Apples2

Pix...congrats and hope you get your surgery date soon. Can I borrow that bullhorn when I find out I'm approved???????????????

Hey Shannon...are you waiting for ins. approval? Or, a surgery date?

I know that I will probably want to have a tummy tuck. I have always had very crepe like skin...and even after losing only 46lbs, my tummy already hangs. I dread the thought of going through a tummy tuck but I am tough. I am one of those people that get violently sick from narcotics by mouth so will need to have a second plan. Had a repair on a HUGE hernia a couple of years ago and came home without pain meds. After following the stories and photos of the girls on the PS threads, I am thinking the pain meds should be in the plan. I also wonder that if I decide on PS, if my hernia repair will be a problem with them getting around with muscle repair? Anyone know?

CM...I have yet to be banded but just want to wish you luck and will be thinking of you tomorrow. Calm down and try to relax. The procedure will go just fine. I have had many surgeries and I always try to take myself to another place the day and evening b/4 by reading a good book, watching a movie, taking a long bath with a book. Take care.

Rharriet...your weight loss is amazing. Your story (kinda) reminds me of something that happened to me a few years ago. My oldest son was about 7. I was getting ready to go out on a date with my husband and my 7 yr. old came around the corner in the bedroom and caught me in my bra and panties. He ran back out of the room saying (YUK). I got dressed and as I was putting my shoes on I asked my son "Does mommy look too fat?" His response "Not with your clothes on". My point in sharing this story...What did you have to do after a 75lb. loss for someone to notice? Walk around town naked??????????????????

JBFlorida...Thanks for responding. My friend and I have almost a "family" connection. Her daughter is our God Child. My relationship with this certain friend is somewhat a complicated one. I am not angry with her. I guess I am more disappointed than anything. After all the support from me through her finding that she had uncontrollable diabetes for the last 12 years, encouraging her to take care of her self (she eats and drinks alcohol and IMHO is out of control) I just wish once she could have found it in herself to make one little gesture of support. I do realize that she must not have that within herself. All you guys are so sweet with your support of me. Just what I needed. Things will just remain the same in my relationship with my friend. I love her too much to blow her off.....I will just accept that she does not have the capability of support at this time.

chclvr...welcome. Looks like you have a good start on things. Continued good luck to you

Thanks,everyone, for the input. I knew as I was typing my original post this morning that I would get support from this site. I guess with this friend I have given and given and given support through everything for her. This lap band journey is a huge thing for me and I just feel like she does not even want to acknowledge it. But, I guess that's why I was guided to this forum by my surgeon. He knew I would find the support I needed with my friends here. Also, thanks to all of you for the compliments on my weight loss (whew...not lose). This morning I was really upset by this. This afternoon I am calm and accepting of my friend's reaction. I guess I don't know how I can expect my friends to understand what I am going through if they have never had exposure to someone going through the lap bad procedure. Thanks, guys!!!!!

TRN. I am in my fifth month of a six month medically supervised diet. I was told by my surgeon that he would like to see me lose weight during this time period along with exercising regularly. At first I was a little disappointed and thought that the six months seemed so looooooooooooong. I just decided to jump in with and eat like I would if I were already banded. I still do drink with meals once in awhile but other than that, I am eating about 800-1000 calories a day and exercising at least 3 days per week. That's all I want to do and seem to be able to lose. I have dropped 46lbs and feel so much better. I was a little concerned a couple of months into it and wanted my surgeon to verify that it would not screw up things with my insurance. He said that my insurance company would take my beginning BMI of 40. He also stated that he sees his most successful banded patients as the ones that prepare and change their diets way b/4 being banded and lose weight.

DARN...did it again!

Thanks for you input. I didn't add to my first post that this is a friend that is self-centered to the extreme. She has gained back the 17lbs she lost last summer so I am just thinking she cannot deal with me losing. I have been through a lot with her and always stuck by her. I was just feeling bad cuz I guess I was feeling that my weight lose just wasn't noticeable. Oh well...if she is jealous she'll have to get over it cuz she will have a thinner me to deal with over the next year. I have a few weeks left and then can send in for ins. approval to get my band. Looking forward to getting on with this process.

By the way....I have not had a weight "lose"...it's been a weight loss!

