Leaderboard

6 months and a week ago, i had no health problems even with a 47 BMI - BUT i felt so disgusting. I hated clothes. I wore things just to hide myself. I knew I had a pretty face but that all others saw was the fat. Today, 6 months after surgery and 88 pounds later, I feel INCREDIBLE. i am all about what i'm wearing, my make up, I feel just plain unstoppable. I want you to know that yes there can be complications. I have experienced none so far (truly this is thanks to GOD and following my surgeon's instructions) - but they can happen. I am very, very sorry I did not do this 10 years ago (I'm 38). But i cannot dwell on that. This is a LIFE CHANGING thing if you let it be. I truly wish all of you the best of luck in your decision and if you have the surgery - the best of luck on your journey. It TRULY is a journey. God bless us all!!!!

Hey! A couple years ago I lost 80 lbs on my own (obviously I gained it back) and I started to notice saggy skin, I got a trainer and really hit the weights. I focused on hydrating my skin from the inside out. The skin tightened up eventually. Now I have lost about 84 lbs and am noticing a lot more saggy skin my arms, it should be noted that I weighed a lot more the second time. So I am going to focus on hydrating the skin again. I hope given time my skin will bounce back. Also I have noticed that the slower the weightloss the tighter the skin. So I don't think it is necessary a good thing to drop 10 lbs in a week even though we would all love that.

Thanks everyone! As a treat I bought myself two dresses from NY&Co. and a new strapless bra that I've been needing for a while. Let me tell you, I must have looked like a deer in headlights when I walked in to Victoria's Secret...I have never shopped there before! Other than spending over 50 bucks on one bra, it was a great feeling!

I was sleeved the day after you were, Dec. 13, 2011. Our stats are VERY similar: 5'7", beginning weight: 237, goal weight: 140, BIRTHDAY: NOV. 23, (1963)..I'm a bit older than you though . My current weight: 190. I cheat too...we are only human BUT I try to keep it to a minimum. For instance, if I have a cookie today then I won't cheat again until a couple more days go by. I just try to keep it in check and that's all we can really ask of ourselves. The surgery didn't change our habits, cravings, and emotional issues. It will take some time to change our inner feelings so forgive yourself for your MINOR indiscretions as long as you keep working toward your goal! Good luck to you!

I had to take 6 months of nutrition classes before the surgery. My doc goes by my highest weight during that time period. Coincidentally, it also happens to be my highest weight ever (259).

If not well meaning. I went through everything and was facing IVF. I wasn't ready for that yet. Especially since we didn't know if I would carry. I just let it go for a while. Anyway, then one day it just happened. My body decided to work again. 8 1/2 years later we had a wonderful baby girl. To tell you the truth having an older sibling is great. They help, they understand, little jealousy, and the live for her just pours out of him. It gets me teary eyed (so not the crying type- unless I'm pregnant, then a fray in my pants gets me going) just watching them. I know how hard this is for you and how much you want this. It has definitely made me appreciate every moment more. Even when I had hyperemesis gravidarum, no complaints. I hope one day you get that chance again.

“At some point in life you have to face your fears, and head on even though you can’t be sure of the outcome. A great deal of people will never reach their dreams and it won’t have anything to do with their ability or skill set. They won’t reach their dreams because they were too afraid to try.” ~Eric Thomas~

i just got banded 3 months ago, im 53 yrs young and im 5'3 and started at 225 lbs last december. I wore a size 18 or 1x. well ive lost 22 lbs and now wear a size 16. Woo hoo ! Everything is going great, the surgery and recovery were very easy , and i can eat everthing as long as i eat slow and chew well. i thought i hit my greenzone with my 3rd fill, but now not so sure. i may be going for a 4th fill soon. dont forget to find an exercise routine that you can stick with, it has made a big difference in how i look and feel. i do a water fitness class 3x a week and walk when weather permits , and attend a local monthly support group (tonight !).its a daily struggle but oh, the rewards are SO worth it !when your too tight clothes start falling off, and you can walk up a hill easily, and it used to make you huff and puff, you'll be proud of all your hard work. Good luck !

Therapy can be a huge help during this process. I don't think it's unusual to "mourn" the loss of food before your surgery though. I had quite a few Last Meals before I started my pre-op diet. Funny thing is, though, being banded doesn't mean that you can't eat the same things you are eating now. It just means that you can eat less of them and feel full and totally satisfied with that smaller amount. A big part of being successful is just deciding what you are going to do to help yourself succeed and doing it. I wrote out a pre-op plan for success before my surgery (here is a LINK to it), and it helped me a lot to keep coming back to it. Now that your surgery date is closer, why don't you try to turn your focus from food to what you will do to make the band work for you? I recommend reading up on it, checking out the blogs (and starting your own blog if you're at all inclined -- mine has been a HUGE help in keeping me on the straight & narrow more often than not), and just getting yourself mentally prepared. I'm 3 years and 5 months post-op and have been at goal for about 2 years. I've also gone to therapy through that whole time (every other week), and that helped me a lot. If you can get your mindset committed to this process, it will be much, much easier for you, and you'll be all the more likely to be a hugely successful bandster. I hope that helps! Sending best wishes for your success. Catherine

I have been a member since 2006, I have talked myself out of it every year...but then one person on here was shocked, and said just do it...and it hit me, she was right..March 9th, I will be on my way to Mexico...No longer looking back...so excited...continue success for you!!!!