My pre op appointments are this week and I've been asking myself "can I do this??" Here is what goes on in my mind---I feel like all day.

1. Losing weight, changing my diet, and moving my body=healthy.

2. I'm 29 and have high blood pressure, not cool.

3. I want to be at a healthy weight before I have children.

4. I have a great support system!

5. I've seen the success with my mom.

6. Imagining what I would look like skinny is exciting! Now imagine turning that into reality.

7. Timing is perfect for my life.

8. Insurance covers.

9. No amount if diet and exercise has worked for me before.

10. Am I committed enough?

11. COMPLICATIONS. basically my quality of life is overall good. Sure, I'm overweight but I'm happy and busy and don't want a complication to change my quality of life.

My moment of clarity. Yesterday, while going on a walk, I was of course thinking of all this and so much more. I was huffing and puffing through a (not so rigorous) 1.5 mile walk and thought this is ridiculous. I can't let the fear of complications cripple me! I should not be struggling to walk 1.5 miles. I'm 29! I need to take my life back, commit to this change, and persevere!

So to keep in the motivational mindset-when was the moment you knew this was the best choice for you?????

When I got tired of injecting myself 5 times a day with insulin, and seeing my brother who is 43 have a heart attack and he is a fitness instructor with diabetics.

The moment I knew I had to change:

While performing chest compression for a few minutes during a "code blue" another nurse had to tell me to sit down because it looked like I was going to pass out. It was so embarrassing. I couldn't even do my job.

Now I can run around all night and not feel physically tired. I just think of chest compressions as a little extra cardio (for me & the patient)

The moment I knew ... when the cardiologist told me if I didn't quit smoking and lose about 150 pounds, and start to walk a minimum of 90 minutes a day (his personal recommendation was 3 hours a day) that I would be dead within 8 years. I was 57 at the time. It still took me 7 months to quit smoking and another 4 months to see my surgeon. I knew I wanted to grow old with my husband and 65 is not old in my mind.

By the way, the cardiologist also added that he had a few patients that had lost that amount of weight, but never one that was able to keep it off. He did not recommend WLS, nor did he even offer it as an option.