fericito

Oh how exciting to have someone in real life to go through it with you! I hope you both have much success!

Tricia sounds awesome!! My email is fericito @ hotmail (without spaces of course) so we can communicate that way too! Looking forward to getting to know you

Another Utahn here just in case anyone is out there...

Me me! I'm the last June bander I think because I'm not til the 29th... start my pre op diet next Friday. I didn't think about how hard starting on a Friday would be so I'm going to tell mysef it's Monday . Little bit nervous but mostly excited and just want it to be TIME!

Mine is June 29th so a little bit ahead but I'd love one!

I'd like to quote Fantasy because that's what I'd say too. Hang in there, even if it's by your nails. I hope you can work it out and feel better soon.

real me not mom lol

I wish I had my answer like some of you do. I fear that the band WILL work and I still won't have worked out what got me here in the first place and so something else will take "being fat"s place. I know I was always the chubbiest one of my thin family - but I wasn't actually fat, I just felt fat compared to my gorgeous sisters. Having my 11 month younger sister go to all my school dances like my jr. prom instead of me was hard on my self esteem certainly. But then I hit college and exercised all the time and looked the greatest I ever had (130 range, I'm 5'6''). I was that way when dh met me, stayed that way clear up until my mom died in 2000. Started gaining weight so I'd say her death is part of it but also taking care of my family instead of me contributed too. 200 pounds on my wedding day in 2001. Now 12 years later nearly 300 - kids yes, life yes, but no excuses. I just don't know WHAT it is for sure or how to fix it but I know the band at least will help me with my eating. My "real" mom is still in there somewhere - even at this weight I still feel skinny which I think also contributes to the problem. If you feel thin and never look in the mirror, only pictures and people can tell you that you're wrong

Way to go all!!

I start my pre op next friday and i'm dreading that first weekend but going to do it anyway. Hang in there, we can all get through this together!!

Way to go!

I haven't told anyone beyond dh. I thought I would tell everyone and several know I've been saving up for it but I don't know why, I just don't want anyone to know. Some close friends have been banded or bypassed themselves and I think they'll have hurt feelings when (if) they find out but I'm just not ready for them to know. For me it's working well because I was going on vacation then anyway (why I chose the date I did for surgery) but I figure when I start losing weight they might start asking. I am telling as little people as possible - especially don't want my sisters to know because then EVERYONE will know (and they think I'm the family gossip - ha!). I think it's all personal - I'm not embarrassed about it but I know I'll be judged and since it's been that way ever since I got overweight I'd rather not be judged about this. I'm so glad I found this forum though to have people to talk to about it!!

My mom died of cancer at age 49 - it was terrible for me to lose her as I wasn't yet married, out of the house, had children, etc. It has been hard having lost her and all the things she and I missed out on experiencing together. I am 35 and will not live to be 49 (at least statistically) if I remain this overweight. My risk of cancer due to my obesity is greatly increased as well. I haven't heard that about the band BUT it's a risk I'm willing to take (dh and I have discussed all the risks we could come up with) because it will give me a better life and a MUCH better chance at surviving longer if the lap band can help me lose weight and keep it off. Maybe you could look at it that way?

Are all these tests for insurance based? I'm just curious because they never gave me an EKG but I'm also self pay...

I just wondered if you're still here and if you're still CrossFitting... I have been doing CrossFit for about a year now - and when I eat the Paleo diet I lose some but since it's so restrictive I haven't been able to do it month after month. I'm way stronger and can do a lot more since starting Cross Fit but still feel so ridiculous being the "fat" crossfit girl and also know I'm not getting it's full benefits since I haven't lost a lot of weight so I'm finally doing this. I'm excited too. I just wondered how long I'd need to wait from getting my surgery (the 29th) to going back? My dr. suggested a full month because of the liquid diet and the surgery itself so I'm taking the months of June and July off but also really nervous to start back and tear something Just wondered how your experience was going since you last posted about it last year.

I say that's better so you can get it over with quickly... I'm so afraid mine will be at like 6 pm at night . Best of luck to you!

Congrats and yum enjoy the stay - mine will be same day and I'm worried about the kids hanging around after . Feel better and take care of you!

Looking forward to getting to know you. Sounds like you have a longer pre-op diet than me but we can do this!!

Hope you feel better soon and best of luck on your journey!

Sorry for your pain but oh so glad for you! Keep us updated - and have a quick recovery!

I am being banded on the 29th. I picked that date so I'd have the following week off but now we're having a family reunion on the 8th that will last for 10 days. I don't know what to do - I haven't told family yet and I have no idea what to expect but don't want to be puking in front of everyone. I realize I won't be able to go out on the boat, etc. but will I still be in a lot of pain and just need to hang in my room all day? What should I expect for about one week out? If I could get out of the reunion I would but I just can't... I'm so nervous about the surgery, the after, and especially how to act, what to eat, etc. with my whole extended family around and wanting to do things like hiking, exploring the caves, etc. And I'm assuming I'll still be on liquids but what exactly does that mean? I haven't started my liquid diet and my meeting with dr. about it isn't for two more weeks... Does anyone (PRETTY PLEASE) have suggestions, advice or tips?

It's ok to have a down day - or maybe just a feeling down hour. But then remember that this is a journey and there are ups and downs and you can do this. Look what you've done already! You are so much better off than someone like me who hasn't yet begun (but soon!) and I am looking up to you. Don't give up on yourself. Here's a virtual hug from a stranger that admires your strength. (hug)

BTW I think it feels like a mountain because it IS! You can do this!! Best of luck to you.

Not sure if you are still reading but just wanted you to know I want to multiple seminars over a period of more than a year - both gastric bypass seminars and lap band. I have two in-real-life friends that have been banded and one friend, an aunt, and a neighbor who had gastric bypass. Four years later my aunt has gained more than half her weight back. Two years in my friends with lap band have lost an equal amount (about 100ish) to our other bypassed friend. The banded friends both have less saggy skin than our bypass friend. My neighbor had bypass just a few months ago and has already lost 75 pounds and looks amazing (but I am guessing a LOT of saggy skin). I am self pay so band appeals because it's cheaper but mostly I just wanted to do the right thing, the best long term thing. After all the seminars and stories I chose lap band and I feel really peaceful and confident about my decision. My favorite term I've heard though is that this is a TOOL. I'm changing my life as well as my body. I've been working on eating already the right foods, gotten into a regular exercise program (crossfit) and am trying to get the life I know I'll need to make the band a success. Good luck in whatever you choose but I really think the lap band is just as successful long term as the bypass - and I too like that it can be removed if necessary.

I have a couple friends that have been banded. Their success is what finally convinced me this is the better route than bypass. It DID come slower for them but 2 years later they BOTH have lost as much as another co-worker that lost it all the first year. If I hadn't seen it myself I might not believe it but the two banded have so much less extra skin (one has lost 100 lbs the other has lost 115) than our other friend. That alone was good enough for me. This is about YOU. You are amazing and you did this for YOU so be proud of yourself. You will have the success you want and the haters can eat your dust