Hi Kate...last summer I felt the same emotions as you. At 65 yrs old, I had the VSG on 8/1/18 and it was the BEST decision I ever made!! I was blessed with a very easy recovery (no n/v, no pain, steady weight loss) and have felt more and more amazing each month. I had T2DM, sleep apnea and GERD...ALL GONE NOW!! I was on 6 Rx meds...none now! At 5' 2", I was 238# at my heaviest and currently weigh 144#, having lost 94# so far. Have 14# left to lose but it's going slower now. I began exercising at 6 months postop...walk 2-5 mi nearly everyday and lift weights for 30 min. every other day. I've gone from a size 2XL to a medium-small clothes! I've had to replace my entire wardrobe but now clothes shopping is so much fun since I can wear cute clothes and look good in them. My doctor wants me to stay at 800-1,000 cal/day forever...and I eat healthy proteins, veggies and berries.
I doubt if I'll ever date again (have been divorced for 33 yrs without meeting anyone since), but just looking good, feeling good and being healthy is enough. Hope you have a great experience and be sure to follow the doctors and nutritionists plan EXACTLY...then you'll have the best chance to lose as much weight as possible. Best wishes for this new chapter in your life!