Zemi

nice that you are really starting to see the impact and acknowledge it! looking great

it’s tough because some people like to push for details as i found with my hysterectomy .... but just saying you need time for a medical procedure should be enough if you don’t want to use other leave. hope the conversation goes well

i’m really glad you asked this ... still unsure which surgery to have but i’m allergic to most pain meds so worried about not having nsaids as an option (one of the things i’m not allergic to)

congratulations on having a date, and so soon now!

joining in late ... pre-surgery/still deciding the main challenge i’m moving ahead with this month is finding and using coping skills other than food, where i’ve used food as the answer before working on losing some weight as well but my emphasis is on my mind set and challenging and changing this

oooh exciting!!! hope you hear soon on the surgery date 💜

asking how much you’ll lose is a good question ... as well as the things you’ve written here about post op diet. have you seen a dietician/nutritionist already? because they can help with a lot of these questions. i wrote a list of things i wanted to know so i had these in the appointment to refer to. hope the appointment goes well

lol love that barbie! this is one part i worry about 😱

if you want it, do it ... i’m mid 40s and still deciding on surgery but one thing i’ve been looking at is the plastic surgery available later because i know for health reasons both physical and emotionally it’s going to be a strong likelihood. This is your life .... not anyone’s who says silly comments about being over 40 😁 wishing you well with this

that is very cool .......... i'm glad they are shrinking for you; and that the pain is finally reducing!

Hi, For years now i've been sure that weight loss surgery wasn't my answer ... and yet, here I am, starting to seriously consider it and wanting to learn more to help with making the decision. I've met with a surgeon and he has suggested both the gastric sleeve and bypass are options; and explained that I would lose a bit more with the bypass which he would usually recommend at my weight (although not necessarily) ... so now this is another decision to make as far as which way to go before i see him again. For me, I know that while the food and exercise aspect of weight gain and loss have been a very unhealthy relationship for the last 40 years (mid-40's now) it's my thinking that has been the main impact on this journey and subsequent weight loss sabotage. I've always struggled with using food as a coping tool for most things; from dealing with emotions, to distractions, to trying to cope with the impacts of various traumatic experiences. Now after a life time of morbid obesity, my body clings to the weight when I do start losing and I regain so fast it seems like I just blink (although i know it's more than this really). Increasing health issues, and a desire to live a healthier more active and fulfilling life have led me to where i am now .... as well as an increasing number of medical professionals saying that while i might lose the weight without surgery they think it's unlikely I would keep it off. Some of the things that are impacting my decision are I guess the usual questions of what it would be like to not have food to turn to in the same way; wondering how to replace food with other alternatives for coping and wondering how it will impact my life when until now eating has been such a big part of it. Right now, i'm taking some time to focus on working on finding other coping tools aspect of things so that if i go forward I give myself the best chance of success possible. As part of that I'm working with a therapist, reading what i can find that might be helpful and open to other suggestions. I know that for this to work, I need to work on the mental side of things ..... and that in turn will help with being able to do the rest. I'm also in the position of not really having much support to make this journey; so another reason finding online support and people to talk this through with is really important because I keep seeing how it is so much better to do this with the support of others. Currently i'm leaning towards the sleeve, and as well as working on the mental side of things trying to work out whether it would be good to spend some time losing weight prior to surgery or not; the dietician seemed to think that if i did that i might get discouraged and not have the incentive following surgery that i'd need ....... and that if i was going to lose it, i would have already. I'd be interested hearing how others have gone forward with this as far as losing weight prior to surgery (apart from the two weeks prior) or not .... As well as any other suggestions or information; and I think just knowing that there are others going through similar things will help Very glad to have found this site and look forward to taking part I think my current head space is a mixture of being terrified and hopeful all wrapped in one!

@catwoman7 thanks for explaining some of the things you did pre-surgery and how they helped; and well done on your weight loss .... it's really helping reading a little of others experiences @GradyCat congratulations on the weight you've lost since surgery; and that's so encouraging to read that the surgery has helped you with the emotional eating as well; and to know i'm not alone in wondering regarding the hunger compared to emotional eating issue. Thanks for what you've shared @Orchids&Dragons thanks very much for your reply here. Definitely not something to do as a first option. i've done the loss, maintain, regain thing ........ a number of times. I've read some of the stories of sabotage after wls, and this is definitely something i want avoid, and to try and sort through before the surgery and find ways to reduce that happening. So working on my head, and finding new coping tools; that will then help with the surgery (as another tool) seems to be the direction I need to be taking

it’s worth it .... how did surgery go?

hi, that’s great news! hope everything goes well

congratulations ... love seeing the progress you’ve made and how well you are looking! how are you feeling seeing the pictures you posted?