AmiLou

Wow - you've made some incredible changes!  70 lbs. is a lot!  I'm 55 and seeing a surgeon this week and nervous!  The whole prospect of this surgery has me freaked out.  I guess because it means an enormous change to my lifestyle and at 55 I'm pretty used to who I am and how I live, etc.  Not that change isn't a good thing - I'm open to that - but surgery!  That's a BIG step for me.  I struggle with having elective surgery when I have no pre-existing conditions due to weight.  But I know that it's only a matter of time, and likely not much more time, before those conditions will be present.  I need to abort that!  I have a young daughter to raise still - I need to be healthy for her, and me.  The stretched out skin is making me worried too!  But weighing less is so much healthier. Congrats on your achievement  :-)

@TracyBar You sound just like me! I have not had surgeries to speak of but was pre-diabetic and a genetically inclined to have heart problems. My cholesterol was through the roof. Aging is difficult on it's own! I have been going to the gym regularly, however, there is a good possibility that your skin will get a little saggy. I had a pretty good double chin so the excess skin on my neck is not especially pretty but not all that bad. I love the loose skin in comparison to the fat! Good luck with your surgery. You won't regret it!

Thanks AmiLou - the appt with the surgeon went fine.  Long wait until surgery - 8-12 months from now.  I did find out that I can get plastics on my belly at no cost to me which is great.  I'd have to lose 80-100 lbs. to qualify for that free surgery.  I'm in Canada, so neither surgery costs me anything at all.  There are far, far more people wanting this surgery than there are surgeons or operating room availability, so thus the long wait.  Most of the surgeons have other specialities.  The surgeon I saw specializes in upper GI surgeries but he's done many VSG surgeries as well;  his cancer surgeries trump any elective surgeries and this is completely understandable to me.  He wants me to have an endoscopy as I have had some episodes of acid reflux (very minor).  That procedure has to be done in a hospital south of the city as they tend to have lower wait times.  Still, it'll be 3-4 months before that happens.  No rush!  I'll be quite sedated and will be there about 3 hours so husband will need to take me - always fun trying to figure out these things with a child in elementary school  :-)

All in all, I feel more positive now I've seen the surgeon and actually signed the papers!  That was weird... :-O    Looking forward to being on the losers bench!

You and me both!! I used to be on this site constantly and so very motivated. Welp back to the drawing board!

Focus, refocus, focus = success.

That's awesome!!

He's great and he lost weight over the years. I spent much of the past two weeks at dance performances and concerts 'n stuff, far more than usual.

You going out to a concert has everything to do with living a healthier, more energized life----sooooo partake and enjoy!!

best wishes with the interview!

Thank you, Christnamo7!

Girl. There's an O word that is SUPER important. Focus on that O(h!) and forget the others.

Are you kidding?? I would have been dancing in Sam's Club and letting everyone know about fitting in a 14! LOL That's great!!! Congrats!

I can't wait to wear jeans again! I realized the other day that I have not worn them in several years now. Way to go!

Congratulations! Isn't this FUN???

hmmm, in the past you could have faked and said you are having a baby - now you enjoy your baby tummy LOL sorry for ticket - you are doing great with weight loss - keep it up (down)!!! good luck - kathy

Thanks proudgrammy. Great WLS group tonight. Guest speaker was a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. I learned about belly breathing and my core. Woo hoo...I think I need a personal trainer now.

It's wonderful of you to help out! So sorry for your friends and everyone down there...

Thanks all. You know I feel very blessed that I was able to help and that I was not affected by the flooding other than being inconvenienced by road and store closures. It's been crazy and stressful BUT I am optimistic that next week will be much better. #LouisianaStrong

Thanks all. You know I feel very blessed that I was able to help and that I was not affected by the flooding other than being inconvenienced by road and store closures. It's been crazy and stressful BUT I am optimistic that next week will be much better. #LouisianaStrong

This is one of the biggest undertakings any person can possibly experience, and it's also a period of huge, rapid change and hormone surges and difficult emotional situations... it can be tough sometimes to remain tough-skinned and objective when bluntness is directed at you, however well-meaning. I do hope some of the vets will remember that sometimes, and remember how sensitive they may have been in the beginning. Still, they mean well and are a huge wealth of information if you're willing and able to take everything with a grain of salt. Hang in there! I'm a year out in less than two days, and I can say for certain that it does get easier, and it does get better! Stay safe!

This surgery is stressful enough, then add a natural disaster on top and no wonder you took things to heart. It's hard to know someone's intention on a message board!

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I'm out of my house for the first time since Friday! In some places, it looks as if nothing happened - God made it drier, the skies bluer, the grass greener, and the air fresher. I look forward to helping friends who were flooded. I believe there are messages created within a mess. Quoting a Kelly Clarkson.."What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"