I was banded February 29th , 2012 . My starting weight before surgery was 262 lbs. My progress has been slow and steady . Overall, I don' t regret having the surgery because it changed and saved my life for the better. My current weight is 184 lbs and went from wearing a size 18 W to regular size 12 . I had to buy a lot of new clothes and love the way I look in skinny jeans. . Only a few people know about my surgery ....close relatives only . At work , no one knows and I get all these compliments , and sometimes I feel like a fraud . But I stop and think , wait a second I workout hard, and I made a decision to better my life ....why should I feel this way ? I'm learning to cope with the new me , so I don't go back to the old me . Taking it one day at a time !