Hey everyone! I am new here and have been reading for 2 hours already at various stories of people getting the VSG, those who have had it, and those who are waiting to get it or considering it. I want to say, first of all, that I think this site is awesome and I look forward to communicating with as many of you as possible about your journey and share mine. So, here is mine is short.

I an an American living in Norway. I married my Norwegian wife in the USA 5 years ago and we have 3 kids. I never thougth I would ever have kids this late in life and certainly never planned on being this heavy.

I have had Type II Diabetes for the past 16 years - it kicked in when I became 310lbs. At 5'6, now at 270 that sets my BMI to about 43.5. I do not look all that big, but my knees tell me that I am. I feel like I constantly battling my weight. As many of you, it has been for the majority of my life.

My doctor here recommended it last year and told me that because of my diabetes he recommended WLS. I was, of course, very skeptical. I had NEVER considered myself to be a candidate, but then he explained everything to me and it was like...WOW, I AM a candidate. Soooo, he put in my application. Because this is socialized medicine here in Norway, I am going to get my surgery paid for, which was one major stress relief. Well, anyway, that was last year, and on the 16th this month I got my letter to report to the hospital for my pre-ed and pre-op examination. Been there and did that. I am now just kind of trying to put it all together in my head, and it is all I can think about.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I will keep you updated.

Andreanoelle -

I, like Tiffany, am an EXCELLENT dieter, but could never maintain weight loss. Eventually, I would get hungry and eat something I shouldn't. One bad day would lead to the next, and eventually off the diet and back to gaining weight. Now, post op, I still track what I eat. I need the accountability to myself. It is keeping me focused on my GOAL. I can still cheat occasionally and don't have guilt from it because I can't eat enough of it to add up. For example, on my absolute WORST post-sleeve calorie day, I consumed 1450 calories (and 450-500 calories of it was alcoholic beverages). A "bad" day on the sleeve is a pretty good day on my previous diets. Because of that, I stay focused on tracking because I'm still focused on losing weight. I can see in my near future where I relax a bit, and begin to maintain. I am so excited about my sleeve and it giving me the ability to control portions and maintain.