It's like CHOOSING to GET pregnant!? LOW BMI-er here

[tnkrrbl 53]

Now that surgery is getting closer 5/18/15 I'm really wondering so many things. While the pull of being thin, not wearing size 16 curvy plus size jeans is appealing to me. I've decided it's like getting pregnant... it's a life change, and there are so many unknowns, that you just don't know until it happens. (what kind of mom, how will I sleep, what kind of kid.....)

I get it I don't have as much to lose as many of you, which is why there are some of these questions.... started research at 189 pre-op down to 184 BMI 33.5 and I'm 5'2". Curvy- carry the weight everywhere -- 42- 38 - 42 6" wrist - size 6.5 shoes....

I do have questions... that I don't think I can answer until it's all over. So here are my rambling thoughts right now.

As my surgery date quickly approaches these are some of my worries, fears and trepidations.....Am I going crazy?

Am I making the right choice for me?

Will I miss my old ways of eating, what, when and how much I want?

Will my face look LOTS older?

Will I regret this decision?

How will my life change?

Will I look GOOD once I’m thin?

How low will the girls hang?

Will the girls get smaller?

How will this effect me for the rest of my life?

Will my hair fall out? (Does it fall out as much with a lower BMI to start?)

Will I have a waist, or is not having on an “old lady thing”?

Will I have regrets that will never go away?

How will it affect my personal life?

How will it affect my social life?

How will it affect my business?

Has my business been hindered or enhanced by my weight?

Will my knees stop hurting?

I'd love some input from others who have been here - done that....

[ProjectMe 909]

I think I had a 32 BMI the day of surgery. Many of your concerns have to do with your mindset and perspective. My purpose for getting the sleeve was 90% quality of life, 10% want to be skinny. i would ask what is your purpose for this procedure? What do you ultimately want to gain from it? Then focus & let go of the concerns that do not factor into your decision.

I can tell you that after losing 100+ pounds, decreasing my meds from 4 to 1, no longer having any health problems, wearing 1/2 my original size, and being in better shape than most people half my age more than makes up for my smaller chest size or the possible temporary loss of some hair or the adjustment to my lifestyle.

[Laurensloss 13]

Hi,

I think you are asking all the right questions. It is a big decision and you want to make sure that you really need to do it. Your weight is low but being that you are short I can understand why you want to lose weight. I am 5'3 and I have always been over weight. I think the number one question you should ask yourself is...If you tried to lose the weight on your own through diet exercise and dedication, could you do it? Getting the sleeve is like starting a diet that you can not get off until 6 months later. You will lose a lot in the beginning but it will not be as much as others lose. I think when you have less to lose you will experience less severe side effect. If your skin has not been stretched as much as someone who is 300lbs then you will not have much lose or saggy skin. Also you will experience hair loss from the hormone change but it might not be as much. In the beginning your social life will be effected because you won't be happy going out to eat or going to social events with food. For the first few months you will feel different about food and it might be upsetting. Now that I am over a year out I am fine going places with food and eating a little bit. I think losing weight will be good for your energy level and after you feel more normal (6 months post op) you will be happy you did it. For me I knew I wanted to do it because I had already tried several times and had lost a good amount of weight and always gained it back. I am now smaller than I have ever been. The last time I weighed this weight was in 10th grade. So I guess you have to look at the pros and cons and see what is best for you.

[Edavidson 84]

Sleeve surgery is a big deal. You are the lowest weight person I have heard of in all of my

research on the internet. You don't have much to lose, why would you put yourself through this

very difficult surgery when you are not that heavy. My sister lost 115 lbs. on weight watchers

15 years ago and has kept it off. Your life is going to change drastically after the sleeve and

you can't take it back, when they take your stomach out it is staying out. Most people have this

done who are morbidly obese. I am five months out and I still have trouble eating. I would give

anything to be able to eat some of the food i use to love. Your taste buds change, you do lose

some hair, and until you are able to exercise and get your strength back you feel tired all of

the time. You should rethink what you are about to do. I have a friend who lost weight on the sleeve and gained it all back. This is not a miracle cure for obesity. You have to work hard at it if you want to lose. When is the last time you tried to diet and lose weight. What ever you decide

we will all be rooting for you, but I am not so sure the sleeve is right for you.

