I am brand new to this journey having my first Dr. Visit today! To prepare for the visit I have been combing through feed, after feed on this forum.

You are all so inspiring and I love the information and stories that you all share!

When did it hit you that you CAN and WILL loose all the weight?? I am having a hard time even considering I could possibly loose this weight and win a long fought battle with my body.

I am a fairly confident woman except when it comes to my weight...

Edited June 13, 201511 yr by grace-not-perfection

I tried to picture success and I kept working toward it even though I didn't completely believe it was possible. For me the reality that my life was completely changed didn't happen until I shopped for the first time in the "normal"/misses section of a department store instead of in the plus/women's section. And I tried on clothes and they fit. And a sales person came over to help me wtihout acting like I must have gotten lost on my way to the supersize clothing. I almost had a breakdown in the store that day because the reality of it hit me so hard!

I just can't imagine being a normal weight (having never really been there), so I do have a hard time believing that it might/can happen.

I look at before and after photos and I can relate to the befores, but just can't believe I'll ever look like the afters.

I'm almost 8 months post op and I finally had a little breakdown yesterday because I realized I can and will meet my goal weight.

I thought, "Once I get under 200 I will be happy." While I did a little happy dance, I wasn't truly happy or convinced. I thought, "When I get to 180 I'll be happy." Then I got to 180 and it was very anti-climactic.

I mentioned to my mom my size 14's were starting to get baggy so she went through her closet and laid out a pile of 10/12's. I tried them on yesterday and they all fit. And I don't mean barely zipping up with muffin top. They looked great. My butt looked great. I finally got tears in my eyes and realized how far I had truly come. I'm only 18 pounds from my ultimate goal weight and if I decide to get a tummy tuck I could very well end up a 4/6. That blows my mind.

If you truly go into this understanding your success depends on the right mentality and use this surgery as a tool to help you reach your goals you WILL lose the weight. You will be successful. But you have to completely change the way you think about food. You don't live to eat, you eat to live.

I still struggle, and probably always will, with some trigger foods. Cake is one. Ice cream is another. They are a slippery slope for me and it's best (for me) to stay away from them.

If you need any help, advice or a listening ear along the way I'd be glad to help!

Edited June 13, 201511 yr by krisrpaz

I feel this way too. Im am pre op and even the thought of losing 20lbs after the surgery is shocking to me and i do hv days i feel is this really gona work or will i be this weight forever?

Its totally up to you whether you are willing to stick rigidly to the plan or deviate from it and cheat. If you cheat you may still loose some weight but you may not end up with the results you were looking for. However i really dont see how you will not loose weight if you follow your surgeons plan successfully. And also if you feel like you dont know how the weight is going to come off, just have a look at the hundreds if not thousands of people out there who probably at some point had the same thoughts as you, and see their before and after pics. If thousands of people around the world can do it. Then you CAN really do it too.

Thank you all for your responses.

I feel like the climax of a 33 year war is coming to a head and sometimes it feels hard to not doubt the outcome.

Your encouragement, support and tips will be the armor i will wear into this battle!!

I am ready to kick butt!

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one!!! I feel the same way...just hard for me to believe I'll be able to lose weight after a lifelong battle with my weight!! I just can't imagine being able to shop in the "normal" section of a clothing store!!!

I plan to follow whatever diet they tell me to because I just want to lose this weight so badly!!!! I've got about 125-150 pounds to my goal weight, so I know it won't happen overnight!

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one!!! I feel the same way...just hard for me to believe I'll be able to lose weight after a lifelong battle with my weight!! I just can't imagine being able to shop in the "normal" section of a clothing store!!!

I plan to follow whatever diet they tell me to because I just want to lose this weight so badly!!!! I've got about 125-150 pounds to my goal weight, so I know it won't happen overnight!

How are things going in your journey?