PrettyThick1

Welcome and enjoy the journey! You'll find a group of people who are overwhelmingly supportive and can make you laugh on your worst day. If you have questions...you'll get better answers here than you will from your doctor beause it's coming from so many different perspectives and types of people who have gone through where you are in your journey. This was the best decision I've made in decades and I'm never looking back. People are reluctant to say this, but I'm not: The band IS a miracle device! Nothing else would have stopped the mean, brown eating machine I was. Thank God for my "Miss Pearlie" the sweetest, kindest lapband in the world.

I hope you feel better. Band, Sleeve, Gastric...doesn't matter, we're all WLS patients and we are all connected in that way.

Be grateful this period doesn't last very long and before you know it it will be a distant memory that seemed like "nothing".

No worries Frantic Frannie - you haven't done any damage. I'm not going to share my story with you because it might make you develop bad habits for the duration of the preop. Just do your best and don't sweat it. Seriously.

I am by no means ungrateful for the insane salary increase I just got, neither am I so gullible to think that after 9 years, they suddenly realize my value. No. I have been blessed with a $20k per year salary increase...and a hell of a lot less responsiblity. I know it's because of the way I look. I use to loathe women like that, the ones that get things their way just because of the way they look. I now realize that it's not their fault. Blame hormones, if you're attractive to men or women in power you just go further. I'm not complaining. I love my band "Miss Pearlie"! She has given me a brand new life...not just a better version of the one I had before, which was still pretty awesome.

You really hit the nail on the head! I have gotten a $20k salary increase...out of nowhere. I've been here 9 years...you can't tell me it's not because I'm suddenly much more attractive, and self-confident!

I read the article. She's full of it. She's not happy being fat, no one is - if they are honest with themselves.

I'm glad you're still finding a way to lose the weight and it sounds like you're getting better.

I've always been a happy person, but the band has given me even more confidence and I look and feel so much better that I can say "yes" I am happier now that I am thinner. Without a doubt.

I'm 5 lbs. from my goal and my port is very apparent now. When I started this journey, there was so much fat around my middle, I could hardly feel the port, much less see it. Well now, most of the fat is gone and the port is very high profile and I'm self conscious during sex because it's so hard and very noticeable. What are my options? I'm going for a Brazilian Butt Lift (yeah, my junk is gone and I'm relocating the rest of my fat so I can put it back) in March, so I don't want to do anything too drastic that might make me loose more weight - I can't really afford to lose another ounce of fat. Any suggestions?

Miss Pearlie is the name of my band. LOL

I wish I could hug you sometimes...now is one of those times!

Lisa, it's something you bring this up. He says he loved me before and was happy with my weight - he just had a crazy good poker face! I knew he had feelings, I just wasn't comfortable enough to feel like I could have and keep him for myself. : )

One of my very closest friends of 4 years is now my VERY SERIOUS boyfriend. We had been buddies (yeah...some stuff happened every now and then) and in that time we got to know each other inside and out. Well now, he's mine and I can't put into words how it feels. See he's a "hot guy" who is also down to earth and sweet - even with my personality, I didn't think someone like him would want me. Guess what? Not only does he love me, but he's crazy attentive and goes out of his way for me. He lives out of state right now, but he comes to Houston every other weekend, so it's not so bad. I won't go into the details, there is so much to love and be excited about in this relationship. By the end of the year, he will relocate to Houston! I never saw us getting together. When I was around him I felt like I was twice his size and didn't feel comfortable, even though we had so much fun together...I just felt like his buddy with benefits. Nothing more. Thanks to Miss Pealie...he can see what was hiding under all that fat and found his best friend and the woman he is seriously thinking about marrying. Yes, I'm in love. Now that I'm a more normal weight...I'm quite a bit smaller than him now, so it's a great feeling for sure. Besides that, I'm a hot girl along side this hot guy and the world can tell he loves me! Wow!

So...I went from a comfy size 10 (12 for small cuts) to a size 6 in days. What's my secret? Ask Miss Pearlie, she's calling all the shots and I have no idea what she has up her sleeve (ha, ha...a band with a sleeve) these days! Not complaining...I'm overjoyed!!!

The band is a miracle tool, for sure. Made it through the holidays without gaining a pound, even more amazing is that I lost 8 lbs. in 17 days! #teameatwhatiwant #almosttimetostoplosing #thatwassofast

Oh my what a big difference a small amount of weight loss made on you!!! You might want to rethink your goal...you look smaller than your weight!!! Keep up the good work!!

Thank you so much Bandista!!!!

Thanks Lisa!!! You look amazing lady!

It is the holidays, right? Can someone tell me how I've lost 7 lbs. in a week? I'm only 6 lbs. from my goal, but I'm going to drop another 11lbs and get a slight unfill to stick and stay at 150. Yes, I'll still be technically overweight, but I'm about as small now as I think I want to be. My 14 year old and I are now wearing the same size - 8/9's. Funny thing is, I haven't worn this size since I was 8 or 9 years old, LOL

Thank you!!!!

Banded June 19, 2013 Green Zone - Fill #3 (5.5cc's / 10cc band) Last Fill - August 19, 2013

Me too!!! I love crossing my legs and do it often now!!! Don't you love it?

Now that I've gotten nearly to my goal, my niece and arguably the person closest to me has started taking "pot shots" at me, trying to make me feel bad that I'm so small now. She says I don't look good (the ONLY person in my life to say that) and other mean things to try to make me feel bad. I should add that she is bigger than I was at my heaviest weight and secretly wishes she had the band, too. She bought a brand new car on Monday and thought I would be jealous or something, but when I was happy for her and told her how proud I was that she was able to get the deal she got...she turned on me and began verbal attacks. It was the craziest thing! As I reflect over our relationship, this is a pattern of hers. When things are going good for me, she isn't happy. When things are going good for her and I'm happy about it...she isn't happy that I'm happy. I'm sorry, but I've just never been a very envious person - no matter who you are or what you have. I Celebrate with you and hope that when the occasion calls for it, you celebrate with me. But, our back-and-forth has gone on all of our lives. We are only 3 years apart and more like sisters than aunt and niece. I was fortunate that my parents (her grandparents) were able to give me more than most children and I grew up rather priviledged. My sister was not able to afford the same lifestyle but my parents compensated for that most of the time. But, my niece resented that and I don't think it ever left her. With that being said and the start of a new year upon us, one thing on my To-Do list (I don't do resolutions) is to change the people I surround myself with. For the most part, I have positive and supportive friendships - they all thrive and give me great pleasure. But for those that do not fall in that category, I'm going to distance myself. Life is too short to fill it with people who aren't in your corner or have positive things to contribute to your time here on earth. I'm drawing a line in the sand to take back the energy, time and wasted negative emotions the wrong kind of people extract from my life. Merry Christmas