My surgery is scheduled for June 20th. I am very excited. Whenever I get nervous, I think about what I will not miss about being obese, and what I look forward to in my post-op life. I thought I would start a topic to see what others say about this, and give me even more inspiration. So...whether you have had the surgery or are still waiting for it, what is your answer here? Here are some of mine:

• No longer having to pray I can fit in a chair in a restaurant, or that it will hold my weight.
• Feeling awkward when I have to squeeze around people or through tight spaces, like elevators or hallways or through crowded rooms of people.
• Praying the seatbelt will fit when flying, or trying to squeeze in a tiny seat. (I'll buy a First Class ticket just to have more room even though I can't always afford it).
• Sweating profusely every time I have to walk a few blocks, and being totally embarrassed. (This is particularly bad when walking to an off-site meeting at work, or walking to a happy hour or lunch and my skin is dripping and my hair a mess).
• My thighs rubbing together when I wear slacks and making a loud noise when I walk.
• My feet aching after walking or standing, and my ankles swelling and bruising, or my knees hurting.
• The judgments people sometimes make, or the judgments I make against myself.
• Spending tons of money on failed diets and other programs....
• Spending tons of money on big clothes for work hat look like what my grandmother used to wear in the 1970s rather than something hip, professional and cool.
• Turning down social invitations because of my weight and feeling like I have nothing to wear or dreading rejection or stares (even if it is only a fear and not reality).
• Taking two showers on hot days because sweating makes me smell.
• My kids worrying about me because I am too heavy.
• Me worrying about me because I am too heavy.

These are just a few; there are more. It's reality. And despite each one bearing some pain with it, it brought me to making new decisions for my health and wellbeing. So here's what I look forward to after WLS:

• Hope
• Having a new tool that gives me a new boundary, new taste buds, and less hunger
• Being in shape again, being able to exercise without my feet swelling, and feeling the rush that comes from your body being healthy and fit.
• Sweating happens only during a hard workout!
• Being able to keep up with my kids (and my grandkids when they come)
• Riding a bike again
• Not being short of breath
• Feeling comfortable again in social situations
• Being happy with my appearance
• Smaller clothes so I can wear clothes that reflect who I am as a woman, rather than just finding something that fits my body and looks totally NOT me.
• Showing my knees again (they haven't seen the sun in 20 years, LOL).
• Having confidence in my appearance again.
• Continuing in therapy so I have a new mind as well as a new body.
• New beginnings!

Can't wait to hear yours.

Great question !!! I was banded Dec, 2011, weighed 225 lbs with a goal of 140 or so. I mostly wanted to get back to the old " me." Healthy, happy, and normal weight was what I wanted. I wanted to wear attactive , regular feminine clothes that looked good on me. I wanted to like what i saw in the mirror, and have others like what they saw too. I wanted to be a runner, even a slow one. I wanted to get rid of my digestive problems and the C-pap machine for sleep apnea, be able to walk, run , move without being tired or sore. Other then still working on the last 20 lbs, ive achieved those goals. Im happy, proud, grateful and blessed. Although I still struggle daily to watch my sweet tooth, nothing , and I mean NOTHING, taste as good as feeling good from the inside out does. I wish the same blessings on you .

I have been overweight since I was 12. I want to be healthy, yes. But I want to not be big, overweight, plus-sized... fat. I want to walk into a room and have people see the smile, the pretty clothes and not the fat. When I go for an interview I want people to see the suit, the poise, the knowledge and skill, not the weight. When I look in the mirror, when I look at pictures of myself (and yes, I let people take pictures, I learned a while ago, if I never let pictures be taken, then who am I hurting, because when I'm dead it won't be me crying because they can't remember my face, but mu kids) I want to see me, not the fat. When I go shopping, I want to find cute clothes and try them on and look amazing in them.

I won't miss getting toilet paper stuck in my hanging flappy stomach. I won't miss not feeling amorous be cause I feel like a whale. I won't miss spending all my time in the lazy pig chair because moving is getting more difficult. I won't miss seeing my kids eating junk food and knowing we haven't taught them any better even though we knew better. I won't miss the television. In fact, I won't miss my computer either.

I miss fun. I miss going outside (though I am not a shut in, I don't leave except to work or shop). I miss living my life. I miss having things fun to do besides 'going out to eat'.

I look forward to be able to go shopping for clothes and leave satisfied and looking good instead of having anxiety attacks and blasting out of the shop crying because nothing fits!

I look forward to not having my day ruined because I saw my own reflection in a window!

I look forward to living a happier and healthier life, enjoying activities with my friends and family!

i wanted/needed to have surgery to (walk) as i was having trouble walking any distance and also because wiping my hiney was getting hard to do...short arms only reach so far.......and my son told me i was going to be a grandmother..i needed to get (healthy) for her....and 2 yrs later....i am healthier..and that is what WLS is all about........

that and me wearing my 6 inch wedges again♥

-I look forward to having pride in my yard again. I would love a garden or flower beds but I get too tired just pulling a few weeds.

-I look forward to "shopping" in my closet- I have so many clothes in different sizes and some I haven't seen or been able to wear in 10 years.This time, I swear I'm donating my big clothes.

-I can't wait to take pictures of myself!

