Fear of Failure

[Megaloo 4]

I'm still Pre-op, and I'm struck by my increasing anxiety over the whole procedure. I am steadfast in my decision, but I am struggling with this fear that I'm going to fail at this. I have failed everything else I've tried to lose weight - how can this be different? I'm motivated for life change, but there's this little voice in my head reminding me of all the other times I was motivated for change by joining Weight Watchers or a fitness club only to fail at that, too.

Post-op people - when does that fear of failing get replaced with the confidence needed to win the fight?? Or does it ever get silenced?

[gypsygirl70 14]

I feel the same way! I am scheduled for the sleeve on 2/26/14...just 9 days from now. My surgeon wrote a book called my skinny jeans at last and he said in it to stay focused all the time...whatever it takes. Support groups like this help I think

[erica_az 2]

I came on this forum tonight specifically because I have been feeling the same way. The feeling of.. why is it going to be different this time? What if I do this and I fail? Thank you for putting it out there. I'm looking forward to hearing from post-op posters on the topic.

[NMJG 1,266]

Good topic. For me, the fear is still there. And honestly, I kind of hope it doesn't go away, because if I get complacent I will fail. Taking the sleeve for granted, forgetting the basic sleeve rules of eating, chowing down on sliders - these are the things that will let you fail.

Why will you succeed? Because you have never had a tool as powerful as the sleeve. Because you will come here for support and a thousand friends will cheer you on and cheer you up. Because you are not going to sabotage yourself, and you are going to learn to love yourself and your body and do good things for it, because you dserve it.

[erica_az 2]

Good topic. For me, the fear is still there. And honestly, I kind of hope it doesn't go away, because if I get complacent I will fail. Taking the sleeve for granted, forgetting the basic sleeve rules of eating, chowing down on sliders - these are the things that will let you fail.

Why will you succeed? Because you have never had a tool as powerful as the sleeve. Because you will come here for support and a thousand friends will cheer you on and cheer you up. Because you are not going to sabotage yourself, and you are going to learn to love yourself and your body and do good things for it, because you dserve it.

Thank you for your encouraging response. I could seriously burst into tears reading it. We'll call them tears of hope.

[Carlotta1 401]

The sleeve gave me peace with always feeling hungry and never feeling full. Since I have had the sleeve. I am not that hungry..it took that away from me. Yah. Then my sleeve foes not allow me overreact. I listen to my stomach and it tells me when I have eaten enough. Which is very, very little compared to what I ate before the surgery. I was a binge eaten. I have not binged once since my surgery. I don't feel like stuffing my face anymore. And my taste has changed for the better. I was a sugarholic, now I am tempted by that stuff anymore.

Before I had surgery.,I had doubts just like y'all and I'd read the same statements from others of how eating has changed , just like the way I feel now. I am very happy I made this decision.

[Carlotta1 401]

PS .. Boy does my iPad insert strange words for me. Sorry for my post.

Correction. Sweets I am NOT tempted by this stuff anymore.

[wynblade 14]

I've been going through the same exact fears (surgery date is the 25th). I've done just about everything... diets pills ect. and often I would lose weight but I would always gain it back. So I know what you're going through. Be strong we'll get through this and be better for it in the long run.

[mrsbailey921 117]

i think one of the great benefits of the sleeve is the fact that for most people, their view of food and the feelings it creates within the mind and stomach are totally changed for life. you won't desire food the way you do now, you won't have cravings as you do now, your entire view on food is so drastically changed that your life is basically reset.

I am looking forward to this. if I underwent this surgery without the confidence that my opinon and desire for food would be radically changed, I wouldn't undergo it. this is too drastic of a surgery and life change for me to be mentally and emotionally the same after as I am now.

[Aunt GG 43]

Oh my goodness - you are SO not alone in these feelings. I think that way almost all the time! My surgery is the 24th (only 6 days away), and I have this terrible fear of failure. The only way I ever lost weight was when Phen Phen was on the market. I lost 90 pounds in no time flat, but over the years, it slowly came back plus more. So I have failed many times. Weight Watchers, Atkins, calorie and fat counting....you name it. Some of the threads on here scare me to death when I read them. I just tell myself that every person reacts differently, and that I will forge my own success. I have to. I am so over being fat. Something has to happen, and I can't do it by myself. I am so glad I found this website - I just try to stay away from the negative threads. I am starting my life over at 53, and I can't wait! I had a very long discussion with my surgeon, and together we decided on the sleeve for me. But I still have moments when I wonder if I shouldn't be doing the bypass. So try to remain positive, and I wish you the very best. You will succeed at this - we all will!

[Megaloo 4]

Thank you all so much for the positive energy here!! So glad I'm not the only one facing it. Hearing that my brain will change along with my body is good. I forget that piece and think I will be going it alone without a tool stronger than will power. I'll just take it one day at a time.

Good luck to everyone on here about to get sleeved!!

[mrsbailey921 117]

so happy you are feeling better! I hate to be so graphically simple, but with a stomach the size of a small banana, so long as you make the right nutrition choices (which will be easier since you will probably lose the strong desire for bad foods if you have that now and wont be able to eat but so much before you feel satisfied), you really will have to WORK at failing. once you heal up and lose the weight, you will find you have more energy for exercise and such an that's even more weight lost...it will all work together for your good.

my biggest fear/anxiety is having a leak in my new stomach before it can actually heal over fully. i will be sure to follow my medical team's directions to the T to minimize chances of leaks. other than that...im more excited now than i have been ever before, save my marriage and the birth of my children.

EMBRACE this awesome opportunity for a new life! you aren't alone and the support is awesome...you can do it!