I'm in the middle of my 90 day Aetna Pre-Op requirement. I'm starting to feel maybe I'm kidding myself. Here are some of the questions I'm asking myself..... did some of you who had a BMI over say 45 (I'm a 46 BMI) feel similar?

Why oh why would this work for you.... you are just fooling yourself if you believe this will work for YOU. Yeah, it works for them but they must not be as screwed up as you or they must have more willpower. They have SOMETHING that YOU don't. Do you reaaaallly think you'll lose enough weight to be normal? Come on, Dana...get real -- that is a pipe dream... You've been morbidly obese most of life...you think suddenly you're going to be riding a bike and hiking, swimming and playing tennis? HA!

NAUSEA: I'm highly prone to nausea and I am scared to death that I will have to live with is 24hours a day and I really think I'd rather be fat than live with nausea.

I'm not really concerned about the actual risks of surgery. I'm worried about being a failure and I'm extremely worried about nausea. And I am worried about how I'm going to get down the required Protein shakes.... Pain I can handle.

Well, I was way off. My starting BMI was 52. I go to the doc in a few weeks and hopefully he'll tell me how it's gone down!

My beginni.g BMI was 42 lost 51 # present BMI is 33.8

When I started this journey, my bmi was almost 61! Now 6 months later, my bmi is 42!

First let me say, you will NOT, let me repeat, will NOT suddenly be thin and everything wonderful. The sleeve HELPS you achieve your goal. It WON'T magically, suddenly make you thin.

That being said, I think at some point, everyone thinks that they will be the one that this doesn't work for. I would think you were crazy if you didn't have those thoughts. But, if you work the program, and do what you're supposed to do, within a year, you will be amazed at yourself.

I lost about 50 pounds in the 2 months pre surgery, and another 57 in the 2 months since surgery. I feel like a new man. I actually did a 5k with my son last week. 6 months ago, that would not have been possible.

Just know this. This is a marathon, not a sprint. You will have stalls, you will get frustrated. There will be days you want to throw your scale out the window. But, I have found that as long as you focus on YOU, and don't compare yourself to others, you will be amazed at the results that you get.

Good luck

Amen brother

I've always felt invisible being fat. I've been terrified of being noticed (one of many reasons I let myself get so fat). I'm just starting my journey and people are noticing me. I have a hard time taking the compliments... I go with my "oh yeah! Thanks!" as a response to compliments. And my work crush has taken an interest in me. I don't know what to do! Lol!

Pre-op my biggest fear was failing my sleeve. Losing the weight and putting it back on. I read a blog recently where a woman got sleeved and a year later she went from size 30-22. I know I shouldn't judge but I don't want that to be me. It's really lit a fire under my tooshy to take exercise seriously.

So that's my story. I'm becoming visible and realizing that I will have to become BFFs with exercise.

I do hope that one day I'll be able to participate in family dinners, holidays, etc. This is New Orleans and EVERYTHING revolves around food ( the best food in the world too!). I'm not worried about portions-- I can handle tiny portions, I just want to be able to "have" it! My entire life I've thought ..if only there could be something that would make me not WANT to eat or COULDN'T eat --well, this is it!

I intend to go to the support group too -- I'm going to start now before surgery.

I hope to get sleeve in Dec/Jan timeframe...with Kaiser I have to go through a six month program. I've always wished there was a way to keep me from eating. I use to wish I had my jaw wired shut so I couldn't eat...don't need to wish for that anymore....just waiting to be sleeved

Go for it, but PLEASE DO NOT GET comfortable after you have had the surgery say..........3 mos 6 mos 9 mos say a year or 3. I ran into a woman that had not the sleeve but where they reroute everything.. about 8 years ago..........she got down real nice..... when I seen her, I wanted to cry for her, as she has regained ALL of her weight back plus more, do not think at all this is a FIX IT...... you have to be ready in the head as I call it.........or you will fail!!!............ do it for your health and follow all the rules........ PLEASE......... you have to watch what you eat, how you eat and exercise........... basic rules........