Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

Size 18W vs 28W

Has anyone used a hiatal hernia to have insurance pay for part of surgery? My insurance has an exclusion for all WLS and I've heard that 95% of people have a hiatal hernia. I have reflux and wondering if I possibly have a hernia and can get my insurance to pay for some of surgery. I'm prepared to fully pay for surgery if it doesn't but just curious if anyone has used this to get some of surgery paid for.

I'm six months out from surgery. Surgery date was 1-7-13. Starting weight was 392lbs. Height 6ft 1in. Current weight is now 264lbs, for a total loss of 128lbs in 6 months. I have roughly 24 more lbs to lose to be at my goal.

Size 8 jeans.

I am afraid on how people will judge me. I am only 6 days in from having been sleeved and this is surely no easy way out.

My surgery was 2 1/2 weeks ago and I already had to shop for new clothes. Ended up 2 sizes smaller and didn't have to go to the "Women's" department! Woohoo!!

Hi!! So dos was feb 25th so I'm a few days shy of 5 months--I'm down almost 80! Anyone have strange issues with the changing of amounts of food and liquids you can intake?? Some days I'm able to eat/drink much more than others! I can't relate it to anything... I'm stumped! Sent from my iPhone using VST

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Ok I gotta vent. I apologize ahead of time. Sunday my husband tells me he doesn't like how fast I lost weight or how I look. (In a nutshell) says he liked me far and not used to me now. Ok hurt my feelings but I can see a small point. I have lost 84lbs six months tomorrow. I had horrible complications after surgery and just now eating small amounts. Them tonight at the gym he points out to me a chic he thinks is hot and wants to meet. ( we have a unique relationship ). Let me just say I weigh about 40lbs more than her and she truly was not attractive. I told him my thoughts and now he is mad at me. For real mad. Like not talking to me. I nearly died with this su…

July 5 was my one year surgiversary. I am thrilled with my results. 117 pounds down and only 25 to goal!! [ATTACH]15706[/ATTACH]

Hi All, On this day, my 68th birthday, I want to share with you my success story. My significant other and I both had lap band surgery in January 2012. Since then, I've lost 70 pounds and he's lost 85. I'm at 148, which is only 8 pounds above what I weighed in high school and college. Even my shoe size is down from an 8 to a 7, and I can wear flat sandals and wedge heels again. I can walk for hours (shopping for clothes and shoes, and also walking the dog) and swim for a half-hour. My backaches, knee aches and hip aches are gone. I love looking in the mirror now, in my tight jeans and clingy tank tops. I can attest that the lap band works beautifully, even for se…

Weight Day of Surgery 299 BMI 44 size 24 Today 172 BMI 28 Size 10 NSV: Riding horses!!

I am patting myself on the back today. My hubby is deployed and like any marriage...some days it's really a lot of work to remember why I stay married...especially when we are trying to converse via chat and nothing is coming across right...BUT...where I might normally eat a bag of chips and wallow in my misery...today I picked up a cookie, stared longingly at it...put it down and went out and ran/walked on my treadmill for 30 min. Huge accomplishment for me. The start of bucking that stress eating habit I have. It would have been so easy just to eat the darn thing and skip exercising. The best part was realizing I didn't really want that cookie. I wanted the exe…

Today marks my 6 month mark! It seems to have flown by. I've had my slower months but I am finally in my green zone. I have no regrets, this has truly given me a new outlook on life. My biggest challenges have been: learning to pace myself eating, don't let food control me & quit expecting to just wake up a size 8. My mind is having a hard time catching up with my new body. Funny how that works. At times, I'm a little saddened by the difference in the way people treat & look at me now versus the heavier me. It's truly sad that some people in this world will only notice smaller people:/ I am 14 pounds from my personal goal weight & can't wait to reach it!!!

MAKING THE DECISION… So far, I’m down 142 pounds. This website was so important to me that I swore I would regularly post. Well, last August my beloved sister began to die, and I spent almost every moment with her from then until she died in my arms on December 28th. She was the most beautiful, vibrant, inspiring person I’ve ever known, and someday I will just write about her journey, because it is a story definitely worth sharing. If you are curious, you can read about her at dinner, and honestly, even that had become more difficult. I was at a place where eating was interfering with my ability to eat! For months, I ate every meal like it was my last meal. I wen…

I am so thankful for my band! I started the process at 243 lbs and was banded April 29th and have lost 45 lbs (including pre-op) and am so excited! I hit the "ONEderland" yesterday weighing in at 198! I can't wait to see what the number is in the next few months! Just wanted to share!

