This is me by the numbers: 5'6 , 226 lbs , starting Bmi 37. I am so ready to do this but the road leading me to this point has been a little rocky. A couple of friends have tried to talk me out of this, even offered to diet and exercise with me ( bless them!) I can diet and have some success , but at age 51 I know I can not sustain the kind of weight loss I need permanently.

My mother started crying that she's afraid that I'm going to change too much; or as she puts it " you'll lose your funny". I'm trying to reassure her that weight loss surgery will not decrease my sense of humor , just my size, lol! I have had to assure her that this will not affect my cooking skills, either. I can and will continue to cook for my family .

My comorbidities are few, but I can feel my health starting to taking a turn for the worse; the airplane seat belts keep getting tighter and tighter and I want to stand up without pushing myself up off the chair. I want to be able to look at a picture of myself , and not try to hide when I see an old acquaintance.

I guess I'm getting a little melancholy so close to my date . Can someone cheer up this jolly girl?

"What did Noah say when the last animal entered the arc?" "Now, I've HERD everything." Ok, bad joke, but I tried.

Seriously, you know you better than everyone else and you know what will work and what won't. Trust yourself. You are trying to change your life for the better. Congrats on being two days out! Good thoughts sent your way. And I hope the melancholy goes away with the pounds that you will lose!

You are going to do great! Keep smiling and laughing some days will be harder than others as in all aspects of our lives, just keep sight of your goals and true to who you are.

Dream, Believe Achieve.

Our pre-surgery numbers are pretty close. I had my surgery last Thursday and it was smooth as silk. I was pretty nervous beforehand and got even more so in the staging area immediately prior to surgery. I was terrified that something would go wrong and that my kids wouldn't have the kind of mother they need.

Three days out, I'm not taking any pain meds but OTC Tylenol and feel good. I actually feel more energetic that before the surgery. You'll have wonderful luck too & surgery will be over before you know it. Then you mom can learn how much funnier a thin you can be.