I started my process 8 months back and through much hard work I have been given a date. I will be having my gastric sleeve on April 11. I was ecstatic when the surgeon told me that I had shown enough weight loss to schedule me.

The thing is that the closer I get to the date, the more sadness comes over me about the whole situation. Questions about things that I could have done to rid the need for this completely. It's strange because I never thought this way during the whole process until I received a date. I guess being busy with the process itself kept my mind away from the fact that I was actually working towards something that would be a huge change in my life.

I've always been a big guy throughout my 23 years. There is nothing more that I want than to be healthy and live an active life. I should be looking forward to this no?

Did any of this community feel any type of doubt and sadness as the surgery approached? Maybe it's fear, maybe it's not but I would love some insight.

Weight loss surgery is a huge step to take and is one of the biggest life events. It's good that you're recognising the emotional effects that having surgery will impact on your life.

Many of us have long-term emotional issues with food and having the option of comfort eating taken away is scary and some people grieve for the fact they can't turn to food as a coping mechanism.

Then the effect on social life is another factor. I'm having surgery to revise from band to RNY. My band wreaked havoc on social occasions as there were so many foods I couldn't eat that for a time I refused invitations because being there while everyone was eating was hard for me.

I also got a buzz from losing weight being more active and wearing nicer clothes so I overcame all the other the issues. 'Nothing tastes as good as slim feels ' was my mantra.

I had my band removed due to GERD and tried to maintain myself but hated gaining weight and my old eating habits returned. I know life after my new surgery won't be easy but bring it on! I am so looking forward to being a loser again.

Good luck to you, can you get counselling to help?

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I don't think you would be human if you didn't second guess your decision.

It has been easy for me as long as I stay out of my own head when I hit a stall. At 4 months out I've lost 55 pounds since surgery. When I'm only losing 2-3 pounds s week I sometimes think I could have dieted and done the same. Trouble was, I didn't. I can't eat mass quantities and I'm happy for that. Best Wishes!

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I don't have my surgery date yet, but yes, I do feel sad that I've gotten to the point of wanting/needing WLS. There's no getting around the fact that I ate too much of the wrong foods for the wrong reasons, over and over again. If I could take back all those bad decisions or unlearn all the bad habits without surgery, I for sure would do it.

But I can't. That's the reality I find myself in right now. I'm viewing WLS as a second chance, one that comes with a lot of gratitude but some measure of regret.

Normally people feel bad right after surgery, as if they made a mistake. I was one of the few that didn't which I believe is because I was self pay and had to work hard to get the surgery. The result was that I was mentally prepared for everything, knew what I was doing and had reached the point where I wasn't going let anything stand in my way. I think you will do fine. The surgery will change your life.