Went to the loft and bought 4 medium shirts. I haven't wore a medium ever. I am so happy!!! I'm down 70lbs and my BMI is 28.9 I hope to get down another 8-10lbs by Labor Day when I do my wedding dress fitting. Fingers crossed I can do it.

Yep I'm down 82lbs 4 months post op and I'm feeling great! I had rny 2-5-2013 & I'm 5'10 Starting weight 287 Current weight 205 I just wanted to share my photos with you all, I'm so happy with my decision to have RNY

I love flying and riding roller coasters. Both of these things are hard for someone who is 160 pounds overweight. I flew to NYC in June (120 pounds down!) and didn't have to ask for a seatbelt extension! And today we are at Worlds of Fun and I can ride EVERY RIDE! I love weightloss!!

I was banded almost 6 months ago, 1/18/13, and have just reached 70lbs this week (including pre-op). I'm a little nervous about posting because I hate that this site is public, but I LOVE looking at progress & success pictures (kind of the same thing) and get really inspired by everyone on this site. My life is so much better, just being regular obese rather than super morbidly obese, I am so much healthier and happier than I used to be. My biggest achievement so far is my resting heart rate. At over 330lbs (my highest known weight) my resting heart rate was in the low 100s (super scary). Now, my resting heart rate is in the high 50s to low 60s - like an athlete!! I a…

So this time last year, actually will be a year on the 23rd, my blood pressure was running around 135 to 140/90 and my resting heart rate was roughly in the high 70s. On Tuesday I donated blood when the Red Cross was having a blood drive at my place of work. As part of it they have to take your vitals and my BP was 112/68 and my resting heart rate was 58. Besides losing the weight being much easier on my body (joints dont hurt), the vital statistics speak volumes to the overall effects of the healthier lifestyle that accompanies the surgery!

Today is my 13th wedding anniversary so I decided to try on my wedding dress. I am about 15 pounds heavier than I was on that day so I tried not to get my hopes up too high. It was a but of a struggle and I had to do some serious sucking in but I got it on and zipped!!! It was an exciting NSV! I didn't think I'd ever be able to put it on again.

Getting ready for the Wolf pack lol

Today I am 3 days shy of 6 months post op, And for the first time in probably 15 years I am wearing a size 12 pants (from a tight 22) . I am down 85lbs, and I want to scream it from the roof of the building.. BEST thing I have ever done!!!!!

Figured I would post pics. Pic 1,3 are from wk 2 post op and pic 2 & 4 from wk 7 post op. Also added a pic in hospital day of surgery and my newest pic by the pool!, I'm down 50 lbs total!!! Yaaaay [ATTACH]4139[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]4140[/ATTACH] WLS: 5/14/13- HW: 273 SW: 258 CW: 223 GW: 135

I'm very blessed! But still have a loonng way to go. [ATTACH]4153[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]4154[/ATTACH]

Honestly do you have any regrets about getting the sleeve surgery? I guess I'm just nervous and don't no what to expect! My paperwork will be submitted on the 8th my last Nutritionists meeting I'm down 10lbs on my own hard work.I will talk to my doctor she hasn't really gave me specific details I pretty much did the research myself and thanks to you'll with tips advice my biggest fear is not able to get water in that I love so much.My reason for surgery is to prevent any sicknesses that can come from being Morbid obese so please any advice or questions to ask my doctor I no at the end of the day it's just business for them but this is the biggest thing I have/will do far …

Good Morning Everyone.. I wanted to share a post with you. I have two Facebook accounts, of course 1 for my WLS and my everybody account!! I posted this on my Everybody account last night.. Yesterday I turned a year older!!! This is a new year, new, plans, new goals, and I’m living in the new me. I have come FULL CIRCLE and I am Free!!! This post is long but Have a Wonderful Hump Day!!!! Hi Every...one!!!! So again I will say a lot of folks wont see or read this and I'm ok with that.. I wanted to let you all know that earlier this year I made a very profound statement on my Facebook page about myself, here is another one.. 1 year ago Yesterday 7/16/13. I made a decisio…

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I am weighting 218 right now and I feel so good. I will post a before picture where I weight 243 when I got sleeved ..

