Hey all! Looking forward to starting this journey in two weeks. I am wondering what it is like for those of you who are now “thin” or who have lost the weight? Do you lead a pretty normal lifestyle? Do you still obsess about nutrition and exercise?

It's easier. Being thin is easier than being fat. No more worries about fitting into seats or sliding through tight spaces. Moving my body is easier. Buying clothes is easier, everything fits, huge choice of styles, and even the cheapest T-shirt looks good. Mostly, though, my change has been mental. When I was fat I felt judged by other people all the time, especially when I was food shopping or eating in public. I imagined people thinking, "Why is that fat person eating (or buying) ice cream? She doesn't need ice cream." Whether or not people actually thought this I don't know, but I always felt they were. Yesterday I was eating an ice cream cone and window shopping and didn't feel like anyone noticed. Seven years out and thin is a marvelous gift.

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies :) reading them is really helpful. I don’t think the surgery or even the weight loss will be some magic bullet and my life will just be perfect! I know it will still be hard. I already obsess about diet and exercise also-but then am still overweight!!!! I cannot tell you how frustrating that has been. Or to lose some of the weight, only to gain it all back and then some when I quit the crazy restrictive diet.
I love the idea of having more self confidence and when I do eat well and exercise- getting lasting results.
I have done a lot of researching and reading about obesity and the mechanisms of obesity surgery. It really is sooo complicated and the surgery helps lower your body to a lower set point. I think that is pretty amazing and shows obesity is so much more complicated than calories in calories out.
Congrats to everyone who has lost the weight and is happy :) that is amazing and I am glad you had good results from your surgery!

I feel like I’m 18 Years old again. I have some much more energy now. Sometimes it feels very surreal.