I am also just starting. I'm so excited! I attended the seminar at the end of April and met with my surgeons NP today. Everything went well. My insurance requires a 12 month wait period to be approved. During this 12 month period I was told I will need to have a UGI, sleep study, Psych eval, meet with a Dietician, get a physical eval to make sure I am able to exercise to do my part after surgery to maintain a healthy weight and I will have to meet with the NP once a month until my surgery for weight checks. It seems like a lot but during the next 12 months I intend on setting small goals for myself to help prepare me for life after surgery (ie: eating slower 20+ minutes, drinking more Water, cutting out soda and sweets, cutting out carbs, eating smaller portions etc.). I am definitely ready for a life change. I have been overweight all of my life. I suffer from PCOS, Hyperthyroidism, Edema and I am pre-diabetic with a BMI of about 50. I'm ready to LOOK like the person that I FEEL like on the inside. I can't wait to be more confident and proud and more outgoing. I'm curious if anyone that has had the surgery, also had PCOS and did the symptoms of your PCOS subside after your weight loss? Any advice is welcomed. Best of luck to all the beginners like me! I hope we can follow one another's stories.