A little discouraged...

I've been pretty much average in weight and body type for most of my life, but after going through 'the change' in my early forties, I ballooned to well over 200 lbs. I've been fighting off the weight over the past couple of years, and although I'm no Miss Twiggy, I did manage to shed 38 lbs. After two kids and an extended 'fat period', though, my belly has lost its resilience and no amount of diet or exercise will get rid of the loose skin and flab. I'm scared to death at the prospect of surgery - I'm chicken, and the recovery process sounds pretty daunting - but I know it's my only option if I want to be rid of my belly. And I do desperately want to be rid of it...

I've been agonizing over this decision and I'm second-guessing myself all the time, going from excited, to scared, to feeling guilty. Guilty that I would spend a crazy amount of money on what amounts to vanity. Guilty that I will take risks with my health while my kids need me; guilty that I will require care, worried that I won't be able to get back to work (I can only take limited time off) - ah well. You ladies all know the drill.

Thank God for the internet and thank God for this site. Reading here has given me a better feel for what I might expect and a sense of how best to prepare... And a great source of support :-)