I'm scheduled for surgery July 18th. Nervous, scared, slightly panic'd...what have I done? Can I go thru with this, hell, I can't stick to a diet, look how fat I am, and what am I going to tell my boss, she is skinny as a rail. When people ask you what you are doing do you tell them you needed a tool to help you? Deep breaths, I can do this, I deserve to feel good. I can do this...reading your posts helps! Thanks.

OF COURSE you can do this. Just remember it's not going to be super-easy and just "happen". You will have to work the program and make better choices. Like you said, the band is just a tool, not a FIX. It's really been difficult getting used to eating smaller portions and not drinking with meals, etc.. -all the instructions we are given to follow. My advice is to FOLLOW THEM as close as you can.

Don't be nervous about people finding out. You will lose weight SLOWER than if you had bypass surgery ,, so its really up to you if you want to tell people or not !! who cares what they think!

Focus on YOU, not them.

BEST OF LUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

278/231/180

Don't feel like you have to tell your boss. I found that with my colleagues, if I just said I was having minor overnight surgery, people left it alone. I think they probably assumed it was a womanly thing and didn't want to ask. I clearly wasn't offering out information, so they took the clue and didn't ask.

As far as whether you can handle this, you've done so much to get this far. You'll be ok. I think we all have had that moment of "what am I doing?".... and you'll have that moment again later, but it is worth it.

I lost weight slowly at first---it took me nearly 6 months to lose 50 pounds despite working out daily for over an hour. But, that frustration I had to work through was worth every moment of seeing the lowest numbers on the scale I've had since 1993... I am not at goal. My primary care physician told me to expect to lose no more than 80-90 pounds. Now that I have lost over 60, I have loftier goals. I love how I feel today. It has taken me less than 7 months to move my life along to greatness. The worry and stress prior to surgery, as well as the hard work and frustration have been worth every moment.

I wish you the best. Keep signing on here and keep in touch with other people who will be your greatest support. I can't promise you'll love the results, but I can promise you'll always wonder "what if" should you choose not to have the surgery. Good luck!

I'm having surgery on july 18 in portland as well! well, actually wa. im assuming we were probably in the same group today at the pre-op class?

I was the girl fumbling in late...haha

Anyway- all i saw in that room was a group of beautiful, strong people who really wanted to make a change in their lives. And I know YOU are one of those people!

You can do this. I can do this! It's going to be the best decision you ever make. Here's to a better day!

You've made it this far. Don't doubt yourself now.