-I'm excited to walk my dogs. Believe me, they are too! My ankles start hurting almost right away so we turn back. Each evening after dinner, I watch the couples in my neighborhood walking their dogs after dinner. I want my husband and I to be them! That looks like so much more fun than laying on the couch because I ate too much and have no energy.

- I don't want my son to be embarrassed of me.

- I'm excited to not have my day revolve around planning meals.

- I want to wear my polka-dot one piece bathing suit. I bought it when I lost some weight years ago. It's the first bathing suit in at least 10 years that doesn't have a skirt. AND, I want to be able to wear it without chafing!!

- I want to get off of all of my asthma medication!

- I want to become more of an extrovert. I'm so shy that I have trouble looking people in the eye and can't make small talk. I think a lot of that is because I'm embarrassed of myself.

I feel like I could go on and on. This is such a good topic. I'd like to go back months from now after my surgery and re-read my responses if I'm feeling low or craving something I shouldn't eat. My new life begins on June 24th and I absolutely can't wait!!

I can't wait to look incredible on my 21st birthday and have a great time!

I'm usually the most miserable person at my own party and can't wait for everyone to leave.

I had RNY in March and I made a journal of these type of thoughts, feelings, pictures of outfits I looked forward to, thoughts and reflections, etc. It is fun to go to whenever I need it or want.

Big for me was I want to not be an obstacle people move around.

I want to express my classic style in clothes that fit-not what is available in my size.

I want to feel good in my own skin.

Hope.

Now that I am 39 pounds lighter I do feel HOPE and it is amazing! I cleaned out my closet and clothes were too big and lots fit, and looked great. HOPE! It is amazing. HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE!

No meds for diabetes! HOPE!

I now want to be in pictures! Imagine that!

I want to go into one of those touristy boutique clothing shops and find clothes that fit... Smalls, mediums or larges. I hate being limited to a couple of plus sized chain shops.

And I want to look at myself sideways in a mirror and not have my eyes immediately go to my belly and think how much I hate how I look.

I'd say "ditto" on almost all of the above

I have RA, so losing weight was a MUST for relief in my legs .... I also had to lose weight to get my knees replaced, but since I could barely move, I just kept gaining...

This surgery has been a god-send to me (as to may others, I'm sure)... I may not be at the goal I set for myself (yet)...but I'm maintaining and I'm moving and I'm becoming happier with who I am and not "what" I am

I read the above posts , and to those who are having their surgery soon, just hang in there ! - All I did was follow my Drs rules 95% of the time, and the weight started falling off ! I averaged 1 - 1.5 lbs a week, sometimes less, but I kept a daily log of food and weight and I could see a pattern at the end of every month. I dont live and die by the scale, I just use it as a guideline to help me make good daily choices. When your clothes start getting baggy, because you're exercising and eating better, you' ll be sooooo glad you did this ! ( Honey, I have to go shopping at Goodwill for smaller clothes again ! ) Good luck ! ♡♡♡♡♡!

SO many great responses! Thank you all! Love them. If you think of others, post again. This is really inspiring for me. It makes me cry but in a good way. I can relate to about everything said here, for sure. I think we all can. And... I can't wait for my clothes to be baggy! It's been a LONG time since that happened.

Edited June 4, 201412 yr by patrice1

I look forward to be able to go shopping for clothes and leave satisfied and looking good instead of having anxiety attacks and blasting out of the shop crying because nothing fits!

ahhhh this!!! so tired of wiping tears on the way to work because literally, NOTHING fit.

WOW! what a great post! where to start - I mean besides mostly everything that has been said in the above posts...

I no longer liked who i was... how i felt... I was so ashamed... I no longer wanted to do anything... besides going to work; I declined invites to do really anything...

I too was a hot sweaty mess, legs rubbing together, and just feeling uncomfortable within my own skin.

When i would have to use the bathrooms at work, i would pray that the handicap stall would be open... and lets NOT even discuss the whole "trying to wipe my hiney" syndrome!!!

Now 5 ½ months later – down 80lbs and I feel better now than I did when I use to be thin… I think this is the BEST I have ever felt!! I am starting to run… (WAIT WHAT?? - ME RUN??? OMG its true!!!) I am healthier, I feel great….. Love being able to shop in any store... I am wearing clothes that haven fit in 10 years!

I just can’t believe I got my life back!!!

Edited June 4, 201412 yr by skinnygirlwithin

Skinny Girl - SO exciting! I can't wait. I can so relate to everything you said! Your results sound fabulous, and I can't wait to get my life back too.

I can't wait to go biking with my partners and not feeling like I'm holding them back to riding at my slow pace. I can't wait to not be a plus size. I can't wait to actually want to buy new clothes instead of making due with the same few items because I hate shopping so much. I can't wait to walk with my kids and not be the one out of breath. To work in my garden and actually get things planted and weeded and not feel like I'm going to die when I'm done.

I want to go to the amusement park and not sit on the bench because I'm afraid of getting stuck in the rides. I want to go to a concert and dance and not care if people look at me because I won't be the fat girl that everyone's looking at in disgust. I want to go out with my partners and not have people wonder what they see in me.

I want to live instead of committing slow suicide by food.