JLMET

Thank you, that was wonderfully thoughtful and helpful. My BF says similar things, that it WILL work because I have changed my ways and I agree, now that I've had the surgery, I don't have cravings like I did and I'm not hungry like I was. You're right and I am hopeful that I'll shake these thoughts off soon!

@@JLMET - I never had that feeling. I believed in my doctor. He had done a friend of mine bypass surgery the year before so I knew he was good. i also knew that if I had the right tool I could do this. The first thing I noticed when I came home from the hospital was how small my feet were. My feet and ankle were the smallest they had been in years.
That said. It will work as well as you work it. Follow your team's instructions, ask for clarification when you are sure and you'll be fine. The of hundreds of people posting here everyday who likely felt like you who are losing and have lost weight successfully.
You can do this!

First off, good luck with your surgery! Mine went really well and I'm SO glad I did it and I am so glad that others have felt/thought the same way. The thing that I have started to tell myself is that 1) if I follow the rules it will work and 2) it HAS to work, I mean, my stomach is TINY now!

Don't feel like you're alone with your feelings. We all went through this phase. I went through it too. For me, I think the doubts came from having so many weight loss failures in the past, all the miracle diet pills and "I lost ten thousand pounds in 24 hours" diet plans. Low carb, low fat, low calorie, fat blaster, kale extract, red wine extract, rev up your metabolism extract..... and on and on. None of them worked for me, so after years of this, how could I expect to succeed with WLS.
But I can tell you, that it will work. The hardest part is simply committing and going through with the surgery. It is unlike any weight loss program you've experienced. The surgery WILL change your life for the better. I was going to say that the surgery does all the hard part, but you will still have to adjust your eating and lifestyle after WLS to have long term success, but the difference will be that you have a tool that is not all marketing hype!
Starting the day after surgery, all my cravings and head hunger disappeared. It was incredibly easy to control the foods I ate and 2 years later, I still don't really care about food or flavors. I do have to occasionally fight head hunger or stop myself from eating when I'm not hungry, but even when I lose those battles, I CAN'T gorge myself or eat even a thousand calories of the goodie. That's the difference Frankensleeve made in my life.
I hope this helps ease your concerns. I know I had my doubts/nervous moments/fears that I would be the one person it didn't work for, no matter how many success stories and testimonials I watched and read. I know there's no way to describe the change in my feelings about food, that will give you the proof we were all looking for. You have to take a deep breath and take a leap of faith to get to the other side of WLS.

Hello! I am about 3 weeks out from my sleeve surgery and I keep having this fear that it's simply not going to work on me and I'm going to be fat the rest of my life - does anyone else feel this way?
I mean, I am following all my doc's and nutrition guidelines and am exercising so there is no rational basis for my fear, except that, on a whim, I got on the scale a few days after a weigh-in at my doc's office and it gave me 3 different results, all were heavier than my previous results a few days before. It really kind of sent me into a tailspin. I mean, what if I just start gaining weight?
Please tell me someone else has had this fear! Thank you!

Bander here, but yes. Don't worry. Just keep reminding yourself that this time truly is different because you are different. It will work. But trust me, everything changes. It's not always easy. But I'll take the hardest day post op over the binging pre op days any time.

Hello! I am about 3 weeks out from my sleeve surgery and I keep having this fear that it's simply not going to work on me and I'm going to be fat the rest of my life - does anyone else feel this way?
I mean, I am following all my doc's and nutrition guidelines and am exercising so there is no rational basis for my fear, except that, on a whim, I got on the scale a few days after a weigh-in at my doc's office and it gave me 3 different results, all were heavier than my previous results a few days before. It really kind of sent me into a tailspin. I mean, what if I just start gaining weight?
Please tell me someone else has had this fear! Thank you!

I weigh myself daily, and there are definitely days when I am up a pound or so from the previous day. Sometimes that is discouraging, because I think I should be down. I have learned from all the "experienced" posters on this sight to just trust that following the program and getting my exercise will produce weight loss.
Don't get discouraged, this will work!

I'm only a little over a week post-op but shopping for clothes seems fun again! I realized when I bought something that even if it doesn't fit right now, it WILL fit soon and that's awesome. I also had purchased some new undies way before surgery that were really tight and they already fit perfectly, as hard as this post-op has been I wouldn't change it for anything, its awesome to know I can shop again for clothes!

My husband and daughter run marathons. I occasionally walk a 5 k and I come in dead last most of the time, if not next to last. They are hard for me and I don't love them. My family runs ahead then circles back to find me and walk me to the finish. I feel very self conscious while doing it. I don't own a sports bra but you don't need them to walk. I am proud that I even did some (total of about 7) but it is hard coming in late.
Well in October I am running my first 5k. I found a bra at Old Navy that actually is a sports bra and it fits (amazing). I am trying a program called couch25k. I am going to follow it religiously and this year I will run it and not feel self conscious at all. I came in next to last year because someone got injured and was behind me as a result. It is in my hometown and I saw loads of people I knew. I want it to be different and the 41 pounds I have lost to date is giving me the confidence to try. Posting here for 2 reasons: Because I want to proclaim it so it happens (keep me honest) and I want to encourage others that have no athletic desires or abilities to tell them it can be done.

Hello! I just found your forum and am happy about it. I am almost a week out from my surgery and feeling good (tired and sore, but good)! I am 36, living with the love of my life and I am a freelance writer/blogger/artist. I've struggled with my weight my entire life, but at over 300 pounds I realized this year that it was out of control. My boyfriends PCP suggested he go to a talk about gastric surgeries (he's overweight too) and I went with him. That was in December and since then it's been a crazy ride of doc appointments and learning how to change all my habits! I've lost 12lbs since my surgery last week and am excited to keep going, at 36 I have my whole life ahead of me and I signed up for my first ever 5K in September!

I don't have a picture right now but more than anything I want to get some black, knee-high boots! My calves were always so fat I could never find ones that fit (even plus-sized ones) so I can't wait to lose enough and slim down my calves enough to wear sassy black boots again!

Hello! I just found your forum and am happy about it. I am almost a week out from my surgery and feeling good (tired and sore, but good)! I am 36, living with the love of my life and I am a freelance writer/blogger/artist. I've struggled with my weight my entire life, but at over 300 pounds I realized this year that it was out of control. My boyfriends PCP suggested he go to a talk about gastric surgeries (he's overweight too) and I went with him. That was in December and since then it's been a crazy ride of doc appointments and learning how to change all my habits! I've lost 12lbs since my surgery last week and am excited to keep going, at 36 I have my whole life ahead of me and I signed up for my first ever 5K in September!