Hi Naunney Welcome to the forum. this is kind of a low-key forum but has some good people with good advice. I decided to have surgery last summer but didn't go to my first seminar until February, then saw the surgeon in May and then started in earnest. I hope to have the vertical gastic sleeve by the end of the year or the first of next year.
I've taken everyone's advice and started journaling my food intake, cut my sugar intake, eliminating fast foods as much as possible, and trying to figure out my food triggers and reasons that I overeat in the first place. With the help of some books I decided that with my grandmother and my father's influence, I grew up thinking that food was the centerpiece of any gathering. In other words, you want me to come to a party? Only if there's a full meal available. I'm working on not giving food so much power in my life.
Good luck to you and come back often.