I wanted to post an update, even though it’s kind of difficult for me to share pictures this year. I’m three years out from my surgery. My start weight was 242 (I’m 5’1”) and my goal was 135 pounds. I reached my goal about 17 months post op. I was never really able to stay at 135 very easily but maintained almost effortlessly between 137-141 pounds. I was quite happy there and have no problems with that weight, even if it technically puts me in the “overweight” category. The BMI chart is a creation of evil, anyway. Two years post op I chose to get pregnant. I gained 35 pounds between hormone injections and pregnancy. I delivered my daughter almost four months a…

So obviously our grocery bills are going to be less since we aren't eating as much after surgery, but do you think it balances out after you've bought your Vitamins and Protein drinks? I am just starting out and I'm kind of blown away by how much everything cost: chewable Multivitamins, Calcium, Iron, sublingual b12. That's over $100 right there! Not including and protein mixes (some that start in the $40s. ) Just my rant. :-) thanks for listening.

What did you use on your scars? I was thinking of getting http://www.mederma.com My concern is that I had a laparoscopy early this year and the scar from that turned a deep purple. I would like to avoid that this time around!

I just posted a new profile pic because I'm down 38 lbs. I only have one chin now!! Plus I'm in onderland. Wooohooo

August 12 will be 2 years since bein banded and i've lost 65lbs. I was at my heaviest at 254 & now at 189. I had to have unfill today b/c pouch was dilated. So 6 weeks with no fill. I have been like on a 1000 cal intake forever, so i gotta make sure i dont gain!!!!

So today I had a lot of errands & appointments scheduled. I knew I would be gone from the house for hours (including snack time & lunch time). Without a thought I packed a bag with low fat, high Protein, low carb food for both my lunch and a snack. I grabbed two 24oz bottles of Water (it's day three here of a heat wave) and headed off. When I stopped for lunch, sitting on a park bench under a large shady tree and opened my bag it hit me........who is this person I've become? I like her! She no longer goes to a drive thru fast food restaurant, or stops at a convenience store for a lunch of soda, chips and a candy bar! Packing the lunch and healthy Snack…

OK, so I'm cooking dinner for my grandchildren and my son walks in the front door proceeds over to my granddaughter and whispers in her ear. My granddaughter age 11 comes over and whispers in my wars "Grandma, pick up your shorts they've fallen below your butt. I looked down and said oh my goodness so they have. So, these shorts used to fit nice and now they've gotten too big! I'm losing slowly and it's driving me crazy that my son does not have a bathroom scale in his house I'm assuming I've lost weight but it would be nice to know. I don't return back to my home in FL until August 1st. I'm hoping I have a loss along with this embarrassing but cute NSV!

hope this gives ppl incouragement Ive struggled and judged my self and wished for food and heard comments upon my band made mistakes got right back up but Ive never regreted my choice to have the band because Im happier healthy a much better person its all worth my feeling like gold like nothing can bring me down even if something would too Ima get right back up again its worth the fall cause that rise is much stronger good luck and best of wishes

Omgosh Ive have lost125 pounds I was banded on march 30 2011 Im a very proud women I couldn't of made it with out my support from other band members that very much understand the new life style I have aquired my hubby who supported my weight loss and my struggle to reach my goals my parents who supported my choice on having the band my 2 year old who inspired me to change not only my weight but the way I eat so I can show her the healthy way to eat for people who are thinking or even already have the band there's always bad and good always !!!! but the band out weighs any bad for reason being the feeling of acomplishment and self worth for you're self loving the inside is…

I have seen a few people mention that as soon as one of their stitches popped inside then they felt a lot better. What is this stitch?

