I keep hearing this over and over...my sleeve date is 10/19. But, what if I'm happy with my life, just not my weight? I've got a great husband, 4 great kids, a job I love, a very cool church family.... So basically my life is good... Except for food. I have used it for every emotion possible. There are so many good things in my life that I'm nervous will change now. Can anyone relate?

YES!!!

Best book I could find on the subject: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/emotional-first-aid-kit-cynthia-l-alexander/1101362950/2672495721500?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+Textbooks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP20404&k_clickid=3x20404&kpid=2672495721500

so glad I read it in preparation for the surgery

That phrase doesn't mean that the good things will go away. It means that you will be happy with things you didn't even realize you weren't happy with. I was in pretty much the same situation as you, happy with my life, etc. What I didn't realize is that I wasn't really that happy with just sitting on the couch all the time. Now that I've lost weight, I feel like I'm participating in life now instead of just watching it happen. I've gone zip lining which was so much fun and I would have never done that before surgery. I get out more and have more fun shopping for clothes. Traveling is more fun when I'm not self conscious. The list goes on.

Very well stated @@*Lexie*

Tired of watching life roll by......ready to actively live it !!!!

Having surgery isn't going to affect or diminish the good things in your life, except perhaps to enhance them by taking them to a higher level.

And it can take a chunk of those bad things and make them better. No, it's not a sure fire pathway to happiness. But in the same way that money can't buy happiness either - it can still make it a whole heck of a lot easier!

So the decision you have to make is: You can stay in place, with happiness in major areas of your life, and sweep all the other stuff under the rug, until your declining health demands your undivided attention (and it will happen someday). Or you can reach out for that brass ring on the hopes of having it all.

The decision to have surgery is no longer a question of "if" but "when" when remaining stagnant is just no longer feasible. At least it was for me.

Good luck!

The best thing I did after WLS was to get my friends and family onboard as part of my support team.

They were already supportive, but I made sure they knew my progress and felt like I was keeping them in the loop.

That way, they felt like they were part of the process and didn't feel like I was moving away from them emotionally.

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So, I'm a little different from the other posters and I should say I am only 6 weeks out. I have already seen my life change in so many ways. food was a part of everything for me. My date nights with my hubby, my celebrations, sad times, angry times it revolved around every single thing in my life so that had DRASTICALLY changed.

My hubby and I have to find different things to do on our date nights. Once a month we take turns planning a night out. It usually involved some fancy restaurant, a movie (with lots of popcorn) and then some bar to have a few drinks in. Great conversation and just time to us. Now we have to challenge ourselves. (so far only have done one date) He planned it and it was going on a long walk around the path on the lake. Holding hands, chatting. We had dinner before we left the house. Grilled chicken which I pureed mine. We brought Water bottles and a blanket and sat in the park. It was really nice. I am planning the next one and we are going rock climbing at an indoor place.

My friends have changed. We don't go out to the bar and have a few anymore. People act a little weird around me (the ones that know about surgery) but I know they don't want to over step boundaries or want to include me in what they are doing. It's just a little different now.

I still do all of the things I really enjoy in life. It just makes it easier to do. I spend a lot of time during the day focusing on me. Am I drinking enough, have I eaten enough Protein, have I gotten my steps in, etc... that part is drastically different from how I lived my life before. It can be overwhelming at times but It's getting easier with each day that passes. And it's also nice that when I do go out to eat, I know what I am getting. I don't have to agonize over the creamy Pasta or the greasy burger and fries. I am getting the chicken breast. Easy, done.

Lastly - things get better. My boss brought me on a 3 mile walk at work yesterday to catch up. She is a runner and very fit. I was able to keep up with her all 3 miles. No breaks for me. I can carry laundry up 3 flights of stairs without being out of breath and keeping up with my kids is so much easier.

So yes, for me it's a DRASTIC LIFESTYLE CHANGE but it's all for the better. I don't regret anything.

I haven't had my surgery yet but I know it will be somewhat like quitting smoking. When I quit smoking I initially had to stop doing some of the habitual things I did. Because those things triggered my smoking and I had to start some new habits.

I also didn't hang out in person with friends that smoked for a while. After a while I could be around smokers and it didn't make me want to smoke but at first I changed patterns.

Right now I'm still pre op but my entire relationship with food is changing. No longer is it my source of comfort or my friend its fuel and since its fuel it better be good fuel

@@OKCPirate, I just downloaded this book onto my kindle and started reading. Excellent resource! THANK YOU!