I'm new here and this is my first post. My husband suggested I reach out and talk to the people who know best (I think he was referring to health care professionals....but if you want the nitty gritty, you have to go to the people who REALLY know!) I am a military wife and am moving right along with the steps to the surgery. My husband was/is very supportive about this decision. My mother is not, but she keeps quiet ( I think it's more out of fear because I am her only daughter and the youngest and besides....Mamma's don't like their babies having the majority of one of their organs removed!) My best friend (and Im not talking about someone I've known for like a year or two, I mean attached at the hip for the last 15 years type of best friend) she is definitely NOT in support of this decision. More on all this at a later post. I wonder if I'm taking this SERIOUSLY. I know all about the hard work, the ups and downs and the losing and regaining, the slowly not being able to fit into those FANTASTIC jeans that you loved so much and were soooo proud of when you could finally get down to the size to fit them but as you gain weight they just get a little tighter and tighter until they also go into that stock pile of "my skinny" clothes that lurk in the back of the closet. BELIEVE ME, I KNOW!!!! I have battled my weight as far back as I can remember. I remember the elementary school wanting to put me on a "suggested" diet in the 2nd grade and me going on my first "official" diet when I was 12.......18 years later....here I am!!! Ok. So what I'm getting at is that I'm no stranger to being overweight, losing it, and putting it right back on.....but when I think about my stomach being "mostly" cut out.....I don't really feel anything. No jitters or butterflies.......almost like it's not real. The hard work does not frighten me. The pain that comes with the surgery does not frighten me. My eye is on the prize. I imagine my perfect self (and in this order.....a little vain, but come on, you've done it too) 1. Wearing a very fashionable, classy, and slimming outfit that becomes me so I can show myself off...you know, the kind that turn a few heads and gets u a little attention 2. Jogging the neighborhood with my husband and keeping up with him (and yes I'm talking about one of them "commercial" jogs. You know the ones where you are just trotting along, not out of breath and smiling, waving at the neighbors.....and nothing is jiggling that shouldn't be jiggling) and 3. playing in the front yard with my future kid. I mean REALLY playing and not sitting on the front steps and just watching the action. That's me. My perfect self. It's far fetched I know. Real world is that heavy or not, 1. the perfect outfit is out there its just by the time I put it all together I'm super late for whatever I'm wearing it for, my husband is aggravated and cussing and it usually rains during all my special occasions and my hair frizzes 2. Anybody who is jogging, smiling and waving at the same time deserves to be run over. 3. I know the future kid is out there, but get real. There has to be a reason that I am 30 years old and only own two dogs...right.....right? So, is this real? Are there other pre-stomachless people out there who feel the same as me? Undaunted by surgery, the risks, and "THE DIET OF ALL DIETS" and living in some la-la land dreaming about my perfect self??

Yeah? Well perfect me rocks a bikini, wears VS bras and looks like one of those angel ads while brilliantly investing money so I have more than I know what to do with and in my spare time I invent a software application that ends world hunger, war, and infighting. Oh yeah, and my turkey wattle is gone too. I may be old but Icahn still dream too.

Lynda

Yeah? Well perfect me rocks a bikini' date=' wears VS bras and looks like one of those angel ads while brilliantly investing money so I have more than I know what to do with and in my spare time I invent a software application that ends world hunger, war, and infighting. Oh yeah, and my turkey wattle is gone too. I may be old but Icahn still dream too.

Lynda[/quote']

But in the meantime, I am a normal BMI with almost no health issues and a long, lean size 6!

Yeah? Well perfect me rocks a bikini' date=' wears VS bras and looks like one of those angel ads while brilliantly investing money so I have more than I know what to do with and in my spare time I invent a software application that ends world hunger, war, and infighting. Oh yeah, and my turkey wattle is gone too. I may be old but Icahn still dream too.

Lynda[/quote']

Oh yes no matter what age, we can dream.

Ksprite and Gomekast:

Holy crap on a cracker am I glad I came into this thread' date=' both of you seriously took every word out of my head. It was like reading my own thoughts... Now I'm suspicious of both of you.

I thought maybe I was nuts because everyone just seemed sooooo focused on the health aspect and not on the looks part, which for me, is a big part of it. Sure I'm worried about my health LONG term, I have diabetes, Crones, Gout, and a slew of other food related diseases that run in my family as well as they are all overweight. I think about how this will improve my lifestyle at 60 and that's a major thing for me. I don't want my last years to suck.

But now at 25, I too am excited to see my perfect self, and feel little actual fear for surgery, even though I have been researching it for over a year before deciding it was right for me.

And some of the more "holier than thou" types that might say that's stupid, and I'm not doing it for the right reasons, it's all health and zero vanity etc etc... All I have to say to that attitude is

"Yet you never seem to see anyone posting before and after shots of their blood work charts do you?" -Nads (that's me, much more amusing than calling myself Nadia haha)

No disrespect meant, everyone has their reason for wanting this surgery, and I personally don't believe any one of us should be telling each other if our reasons are right or wrong if our doctors have cleared us in sound mind. I too find it easier to deal with a major issue like this with humor and excitement, some are more serious and prefer to focus on that aspect. *shrugs* to each their own, I don't think either way means you don't fully understand the hardships this surgery will bring, nor the joys.

I hope I can keep in touch with both of you ladies

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My name is Nadia and I call myself Nads too, lol. Yes, I too would like to just focus on the health aspect of this surgery, but I do also think of having a commercial run, or looking the right type of sweaty, like you see in fitness magazines.

I feel that for every scary post that touches on sideeffects our complications there should be an equal amounts of posts that merit this surgery. I guess the people that have had good outcomes are maybe just busy running around living life.

And to OP, no, you aren't a freak of nature. I don't think it's possible to go through this surgery and not even once think of your looks.

Yes I really don't think anyone is opposed to looking better... But was that the driving force to undergo a potentially deadly surgery?

In a word... No

Perhaps you are young? If so' date=' I get the "I just want to look hot" thing. There is however going to be a lot of blood sweat and tears to get you to the point of "rocking your tank top".

This is a radical surgery that has consequences.

And for a lot of us, it was last resort after every other avenue had been exhausted. A LOT of mental work needs to go I to this. This surgery will permanently alter your body and you will have to live with those changes for the rest of your life.

Some of which are taking supplements forever not drinking like you used to, losing hair and for some, various other complications. To many to mention here..

The one thing this surgery is not? A cure!

As many people that lose all their weight, you will have those that lose only part of it. And even more that lose it then REGAIN! It's a life long change/battle to lose and keep it off.

One that can be won yes..

So I guess my point is, that focussing on just being able to rock an outfit may be a bit short sighted in regards to what you are about to go through. And perfection? Life is imperfect.

the "perfection" I'm looking for? To be comfortable in my imperfect self. To love this 47 year old body.

This body has lived... It has been bigger and smaller through the years, gave birth to 2 children and it has the battle scars (and lumps and bumps) to tell the stories.

I will try not to hold myself to a standard of "perfection" that you see on tv or a magazine...

As I quoted before..

“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.” ― Leo Tolstoy

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Again well said!!! Thanks!