Hello! I'm new to this forum and my surgery is scheduled for mid-July. I decided to do this after struggling with my weight for 20 years. When I was 23 (20 years ago), I "got" PCOS ("Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome") and gained 50-60 pounds in about 6 months (which is a typical symptom of when women initially "get" PCOS) and then more after that over the years (I think the extra weight was from depression and laziness stemming from the weight). Until PCOS, I had a great shape. The doctors didn't know much about PCOS then and it took about 6 years and 7 doctors to finally diagnose me correctly. Unfortunately, there is really nothing they can do for PCOS but "kind of" tre…

I mean how ever much you weighed, when you lost your first 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, ect.. Could you actually get up of the couch and do more things then you could when u were heavy, I have a lot of back trouble and I've been feeling kind of lazy and some people even say when you loose 50 lbs that's 50 lbs ur carrying around with you anymore (imagine if u put a backpack on with 50lbs inside of it) it would make things a lot harder for you to do with that extra weight.... I don't know lol, I'm Just feeling very held down and I'm hoping after weight loss when im in that size 6 I will be able to feel like I will be able to do a lot more without being so tired and constricted. I'm …

So, I'm feeling "naked" at the moment and 8pm can't get here fast enough! I dropped my wedding ring off earlier to get sized! After losing 60 lbs, it had to go from a 5.5 DOWN to a 4.5! Yay!! The small things are exciting, too!!!

Hi All, I just have to say that I love my lapband. at first i was discouraged because i was not losing fast, but now i think i have finally hit my green zone! I had been disappointed after a few fills and stopped going in. I had stalled out as a result. The last fill was painful and they couldn't find my port, but eventually did. so i wasn't too keen on doing that again. i guess something in my mind thought i should be able to succeed without fully utilizing the tool, but i am back "on the wagon" and went in for a fill. It took a few tries, but they found my port and filled it .5cc more (totall 3.5ccs). I must have been just about to hit the green zone because n…

Hi guys. Just wanted to post an update and progress pic. It's a little over a year since surgery (banded 5/29/12). I'm down over 75lbs and in the normal bmi range. It's SO strange to be able to say that! Lol I'd still love to lose a little more weight to get to my goal. These last lbs are slow, but steady which is fine by me! My mind still has trouble catching up with my body, but looking at old pics now and then helps put things in perspective. Hope everyone's having a good summer!

I just had to post this! I am down 43lbs....have had two stalls, but I am here and HAPPY! I start my exercise program next month......so I am excited with my changes and expect to see them really show up when I add exercise. That was one of the reasons I had the surgery, so my already arthritic knees would not get worse as I exercise. I love weight lifting and I love the shape of my muscles when I trim down! This has been a long time coming. I have not been this size since 2007. Trying to attach my Face photo.....hope it shows up!

I have made 1 year and am happy with my success. I have lost 70 so far. I feel so much better and I have went down 4 pants sizes and back in XL shirts . My blood work has been great and still working on my BP. Joined a gym a couple weeks ago and have been trying to get back into that swing. LOL ! My wife is now in the process of doing it also !!!

To all the successful banders out there, what is the one thing you think made it all click into place for you? For me, it was deciding that failure was not an option. I got the band because my younger brother was diagnosed with diabetes and I was scared that if I waited any longer to do something about my weight, I wouldn't see my youngest son into adulthood. So the day I decided to get banded was the day I made the commitment that this time, I wasn't going to fail. I read the statistics about average weight loss etc etc but I always intended to lose all the excess weight and keep it off. I have said before the band will help you that 30%, but you have to put in the 7…

Met some friends at the beach today, complimented me on my weight loss....Thank You very Much.... Then they started mentioning what other people are saying about my weight loss...all positive mind you....nothing negative...keep up the good work. However, they said that one very nice woman we know, whenever my name comes up, will say....."Oh yea, Bob....he's just a shadow of the man he used to be" She also happens to be a Trainer at the gym I belong to.... At first I smiled, picturing her saying that....then it hit me...WHAT? THIS is what I'm SUPPOSED to be! THIS is NOT a Shadow! What I USED to be was NOT ME!! THAT was someone else! Everyone laughed, said No! What s…

I had to come share my new NSV moment with you all because my husband doesn't get it. I have hit a bump in the road after tearing my meniscus and possible ACL in June. I am scheduled for an arthroscopy next month. My workouts have been cut WAY back to a recumbent bike only and I am only able to tolerate 20 minutes. I have been maintaining my weight loss but have not lost anything since April. Today I went to WalMart looking for some shorts that fit and was able to fit into misses 18 shorts and get them buttoned!! Along with the shorts I was able to buy 2 sundresses in an XL which I don't think I have worn in over 12 years. After feeling down the past couple of …