My first meeting with my surgeon is next week--so I'm still not technically "pre-op." But I know think of myself as a "pre-pre." The "explorer" days are over! I want this surgery.

That said, there are a few things that continue to spook me about the VSG.

1) I'm really trying to understand the sleeve-as-tool concept. We all go into this surgery all over the map--emotionally, physically, age-wise, whatever--and I'm assuming we all come out of this surgery all over the map in terms of motivation, commitment, and patience. Given that, what do you think makes this surgery so uniformly successful? Is the "sleeve tool" that powerful? Like, before surgery did you feel like you were clearing brush with a teaspoon and now you have a backhoe?

2) When I've been on "traditional" diets in the past, I know the moment I fall off the wagon: it's the moment when I no longer see a relationship between effort and reward. Do you feel you are better able to handle the "stalls" when they come? Do you see a faster relationship between eating right/exercising and weight loss? Do you feel more confident in that relationship? More patient? What?

3) What about that moment when you've reached goal? The applause dies down. Life goes on. I get that you can't go back to doughnuts when things get tough, but do you feel that having some form of lifetime accountability or support is necessary? Sometimes I get scared that I'll always be a fatty--after surgery, I'll just be masquerading as a thin one. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd love to breathe the free air--without the food monkey on my back. When you reach goal, what keeps you living right?

4) Here's a really wacky question. WHY does the sleeve increase your desire to eat right and exercise? (I was going to add "and go shopping" but whoa, I'm a girl. I totally get that one!!!) Is it just the relationship between effort and reward? In other words, temporary? Or do you feel that you're really clearing the brush permanently and working on a garden that will grow for the rest of your life--without having to be weeding it every second of every day?

Thanks for your help and patience. I learn so much from all of you. It's what is keeping me one more DeterminedGirl.

My first meeting with my surgeon is next week--so I'm still not technically "pre-op." But I know think of myself as a "pre-pre." The "explorer" days are over! I want this surgery.

That said, there are a few things that continue to spook me about the VSG.

1) I'm really trying to understand the sleeve-as-tool concept. We all go into this surgery all over the map--emotionally, physically, age-wise, whatever--and I'm assuming we all come out of this surgery all over the map in terms of motivation, commitment, and patience. Given that, what do you think makes this surgery so uniformly successful? Is the "sleeve tool" that powerful? Like, before surgery did you feel like you were clearing brush with a teaspoon and now you have a backhoe?

Well, much as I wish it were so, the sleeve is not universally successful. Obesity is not throughly understood and WLS mechanisms less so. The are some people who adhere to the rules and either lose very slowly or don't lose a great deal of weight. VSG is pretty darn good though.

What made the surgery powerful for me is my lack of hunger. Before surgery, I never felt full unless I was Thanksgiving stuffed. Now I'm not hungry. Before surgery, I thought about food ALL THE TIME. Now I forget about it most of the time--food is not my priority any more, there are more interesting things to do than eat.

2) When I've been on "traditional" diets in the past, I know the moment I fall off the wagon: it's the moment when I no longer see a relationship between effort and reward. Do you feel you are better able to handle the "stalls" when they come? Do you see a faster relationship between eating right/exercising and weight loss? Do you feel more confident in that relationship? More patient? What?

I logged all my food. When the scale did not move, I just told myself there was no way I could not lose weight eating 600 calories a day. I am a naturally patient person, though, and not easily upset when the scale didn't move. I just trusted it would and it eventually did.

3) What about that moment when you've reached goal? The applause dies down. Life goes on. I get that you can't go back to doughnuts when things get tough, but do you feel that having some form of lifetime accountability or support is necessary? Sometimes I get scared that I'll always be a fatty--after surgery, I'll just be masquerading as a thin one. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd love to breathe the free air--without the food monkey on my back. When you reach goal, what keeps you living right?

What keeps me living right? Staying a size 6! Seriously, I have made myself accountable to my scale. When I was fat, I never got on the scale (too scared to see the number). Now I weigh myself every day. I will allow myself to get to 139 (140 is the absolute limit) and then I cut back on junk carbs and sugar. I like how I feel, I can move so much easier and have loads more energy than when I was fat. That's a big reward for me. I was active before, but now it's just a breeze.

4) Here's a really wacky question. WHY does the sleeve increase your desire to eat right and exercise? (I was going to add "and go shopping" but whoa, I'm a girl. I totally get that one!!!) Is it just the relationship between effort and reward? In other words, temporary? Or do you feel that you're really clearing the brush permanently and working on a garden that will grow for the rest of your life--without having to be weeding it every second of every day?

