Hello everyone, I am already finished with all preop requirements and the surgeons office sent in my documents to my insurance for approval.. I started in feb And was hoping I would be able to have surgery end of July but doesn't look like it will...soo hopefully august. It's just I've been so worried abt getting all requirements in and now that it's done I'm panicking abt the actual surgery and how I'm not ready. I have been eating so much for 2 weeks now just stress eating and having "food funerals"... I don't know how to deal. I feel like I should get my head in the game. I go back to work beginning of Sept. And I'm worried about everything.... ugh I don't know does anyone have any words of wisdom here?

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I was where you were this time last year. Keep you head in the game. I had some scheduling issues and either had to have my surgery by the middle of July or then not until end of August. I was doing good with losing - had lost 30 ish pounds between April and August, ultimately. But I was afraid. I was nervous. I was anxious about insurance approvals. About all the changes. About what I didn't know. And we were going on vacation, to boot.

Here's what I can tell you. I started this journey at the end of April 2016 weighing 271.5 on a 5'3" frame with a BMI of 48.1. I was 246.9 on day of surgery.

Today - less than one year after surgery, I am down 99.5 pounds off my highest weight of April 2016. My BMI is 30.5 and in another few pounds will swing from borderline obese to overweight. I'm thinner than when I got married 20 years ago. I weigh less than both of my teen daughters.

I fence 5 hours a week, do TRX and have a personal trainer. I went from size 24 pants which barely fit to having size 10 pants be a little big - I'm starting to buy 8s.

Keep your head in the game. Start making lists of what you want to do and how you want to reward your NSVs - so far, I've been zip lining. stand up paddleboarding, taken up a new sport, run a 5k, and bought some really expensive clothes at shops where the clerks before wouldn't even recognize that I was in the store.

Start a physical activity program - even if its just walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike.

Find a gym nearby that you like.

See a therapist about your food issues

Develop other methods of coping that don't involve food

Remember - your sleeve is only a tool. It's not the answer. You have to keep your head in the game.

But you can do it.

You've got this.