[chunkyloverlovesyou 197]

Low bmi-re checkin in. My boobs went first, I am still trying to find the correct bra size. My knees feel better. It's still hard to lose weight, you will have to work at it. You won't see the 50 led drop in 2 months. Socially, I've gotten used to it. At restaurants, I pick at my food, move it around, fake disgust, box it up and leave..no one really notices or cares. I don't regret my decision, I know I've dodged some major health issues. I know I will never be a stick, I just look more normal and less 'American'

[*Lexie* 1,486]

Hi, great questions! I'll do my best based on my limited time since surgery. In my experience, I've developed several food intolerances and still throw up somewhat regularly (at almost 8 months out) and have a huge list of things I can't eat. So my experience hasn't been perfect, just keep that in mind.

Will I miss my old ways of eating, what, when and how much I want? Most definitely but you eventually get used to it. I have learned to eat the best part first.

Will my face look LOTS older? Yesterday I saw someone at work who said, "Oh my God, you look amazing. I can't believe how much younger you look." It made my day.

Will I regret this decision? Oh, maybe for a minute or two. I had a friend who had some serious complications and was hospitalized for close to a month. Today she has no regrets. I'm amazed by that. I never had one regret.

How will my life change? You will be an active participant in your life instead of sitting on the couch because you are too self conscious to do anything.

Will I look GOOD once I’m thin? Hells yeah!

How low will the girls hang? Probably a little low but nothing that Victoria's Secret can't fix.

Will the girls get smaller? Mine did, thank goodness.

How will this effect me for the rest of my life? Hopefully you'll live longer.

Will my hair fall out? (Does it fall out as much with a lower BMI to start?) Mine did for about a month but it wasn't noticeable.

Will I have a waist, or is not having on an “old lady thing”? I don't understand this question but typically as people lose weight, we start finding all sorts of things like collar bones, hip bones, this weird little knob on our wrist. It's crazy!

Will I have regrets that will never go away? I don't but I made a decision right before surgery that I would not complain or express regrets because i can't undo it and it does no good to bellyache about it. Bellyache, ha!

How will it affect my personal life? More sex, more fun, less focus around what you're going to eat next.

How will it affect my social life? More sex, more fun. LOL

How will it affect my business?

Has my business been hindered or enhanced by my weight? There are different theories out there around this. I'm not sure how to answer it. I have gotten a promotion recently but maybe that is because I'm feeling more confident and not my actual weight.

Will my knees stop hurting? Most definitely. Before I had surgery, I was trying to walk for 20 minutes or so and my feet would hurt. I ran 3 miles this morning and my legs feel really good.

The only other advice I have is that if you have tried and failed, don't worry about what BMI you have or what other people think. To me, that makes about as much sense as someone saying, "you shouldn't get chemo because you only have a little bit of cancer." If you want it, do it. Yes it's work, I work hard at it every day but it's a darn good tool. I've lost all the weight before and it all came back and brought a few friends. My goal is to use this tool to keep the weight off and live a long life at a healthy BMI.

Best of luck to you!

[hb.mambo 17]

I had the surgery done with a starting BMI of 31- am 5'8" and weighed 212. And I'm only 2.5 weeks out and have lost 18lbs. I don't love this yet, but I already notice differences in how I feel. I've never been an inactive person- I ride horses and spend lots of time in the gym. I can't wait to go to a horse show now and not have little aches and pains from the extra weight; or go to the gym and finally "look" like I'm there as often as I am. I know this will change many things about me and my good friend food, but that's what I want- I need less of it!!

This is hard- and I've had many a moment over the last couple of weeks that I have wondered what I was thinking, but those moments are getting fewer, and eventually I'll be thrilled. That's what I'm focused on! For me, it's worth it, and knowing that I've given myself the chance to not go up and down constantly with my weight is such a relief!