what's the difference? New to the lightweight board

So can someone tell me the difference for the lightweights with a RnY?  I am BMI 35 and surgery is Dec 8th.  What can I expect that the other boards don't talk about because I'm a lightweight?  Is anything different?  I'm at 195 now at my weight the doc wanted me at for surgery.  I chose the RnY surgery to get ride of my high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes.  Somewhere in the bypass those health issues go away.  Maybe they would go away with just losing weight also but that was the reason I chose the RnY surgery.  I suprise everyone I told that I am having this surgery.  They are all like "why? you're not that big?  I think because I'm also short I may hide my weight well.  Its all in my stomach, back, and double chins.   Loose fitting clothes cover most of it.  I am 42 and hopefully I wont have any lose skin when this is done.  I don't really know what to expect about that part.  Or any other part for that matter.  The other board is rather negative and full of people complainging lately.  It makes me second guess my decision in the first place.  They are all like "I'd rather be my 348 lb self again if I could do it over!
I could use some positive support this is the right decision for me.

Welcome! Great questions. Usually, lightweights have an easier time recovering and getting to goal and some of our heavier friends tend to resent our success and let us know about it in very negative and vocal ways. Here, we can brag about getting to and well inside a normal BMI range, achieving a size 2 (in some cases smaller...lol), running marathons, and all manner of skinny activities. We enjoy ourselves here. We like each other and we support each other in our triumphs and through or trials. There's a thread PunchyNerd posted this morning called Repost of the Lightweight Creed. We created it a couple of years ago but it's still pretty spot on.

--gina
 

Hey congrats on having a date you are very close!  Everyone has a different experience.  You will find that if you stick with other boards there is a wider range of weights and many people aren't going to understand where you are coming from.  I remember hearing those "you're not that big" comments and now when people see pictures of me when I was fat they say "I can't believe you were that big".....it's funny how opinions change.

On the topic of lose skin I'd like to be optimistic for you.  However, that is not usually the case with us lightweights.....we definitely aren't going to have as much lose skin as someone who has a BMI of 45 when they start out.  I would take a look at your body and find the stretch marks......where ever you have stretch marks you will probably have sag.....the more stretch marks the more sag....I look at myself and I see the body of a mother of 2.......which I am.....I'm hoping that as time goes on my skin will firm up a bit.  I've heard from others that it does improve after a couple of years.

BTW I'm in MN too.....I posted recently about having a get together you should join us once we work out all the details!

You can let me know the details

I totally get that! I was almost being ignored on other boards. Then all that changed when I found this board and I've never looked back Everyone here is accepting, caring, and so helpful. I also got a lot of the " Your not big enough for THAT surgery!" and when I would tell them no I am, they just keep on. I've learned to answer, Thank you, and go on my merry way. I don't need to explain my decisions to no one. This is about me and nobody lives 24/7 in my body BUT me! I weight 230 and have several co-morbidities that are going to kill me unless I do something. My surgery is Dec. 21st and I cannot wait Good luck to you and welcome aboard!!!!

I was around 200 for surgery, BMI upper 30's.  I'm 61 and I can say for sure I am going to have loose sking.  I'm off my cholesterol meds and hope to be off BP meds soon.  I also had RNY, basicly because that was what my insurance would pay for. 
This is a great board, friendly and supportive.  Keep us informed about your surgery and join in any time.

Darn it! I dont' want loose skin.  Who does right?  Do lightweights usually have platics to tighten up?  Or isn't our skin saggy enough?  I know, everyone is different and age must play a part.  Just one question for you, your pic shows you have been a member since '04?  How come so long before you had your surgery?  Just wondering.

thanks

I had to wait until I had insurance that would pay for it.  I looked into it back then and then basically gave up until this year when I realized my insurance would pay.  Then I went full steam ahead.

My skin sort of snapped back during my 2nd year post-op. I was 52 at the time of surgery and 36.8BMI. I wasn't that big for that many years, so the length of time you were heavy plays a part too. No plastics needed here. Several LWs have needed plastics, so it's very individual.

--gina

 Welcome to our lightweight board.  I too have gotten neg. comments from other boards because they feel I don't deserve to have the surgery because I am not "that big" .  I was told that I should just loose the weight on my own.  Well if I could have lost the weight on my own and could keep it off I would have done that a long time ago.  I was so happy to find this board, everyone is awesome.  I haven't had my surgery yet but I am on my journey and hopefully will have it shortly after the first of the year or atleast before summer.  I am pretty sure that I will have some saggy skin especially in my stomach just because I have had 3 kids and I have stretch marks.  I tend to hold the weight in my stomach and behind region. LOL  I am not big up top and in my arms and my legs aren't very heavy either except in my upper thigh region.  Plastic surgery would be awesome but if insurance won't pay for it then I will just deal.  You are going to do awesome and you find this board is very supportive.  Goodluck on your journey.  Kim