Reason to Believe

My pleasure! It was helpful to me reading other people's stories, and also just for myself this is a nice way to keep a record of what's going on.
My one month doctor's appt is this Thursday, and the PA told me to eat chicken thigh the night before without grinding it up first to see how I tolerate it, and if all goes well I'll be cleared for REAL food and also to start exercising, so that's great. I asked why not chicken breast and she said it's too dry, without being able to drink Water it might be tough to get down. Now I have to go buy a chicken thigh.

I too said "I can do it on my own" & I lost weight but it just came back. I did Jenny Craig 3 times with having to loose the weight + 20 lbs. I'm sure that had paid for a home for Jenny. Then I did Nutrisystem, lost the weight & ended up with high blood pressure & high cholesterol. I'll be 1 year on June 23rd, had the sleeve done & I can finally control. Most people don't understand my emotional makeup. Remember, food will never be disappointed in you & I'm learning that it's not food will make me happy until you swallow.

I've really only had one person that reacted quasi-negatively ("If that's what you want, I guess it's ok." and, "I couldn't do that, I want to lose the weight on my own.").
I think WLS is definitely becoming less stigmatized, especially here in the Midwest, where all the fat people live.

I've been this way post-op. If somebody comments on my weight loss I sometimes mention it. Just depends on the person. I had a Facebook friend ask me the other day what did I do to lose so much weight and told them "I had 90% of my stomach removed"...lol. And then they came back with saying they've been looking into WLS themselves!

I know that I'll eventually find some stick in the mud, but like you said it's been supportive up to this point and nearly everyone has said they know another person that's had it and how well it worked for them.

With my surgery date fast approaching, I've started to tell more people than I originally planned to tell. I've been pleasantly surprised by the mostly positive/supportive response. Many of the people I've told have said that they know at least one other person who has had WLS, so I think that helps.
Ultimately, it's a very personal decision whether or not to tell, but others may react way more positively than you think.

I had started a similar thread last month when I was a few weeks out from my VSG. I had already told my family, 3 best friends and key co-worker. I spent a great deal of mental energy on wondering what I'd say when people inquired after my surgery. This is totally out of character for me. Well, I'm 16 days out and even though I thought I'd be wearing a "Scarlet VSG" on my chest, only one person has even noticed any changes.I did lose 20# in two weeks. This gal said, "What's different about you, you look well rested [emoji23]". I agreed but didn't tell her that I am well rested because all the months of prep and anticipation are behind me! I've decided if someone asks I'll just tell them and move on.

Thanks everyone appreciate your feedback. Worrying what other people think has always been a huge thing for me - on an intellectual level I know that it is stupid but at a gut evel it is primal if that makes sense! Something that I'm trying to do is just be more private about myself and stop this insatiable need to justify myself to everyone. Perhaps once I've practised that I may be able to move on and just tell people he truth without worrying about their reactions. Thanks again

"I can't worry about what people think." - arringtonc49 got that exactly right.
I'm an open book. I'll tell anybody. I have a very supporting wife and family and have only ever gotten one negative reaction.
IMO, agonizing whether to tell someone is usually much worse than actually just telling someone.

Lesson learned!
I told a lot of people thinking they would be happy for me because of my health. BUT instead I got a lot of negative response. I heard jealousy and envy from some people.
BUT that's ok because this is my life and I know what is best for me. These people have health issues themselves.
I can't worry about what people think.

I literally have told everyone. I'm not ashamed of taking control of my life and maybe it'll help someone because they may want it and can ask me questions. I didn't wanna have to keep up with lies, either and it's pretty obvious in most cases anyway, especially since I'm in the medical field. Each their own, though!

April 18 2017 is the big day! Surgery is scheduled! Prayers for a smooth transition and a successful operation!

