Hi everyone. I am brand new here, as in I joined maybe 20 minutes ago and this is my first post here.

I haven't made a firm decision about surgery, but am definitely leaning that way. I just signed up yesterday to attend an information seminar at Atlanta Bariatric Center at Emory Johns Creek in a few weeks. I've already done a lot of research, and am so excited by the possibility so I can't wait to read here and see everyone's insights.

Hi! I'm fairly new too. I've been here less than a week. I think if you've made the decision to go to the seminar your foot is halfway through the doorway. I actually contemplated getting a gastric bypass when I was in my 20's, but I wasn't in the right place yet. I wasn't "there" I still thought I could do it all on my own and I didn't want to give up Mt Dew and a big ole honkin' steak. fast forward here I am 38, and I'm over 100lbs heavier than when I first contemplated it and backed out. My knees are bad, my back hurts all the time, and I'm losing my mobility. I can still stand and walk, but by the end of grocery shopping, I'm winded, and my feet, legs, and back are killing me. My kids don't get to enjoy having their mom active in their lives, because I'm always having to sit down and put an ice pack on the pain of the moment. I WISH I had had the courage then to do what I hope I have the courage to do now. Does that make sense? It's scary and all, but I wish my older kids could have the mom I'm trying to get for our 1yr old, an active, fit, healthy, energetic, fun loving person instead of the moaning, tired, always in pain me that I am and have been for the others. I don't know if that influences your decision at all, but I wish someone could have shown me my future if I didn't have it then so I would have gone forward and regained those years I've spent just miserable and unable to be happy in my own body.

I totally get it. I have lower back issues, and my knees are a little creaky. I'm sure that has to do with weight.

I was like you in my 20's--just not in the right place. Now, just a few weeks from turning 37, my mindset is different and I think I'm ready to do something. Of course there's the problem of my crappy insurance and money, but for my health and a better life for myself, I will find a way.

Welcome and let us know if we can be of any help.

I have my seminar Monday. Very excited. At 48, trust me, back and knees only get worse. Lol. It is cool how we can all go on this fabulous journey together. Glad to meet you.

Edited July 14, 201511 yr by PinkieD

I have my seminar Monday. Very excited. At 48, trust me, back and knees only get worse. Lol. It is cool how we can all go on this fabulous journey together. Glad to meet you.

Have fun at the seminar! I didn't really want to go to it, because I figured I had researched everything and knew the in's and out's and for the most part I did. What I REALLY got out of the seminar was that I got to meet the lady who will be my face to face for the whole process and scheduling appts and dealing with insurance and everything and we hit it off great. She's a great lady and I got to meet my future surgeon Dr Chae and our personalities seem compatible which for me is a huge thing! If I perceive that someone is judging me or being rude and condescending, I can't cope and I am totally out the door, but after meet them both I was very much at ease and know I chose the right office. Plus my hospital where I'll have surgery is only 6 miles from home so I won't even have to stress a long car ride when the day comes and work myself into the Cowardly Lion by the time I get there! hhaha

This is going to be wild, crazy, fun and scary. Can't wait. I am hoping to meet my peeps Monday.

Hi! I'm fairly new too. I've been here less than a week. I think if you've made the decision to go to the seminar your foot is halfway through the doorway. I actually contemplated getting a gastric bypass when I was in my 20's, but I wasn't in the right place yet. I wasn't "there" I still thought I could do it all on my own and I didn't want to give up Mt Dew and a big ole honkin' steak. fast forward here I am 38, and I'm over 100lbs heavier than when I first contemplated it and backed out. My knees are bad, my back hurts all the time, and I'm losing my mobility. I can still stand and walk, but by the end of grocery shopping, I'm winded, and my feet, legs, and back are killing me. My kids don't get to enjoy having their mom active in their lives, because I'm always having to sit down and put an ice pack on the pain of the moment. I WISH I had had the courage then to do what I hope I have the courage to do now. Does that make sense? It's scary and all, but I wish my older kids could have the mom I'm trying to get for our 1yr old, an active, fit, healthy, energetic, fun loving person instead of the moaning, tired, always in pain me that I am and have been for the others. I don't know if that influences your decision at all, but I wish someone could have shown me my future if I didn't have it then so I would have gone forward and regained those years I've spent just miserable and unable to be happy in my own body.

You nailed it with that post.

Summed up many of the things I'm experiencing as well.

Hoping to see if the medical issues melt away along with the fat.

Hi! I'm fairly new too. I've been here less than a week. I think if you've made the decision to go to the seminar your foot is halfway through the doorway. I actually contemplated getting a gastric bypass when I was in my 20's, but I wasn't in the right place yet. I wasn't "there" I still thought I could do it all on my own and I didn't want to give up Mt Dew and a big ole honkin' steak. fast forward here I am 38, and I'm over 100lbs heavier than when I first contemplated it and backed out. My knees are bad, my back hurts all the time, and I'm losing my mobility. I can still stand and walk, but by the end of grocery shopping, I'm winded, and my feet, legs, and back are killing me. My kids don't get to enjoy having their mom active in their lives, because I'm always having to sit down and put an ice pack on the pain of the moment. I WISH I had had the courage then to do what I hope I have the courage to do now. Does that make sense? It's scary and all, but I wish my older kids could have the mom I'm trying to get for our 1yr old, an active, fit, healthy, energetic, fun loving person instead of the moaning, tired, always in pain me that I am and have been for the others. I don't know if that influences your decision at all, but I wish someone could have shown me my future if I didn't have it then so I would have gone forward and regained those years I've spent just miserable and unable to be happy in my own body.

You nailed it with that post.

Summed up many of the things I'm experiencing as well.

Hoping to see if the medical issues melt away along with the fat.

Oh God I hope they do! I'm lucky in that at my weight and size I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure yet, but it's just a matter of time. I had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy and they usually say that if you don't change your diet and life around that within 5yrs of that you will have diabetes, so I've got less than 4 years now(baby just turned 1) to figure this out. I know I don't want to spend the rest of my life poking fingers and feeling miserable.