I started this process back in August. I've done everything the Dr, nutritionist, and my insurance have asked of me. I got my surgery date last week. April 11 is the big day!!! I haven't really kept track of my weight for the past few months, I finally weighed myself this week and to my surprise I am 5lbs less than my goal weight. Yay me! The big problem now with having little over one month before "the big day" is that I'm wondering....what if I lose the weight and don't like being smaller and if I've lost those 20lbs on my own then why can't I just continue to lose on my own? My conclusion just comes to that I've always been overweight and tried to lose and when I've been successful it has always come back. Am I just being paranoid and crazy? Lol...

Dear LitaSoFly,

I think you are doing something really positive to change your life for the better, making a Permanent change! I know that is why I had the surgery! I had tried EVERYTHING under the sun to lose weight and Keep It OFF! And nothing worked as far as keeping it off.

I joined Weight Watchers 17 times (that's right SEVENTEEN times!) I lost weight every time, not just a couple of pounds either, 50 or 60 pounds, once 78 pounds! But the problem was I would get bored, or tired of the diet and think, "well I am almost to goal, I can eat now". And those pounds would come right back on, with a couple extra ones, just for good measure.

I also went to T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), went to Diet Center, Jenny Craig, NutriSystems, Weight Down Workshop, Overeaters Annonymous, Overeaters Victorious, Optifast, MediFast, Adkins, South Beach Diet, and many more, to numerous to name. I mean I did everthing! And nothing worked on a permanent basis.

That is what is so beautiful about my sleeve, it is permanent. It is working and will continue to work, because I have no choice! I have lost 100 pounds, and am loving my new life!!! My BP is now normal, my cholesterol is normal, my blood sugar is down to normal, I have been able to go off the anti-inflammatories that I have taken for almost 20 years! It is great, and I feel SO good! I have more energy than I know what to do with. I feel like someone has given me back my life! And I am so thankful to have it. I only wish this option had been available 30 years ago!

You are not paranoid, you are not crazy. You are making a choice for a better life! You are doing something positive to make your life healthier and better!

Good luck and keep us posted! We (I) love to read success stories! Let me welcome you in advance to The Loser's Bench!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Hi Anxious,

pls dont fret.u will be fine.Just the first 2 days after yr op will be a bit difficult.I got a vsg on the 14th feb n already lost 10kgs.my fasting sugar before op was 140, now it is 94.my knees hv stopped paining.just hv faith in the op n yr dr.

Thanx to the both of you my nerves are a little calmer today and your postings have helped as well.