These are exciting times in our house at the moment as I am about to have the op! Yes, the date is through and I am counting down the days. I have mixed emotions of nerves and excitement, but this is what I have been waiting for. The start of the rest of my life. It can’t come soon enough now.

I have been on a pre-surgery diet for a few weeks. It has been quite tough, but I have already started to lose weight, which is a great start and motivation. And, I haven’t had to do it on my own. The psychologist, dietician and nurses at Vita Clinics have given me so much help, advice and support. I have been reading through all of the information about the operation again and again. It has been invaluable. All Barry got when he had his operation on the NHS was an A4 sheet of dietary advice.

I have to start on a liquid diet a couple of days before the operation, so it is easier on my system. That will be interesting! I have to keep telling myself that it is only for a few days. Think what this is going to bring me in the long term. A new me!

I went shopping today and everywhere I went there were sweets, cakes and naughty foods shouting out for me to buy them. You know you can’t have them, but it is so difficult to resist when it is something you have not even thought twice about it the past. It is going to be a long, long time before I can even consider that sort of food, and then it has to be in moderation.

“That’s fine” I keep saying to myself. I have to keep thinking about the fact that this is the start of the rest of my life. A really different sort of life. It is the life I really want.

Next time I talk to you I will have had the operation. Wish me luck!

Read more of Wendy’s diary here