Hi everyone, ???? so glad I found this awesome on-line support forum ???? I've been a bit of a lurker for a few days reading through various posts and FAQs but thought I'd write something of my own today.

My name is Nikki (age 37) & I live just outside London with my hubby & gorgeous little girl. I am at the early stages of the WLS journey. Been doing loads of research online & having discussions with my doctor over the last few weeks & have decided that I think the gastric sleeve is the right route for me.

Part of me is super excited but I am also so scared .... Weirdly I'm not that scared about the procedure itself (although it does make me nervous), What really scares me is that I'll fail at this too ????.

I have been fat my whole life, and my whole life I've been told by numerous people that the only reason I'm fat is because I choose to be and that if I just ate less & moved more and really really tried hard enough I could be thin. I've been on lots of diets and even lost a pretty large amount of weight once (about ) but just put it all back on (+more!). I can't blame my weight on a medical condition or a traumatic childhood event so basically I've come to the conclusion that it's my lack of willpower/laziness??? And that's why I'm scared - what if I fail at this just liked I've failed at my other diets.

I feel super motivated & excited & positive about this amazing opportunity, but if I'm honest I've felt this way before when starting a diet and haven't managed to lose all the excess weight.

Did anyone else feel this way?

Nikki xx

@@Snooks I know exactly what you are going through and yes I have felt the same way. With diets its different because at anytime we can just go off and eat whatever we want. With the surgery it makes it a lot harder to do that. Some people don't use the tool they are given and go back to old habits. Once you start seeing the change in yourself you will realize that you made a great choice for you. It has taken me time to realize that too but now I am starting to see that I made the best choice for myself. Good luck in your journey and know that I am jealous that you are in England! I always wanted to go there! lol

@@Daveo - thanks so much for your reply :-) it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who worries about stuff like this. I really am feeling so excited & hopefully - can't wait to be half the woman I currently am!

How are you doing on your journey? What have you found the most challenging & the most exciting?

Most challenging I would say motivation to exercise since I have yet to start. The most exciting has been being able to do things such as reach the gas tank door release inside the car on the floor or being able to actually fit in a booth at a restaurant. I still don't see it in the mirror but people say my face is slimmed down and they can tell I have lost weight. Where are you on your journey?

Ha ha - oh the joyous thought of fitting into a booth without having to wedge myself in :-) that & not having to ask for a seatbelt extension on the plane! I envy you already!

I'm at the very start of the journey ... Done a few months of research, found a surgeon & now just waiting for confirmation of a surgery date :-) yeeeeha!

I'm still waiting until I get to a weight that I can fit in one seat on a plane comfortably. Good luck on your journey and keep us posted on your progress. There is a lot of help on here for just about anything you can think of.

Waves to Snooks from Wiltshire. ... ????

Hiya ???????? how are you doing this fine evening

I can't seem to sleep Snooks so just reading in bed.. on my phone so just saw this!