Hi, these are all from past posts
Your own pillow, slippers, pj bottoms, phone and charger, chapstick, gas-x, moisturizer, baby wipes for before your shower, something to read, CPAC machine, comfortable clothes for ride home,
I'm bringing my own organic chicken broth because the hospitals broth is a bouillon cube which made me gag after my gallbladder operation:)

Actually, I consider the six month diet requirement to be the best thing that ever happened to me. I decided to make the most of that time, and I started making changes right away. During that time, I redefined my relationship with food, got a handle on my mental demons, and lost half of my excess weight (99 pounds -- from 397 to 298 on the day of surgery). This hard work set me up for my post-op success, and made everything about the surgery and life afterward much easier.
The sleeve is just a tool, and it is only as good as the hard work that accompanies it. The point of the six months is to start that hard work. Most people don't change anything and let the time go by, but if it is done right, it can be life changing.
Good luck!

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew.
I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.
HW 336
SW on 7/7/16
Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16
CW 236
GW ideally 136
Height 5'2

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew. Overall more active and more engaged in life.



I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.



HW 336

SW on 7/7/16

Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16

CW 236

GW ideally 136

Height 5'2

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew. Overall more active and more engaged in life.



I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.



HW 336

SW on 7/7/16

Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16

CW 236

GW ideally 136

Height 5'2

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew. Overall more active and more engaged in life.



I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.



HW 336

SW on 7/7/16

Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16

CW 236

GW ideally 136

Height 5'2

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew. Overall more active and more engaged in life.



I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.



HW 336

SW on 7/7/16

Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16

CW 236

GW ideally 136

Height 5'2

Hello,



My name is Reason to Believe and I am currently in the fact finding stage of weight loss surgery. I am aiming at having surgery next summer when I can take some time off work. I just attended a bariatric surgery seminar last week.



I have been overweight most of my life. I lost weight going into college and then started gaining back and more. I am considered super morbidly obese and that scares me. I also have a lot of joint pain, sleep apnea, recently diagnosed diabetes and depression. All of which are good reasons to do have surgery.



I am a recovering binge eater and have recently given up diet soda. (six weeks ago!). I am working on small changes to prove to myself that I can make big lifestyle changes because my biggest fear is that I will have surgery and still fail.



I love reading and music. I am an obsessed Bruce Springsteen fan and I look forward to the day that I can like no one is watching at a Bruce concert.



I have started reading all your stories and am so grateful to you for sharing them.

At 8 months out now, I wish I had done full body measurements before surgery. Because there are times when I don't see the scale moving, but I lose inches and so I keep track now, but didn't start right away. Also, I did do before pictures and the exact same photos after a while for comparison. Another thing is I was told and am glad I was, to keep a journal. It truly is a great way to look back at the beginning and remember how far you've come. The one other thing I wish someone had told me, but didn't is to make a couple of videos of yourself right before surgery. Something that you can add to your "Before Surgery" file. Because, hopefully, that is the last time you will see yourself at that weight ever. Wishing you a most excellent journey as I have had

Best of luck! A lot of the time depends on your insurance and surgeon's requirements. Even if it is 6 months (I know you don't want it to take that long!) try to use that time to research and build better habits that will lead you to success. I know it took me a while to "break up" with my daily McDonald's Sweet Tea. Some used that time to stop smoking or give up pop. Anyway, I wish you the best.
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Well today I finally had my first appt. With my surgeon and I absolutely love her. She answered all of my questions and didn't make me feel rushed. She said this process will take 6 weeks to 6 months I'm praying for sooner. So now I start all the checklist of requirements to get approved !!!!!! I'm so excited !!!!!!!!!
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I told everyone at my work the truth, that I was having weight loss surgery. I'm not ashamed of getting the surgery and I don't want there to be a stigma with it.
Most of my coworkers were extremely supportive and interested in helping me pre-op and post-op.
When I told my supervisor, it turns out she has had the bypass and is now one of my biggest mentors.
There is no shame in weight loss surgery. Go ahead tell the world?
Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew. Overall more active and more engaged in life.



I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.



HW 336

SW on 7/7/16

Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16

CW 236

GW ideally 136

Height 5'2

Today I reached 100lbs lost from my highest weight! I lost a two month old horse. I still have a ways to go but I am off all meds, no longer diabetic, no longer depressed. I no longer hurt and I can play with my niece and nephew. Overall more active and more engaged in life.



I thank God everyday for Dr. Sadek and his team.



HW 336

SW on 7/7/16

Gallbladder surgery 8/20/16

CW 236

GW ideally 136

Height 5'2