Like I said above, once the food monkey is off your back, food isn't the primary reason for living anymore. Those skinny people who used to talk about how food was fuel? Now I'm one of them. Somewhere in my brain, this surgery flipped a switch that said, stop living for food. Stop thinking about food. Eat what you know will nourish your body and find emotional gratification elsewhere. It's a miracle.

Thanks for your help and patience. I learn so much from all of you. It's what is keeping me one more DeterminedGirl.

Hope this was helpful. Sometimes it's hard to articulate the changes.

1)Given that, what do you think makes this surgery so uniformly successful? Is the "sleeve tool" that powerful? Like, before surgery did you feel like you were clearing brush with a teaspoon and now you have a backhoe? Before my sleeve, I could work months and months doing everything right -- my eating and exercise. I would end up losing 10 pounds, which could all be undone in 1 weekend of bad choices.

Since my sleeve, I lost the initial 50 pounds pretty easily. I've fought for everything over that, but I am still losing. Even if I don't make the best choices, I can't make a 10-pound mistake in a week let alone a weekend. But the great thing is that the sleeve makes it easy for me to make good choices. I don't have room in my belly for bad ones. The key is to eat the Protein first.

Another thing that I noticed is that I was on liquids for about 2 months and it was still another month or so before I was eating *normal* food. This allowed my taste buds to reset themselves. I've never liked real sugary Snacks, but after the sleeve things that are even mildly sugary seem too sugary to me. I think it the extended change in diet really let me reset my taste buds, so I really stay away from sugary stuff.

2) When I've been on "traditional" diets in the past, I know the moment I fall off the wagon: it's the moment when I no longer see a relationship between effort and reward. Do you feel you are better able to handle the "stalls" when they come? Do you see a faster relationship between eating right/exercising and weight loss? Do you feel more confident in that relationship? More patient? What?

The sleeve has definitely helped me overcome falling off the wagon. I have had a pretty long stall. I've lost about 10 pounds since February (6 months), but I'm not discouraged or worried. Part of it is because this is the first time that I've measured myself by more than just my weight. I took pictures and measurements, and I am seeing progress. I have more definition in my arms and legs than I did 3 months ago. I can feel the muscles getting harder in my legs and arms. The scale hasn't changed, but stuff is still happening.

I was amazed at how quickly lifting 3 or 5 pound weights led to definition in my arms. I definitely feel more confident in the relationship between effort and results. I know the results are happening, and it isn't always just the numbers on the scale.

3) When you reach goal, what keeps you living right?

I'm not at goal yet, but my concerns about my health keep me on the straight and narrow. I can't eat very much, and I know if I don't eat the protein my body needs, I put my health in jeopardy. Vitamin deficiencies can be pretty serious and irreversible. I can't risk that.

4) Here's a really wacky question. WHY does the sleeve increase your desire to eat right and exercise?

I don't have hunger any more, and I don't want things with real strong flavors (sugars). This makes it pretty easy to eat right. Before surgery, I loved potatoes and breads. I ate those more than anything else, and I couldn't imagine giving them up. Now, I rarely eat more than a bite or two of potatoes and hardly ever eat breads. I don't like the way they make me feel when I eat them. This makes me less likely to want them.

As for exercise, I lost a lot of inches in my arms right away. It was very quickly after my surgery that I realized I had bat wings, and I did not want bat wings. I started lifting weights, and in less than 3 weeks I had muscles. The results were amazing. It made me want to exercise more. I'm not sure it has to do with my sleeve other than I am now small enough that I can exercise easier, and I am seeing the results.

Great questions. I am glad to know the answers too. I am having surgery on Tuesday. I too have only felt full a handfull of times. I feel like I am always hungry. It may be psychological, but my stomach can hold it all, so I am not sure.

Not sure of the dynamics behind it, but getting the sleeve somehow breaks your addiction to food. Maybe it's not being able to eat anything solid for weeks, I don't know. Lack of hunger contributes as the changing of taste buds, I'm sure. I never ate salads much before surgery and now I love them. I feel like I'm putting poison in my body if I eat unhealthy things. (except for beer...that's another thread). But food is no longer important to me. It's just a way to stay healthy. It's almost a chore to stop something I'm doing and remember to eat. Good luck to you!

Everyone's responses make me so excited! Its so hard to imagine that "there are things more exciting than eating" lol. I mean..... I can't wait to experience this!

As for the tastebud reset-- that is AMAZING! I never thought of that and I look forward to it.

Thanks for all your input!