other than food. Enjoy it, the time will FLY by!!! Best of Luck!

Hello. I know what you are going through. I started the process in June and I finally finished my 6th dietician appt earlier this month. I also did the Psych eval too this month as well. Good news today, I found out I was approved and I am possibly looking at Jan 12.
I have had 6 mths to train my brain on these new changes I have to make. I have been doing changes here and there trying to adapt. I still find it hard to get away from old habits.
But as time gets closer, you will get excited and I think the excitement will drive you to do it more. For example, I know that I have to start my pre-op diet on the 29th. Man, am I going to be grouchy. But even though I am little scared, I am excited as well. I feel that the excitement is going to drive me to do the right things.
To be continued!

Hi, I'm new also, just had my 1st appointment 2 weeks ago and scheduled to meet the nutritionist and behaviorist on Jan. 23. I also stopped drinking pop 1 week today, really hard. Let's hang in there! Keep us posted.

I can totally relate to this @Mel13. Stress and "busyness" is a trigger for me, too (probably for many of us). I haven't had WLS yet, but I'm starting to try and get into some good habits. I've even gone so far as to identify my "Trigger Time" which is right after school. The problem is what to do about it.
I like the suggestion of having healthy stuff at hand and not leaving home without it. That way you're not even faced with the option of stopping anywhere for something unhealthy.
You can do this! We can do this!

Hi @! I just joined here last week after my first consultation at the surgeon's office. Still about 6 months out from surgery. I've learned so much on here in just the past few days. Good luck!

Hi anaxila, I am very much like you. I have told 3 people, and that's it. I had the Lap Band in 2010, and it worked good for 6 months, then I got pregnant, and the band slipped. So I've been throwing up for 3 years....and I am just now talking to a surgeon about GB. He said it will happen in January, so I am hopefull. I am like you, I do not want anyone knowing that I am getting this done. I do not want people judging me. I didn't tell people that I had the band either. And with the band, it took a while to lose weight, so everyone just thought that I was "doing good and eating right" , and therefore lost weight. And I didn't tell them any different. I am not telling people because I do not want to defend myself my choice to anyone. I don't have the strength to stand up for myself...not right now. And if I hear "just work out and eat right" one more time...I will go crazy!! I am not sure this will work for either. The Lap Band was good for a few months, and I lost about 45 pounds, it was great, and I felt great. But since it didn't work after the baby, and I've been struggling with it for the last 3 years, and gained ALL the weight back, I am scared that I won't be able to make this work either. I am reading post after post about people saying that they do not feel hunger anymore....that to me is amazing!!! Cause I am hungry ALL THE TIME. And people are saying that they do not even want sweet things anymore....amazing. I am scared that I am getting this help, and I will just screw it up.
I understand your thinking. I do. I am hoping that after I have this done...and everything is going good....that I have a change in heart, and if someone ask me if I had this done, I will say "hell yeah I did! And it is working for ME! Look how great I am looking and feeling now!!!"
I don't know why this type of operation is such a "failure" operation for us fat people. I am SURE that if there was an operation for people that were strung out on drugs...if there was something that they could operate, they would! And everyone would he happy for them that they took a step in the right direction, that they chose a healthy life instead of drugs. Right??
It is a good thing that you are talking about it and expressing your feelings...but you need to know....that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! Take Care!!

This is my first post on this forum. Coastalchick, thank you for sharing this. I just had my first appt yesterday with the doc to start this process. I've told my husband and my mother because I knew they would be supportive, but I am so afraid to tell anyone else. I'm not usually like that -- usually my life is an open book! But I'm afraid friends and relatives will not be supportive and will judge me.
I hope things get better for you. I think you know, as I do, that in the end this is really nobody's business but ours. Still, it's not fun getting talked about behind your back or being judged or hearing the horror stories!!