New to forum- Would you have done anything different before having surgery that you regret...

Hi! Im Amber. Im 22 years old. Married with a 1 year old cutie pie named Ryan. I live in Santa Fe, Nm and im in the process of waiting for my approval for the surgery. But I was just thinking about how I wish I would have kept some kind of journal throught this process with dates and things. And then I got to thinking about what I should start doing now that would be nice to have afterwards.  Is there anything you wish you would have done pre-op? And most of all what do you most enjoy now after having the surgery that you werent able to do before?

I really wish I had educated my family better about the changes I would be going through...I keep journals and folders and charts, and during my journey have documented everything in and everything out (yea...kinda "rainman")...but for my peace of mind, I really needed to know I could be in control of my life...BUT...I forgot that my family wouldn't be seeing the gradual change, I would just visit every few weeks and be like 2 sizes smaller, so to them, its "just too fast" and they worry that I will lose too much or become malnourished... I know my family doesn't fully understand the whole process, so it scares them a bit and I wish I could change that. But beyond that, I would do this all over again a thousand times...I had NO complications, NO hair loss, NO dumping, NO regrets... I am glad I told everyone at work, so I never feel like I'm being watched or judged, I have TONS of support and a whole Fire Department of cheerleaders behind me... I've never been healthier or happier and would never ever go back again!!! good luck to you and congrats on your choice to study up! xxxBecca

I did everything I wanted - my suggestions to you are this - take your inches monthly and do monthly comparison pictures - so many people dont do their inches and they wish they had... the pictures are also nice because you can easily see the changes on the photo paper where you might not be able to see them in the mirror. I pretty much did everything I wanted as a big girl.... I always felt like a skinny girl trapped in a fat body so I tried not to hold myself back. There are things I do now that are much easier since surgery - like exercise, yoga, shopping and sex ;-) but I did all that stuff before surgery as well. One thing I am looking forward to that I couldnt do before is sky dive!

I wouldn't change a single thing.  Nothing.

Thanks for sharing! I was planning on doing the pictures once a month, but I forgot about taking my measurements. Great idea. And with family.. I wont have a problem at all. Both of my parents are having the surgery done at the same time as well so I think my support system is solid.  And I used to feel like a skinny girl in a fat girls body and I used to do whatever and had fun while doing, but after I got pregnant and had my son, things changed and for the past year I dont feel like that anymore. I feel trapt in my body and I cant wait to get out there again and feel like I used to.

TAKE your measurments. Im not kidding everyone told me I would want them, I didn't think I would, and Now I completly regrett that I don't have them.  Welcome to the board and best wishes