Don't let anyone tell you or make you feel that this is the easy way out! In fact, it's the hard way out! I was sleeved 12/26 day after Christmas, hospitalized for 2 days and on Clear liquids hopefully till Friday 1/4/12. This is not easy, but I'm rather curious how far I could take this! I can't even imagine the number of times I would have already binged on food by now. In fact I have to remind myself I can't! Even tho I want to I can't! But at the same time I am craving colorful healthy food.

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I agree. My true friends are very supportive and those that I knew would judge me, I didnt tell. This is definitely not the easy way out. I had a 6 month journey from seminar to surgery and I went through a lot to get to my surgery date. Then of course there is the actual surgery and the whole new way of feeding my new tummy and living. This is no simple diet or new age scheme. I think we are all courageous for taking control of our futures because what we were doing before wasnt cutting it. Yay Sleeves!!

This is the hardest thing we will do in our whole life span. This is just a tool that helps us eat smaller portions but it still depends on what we put in our mouths that will keep us slim and healthy. I know that I struggle with head hunger and at times emotional eating. This is all hard work and will be a life time journey for us. We can do this. At 14 months out I'm realizing that I don't need to eat just because it's there. I'm learning about my triggers to eating like smelling the aroma of baking, visual cues, and environmental cues. I guess it comes down to saying in my head that I don't need that! Eat healthy colorful fruits and veggies after I eat my protein. Congrats to everyone and have a wonderful New Year's Eve. !

This is by far one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life! It's not a "quick-fix" like some people may think, although the weight loss is "quick", the pre and post surgery diets alone no doubt scare away the weakest of the frey looking into having WLS! Even now at 3 months post-op, I'm looking forward to the holiday season ending because it is hard, constantly making the right decision on what to eat and how much, when in the past over-indulging in food and drink was "tradition". (I've only had one pity-party, recently and I posted about it "Cranky Mom- Help!" LOL) but those who know and love me, also know my history with food and would rather see me alive and healthy than slowly dying! (I've reversed Type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea is cured and I no longer have back spasms daily!) It's only those who feel insecure about themselves who actually feel jealous when they see others doing what they themselves should do. All we can do for them is to pray that they one day make those hard decisions like we did, to better our bodies - and our lives and to be a positive energy! Happy New Year's everyone! Just think of next year when it'll be a year post-op...I'll be really celebrating then (and watch out haters, I'll be looking hot, too -- for an "old lady!")

I wanted to thank everyone for this post. I am super excited about my upcoming surgery. The date isn't scheduled yet but I'm approved with my insurance company. I'm hoping it can be at the end of January or sometime early February (I have a vacation coming up and don't want to do anything before then). I started to tell people recently about the surgery. I guess I don't know what I was expecting. I was hoping for a little more support than what I am getting. My husband is super supportive. I have a few friends that are super supportive. My sister isn't happy with the decision but said that she would support me whatever decision I make. My mother, on the other hand, is NOT supportive. She is rather mad about the whole thing. Had the nerve to tell me to close my mouth and stop putting food in it. That actually has been getting me down all day (just told her last night). I wanted her to know about it so that when I start dropping the weight (and when I eat differently at her house) that she understood why. I am now regretting telling her. From now one I'm not going to tell anyone else. I really don't want to hear it. I've made the decision for a long life and not an early death (I was eating myself to the grave).

Some one wrote that this journey with all the hoop jumping is like a (dream a more like a night mare)". I totally agree!!

I got told that I was Too Lazy to go to the gym by my own close family member!

How am I Lazy?

1. I've been having to stick with a diet and not able to binge eat til I die of an Obesity related disease like a Heart Attack that my former foods would give me!

2. Tracking my food means no cheating.

3. How many appointments do I have to go to before I smile

( I mean scream)!

4. Talk to a shrink. At least I did and Passed!

5. It's not easy to be treated based on my weight.

I could go on but I'm even not sleeved yet!

Yet I'm still enjoying my Journey!

Congrats to everyone

Happy New Year!

Thankfully I've been surrounded by supportive people both in my family and by friends and coworkers. Nobody who's seriously struggled with weight would call this an easy way out. In fact, this, at least for me, was my last resort. Even then, I put it off because I didn't want to resort to such an extreme measure. If I could have done it the "right" way, I would have, but every time I would diet I would feel starved and deprived and miserable and every time I would fail and feel worse about myself because I couldn't do it.

I have no doubts that this surgery saved my life.