Follow the doctor's preop instructions exactly. If you are any kind of a caffene drinker, start weaning yourself off. Caffene irritates the lining of the stomach, which is why you need to eliminate it before the surgery. If you wean off you have no withdrawl. You can go back to drinking it again about 6 months post op. Don't stress about the liquid diet before the surgery. It's so protien packed that it's really a non-event. I was so sure I wouldn't be able to do it and was really surprised at how easy it was. Make sure you have a good scale and a good food scale. I'm 2+ years out and still weigh and measure my food. It's really hard to eyeball an exact portion.

But most important, understand the surgery is just a tool. This is a lifestyle change and if you don't make this a forever change, you will gain your weight back. You will lose weight right after surgery without even trying. But once you get to a certain point out from surgery, it's not automatic anymore. If you are going to continue to lose and keep it off, it will be through diet and exercise.

I still have about 75 pounds to go to my "ideal" weight, and it's really inconsistent and slow right now, but I still believe this surgery was the very best thing I have ever done for myself. Good luck on your journey. Remember, you may hear people say you took the easy way out. Believe me, this isn't easy. But it is so worth it in every way.

I will be getting mine in January or February I go for the Pysch Eval on Tuesday. If I pass I am one step closer to the surgery. I can't wait to have it so that all the hard work I am putting in now will actually amount to something.