Not to change the subject....I know this friend thing has been discussed b/4 but went through it on the weekend and just kind of set me back. I have been feeling pretty good about my weight lose and can tell in my clothes that there is a big change. Went from a 3X top to 1x and that is not tight on me. I have this friend that at one time (about 5 yrs ago) had a super hot body. She got type 1 diabetes a few years ago and started gaining tremendous amounts of weight. She is a person that always says she does not need friends but she makes the exception for me (I'm her one and only). I have always been sympathetic to her weight gain plight, listening to her complaints and what it has done to her emotionally. I am always right there to encourage her when she goes to weight watchers and complement her when she loses. Well, had not seen her since I started to lose weight in Nov. I have lost 46lbs. I figure if I have gone down a couple of sizes, I must look like I have lost a little. NOTHING out of her mouth and I spend 6 hours with her. I brought up my lap band surgery a couple of times but she didn't bite. Either I don't look like I've dropped a pound or she is being really insensitive and jealous. UGH!!!!!!!!.. Jealousy? or did she plain not notice?

MNbob...welcome. There is a Minnesota thread on here somewhere. I am from MN also. Should be banded in May or June by Dr. Fortier from Long Prairie, MN. Good luck to you during your banding process

Hey Blund, I bought a food scale in Dec 2007. Salter, model #1440. I LOVE it. Has everything you should need. All you have to do is type in what your food is that you are weighing and it gives you everything on the screen. Bought at Macys. I bought my bathroom scale back in 1995 believe it or not. I love it. It's sturday and has ALWAYS been accurate with my clinic's scales. Each and every time. It's a Health o meter personal scale. Not digital. Has the big dial. Best scale I have ever had. Hope you find something that will work for you.

Appreciate your concern for preacher's wife and the preacher himself. Not sure if she really ever got around to the real thing. But, from that point on, every time I saw her, she had a red tongue.

I thought the food was similar to canned cat food

About 15 years ago had the sweet preacher's wife ask me to go out to dinner with her. Do you know what was on her agenda???????????? She wanted me to tell her how to do it cuz her sweet preacher husband thought that would be a thing he would like. (Not sure why she picked me...must have noticed that my mind was wandering during service). Anyway, after the initial embarrassment, and knowing that I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face as I explained my technique, I told her to practice on a Tootsie Roll Pop. Still to this day I feel like I let her down!

That should be LBTAA..I don't know what I would have done without this site. I got such limited info from my dr. and surgeon. Like..."go home and to the pro-op weight loss for six months" whatever. Did it anyway. Only way I learned was from the experience of everyone here. I am so in love with the positive attitudes of some. I get such a kick out of some the the the questions.... just a couple of months ago I was reading and some talked about PB ing. I just about posted to ask what it was....I though to myself "don't be stupid...find a thread about pb ing." Happy I did. Otherwise I would be talked about on the thread "I hate it when people post just to post." Whatever!!!!!!

Angie...love your belly button ass. .... I have old lady boob ass. You know when you are not trying to show your cleavage and you look down and you have butt around your neck?

I also think Boo should be the new girl at the top. Hell, she can photograph herself...ooops...but then she couldn't hold her own boobie in the photo. Boo is much more photogenic than the apple girl!

I despise that "fat girl store" feeling. I wear somewhat "normal" size (XL) on the bottom and have to go to the women's section for my tops. I have gotten the look by clerks and customers that maybe I'm lost when I am in the normal section. I omitted a NSV in my above post that I experienced this morning. I am somewhat of a clothes horse. Cleaned out all my clothes that have gotten to big for me and was able to drop off five large bags of close to our local Salvation Army store. It felt cleansing. Yahoo!!!!!!!!!

I love the positive posts where people say they love their bands. I am hoping when the installation is complete, I will say the same thing. I love what preparing for this band has done for me. It has made me strive for the goal and throughout this prep time I have been able to stick to a diet similar to how I will be eating after the band. I just feel so energized and know that if I can stick to this without the band, I can surely do it with the band.

MY DREAM IS TO WEAR JEANS AGAIN!!! I am an apple (thick waisted) and that's not going to happen for awhile. But, my NSV is that my yoga pants are loose and I am waiting for the day they fall down. For the last 7 years, the only slacks I can wear have elastic waists. I started this journey in Nov and wearing a 3x and heading soon for a 4x. I put on a 2x the other day and it hangs on me. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! Doing my six month pre-op diet and I get days where I am in a slump. What pulls me out is not so much the scale but the way clothes fit me.

Good for you, Dab. I love your statement that you made about your lifestyle change and that now it is second nature. You should be so proud of your accomplishments. With your attitude, you should have no trouble reaching your goal. I wish for you another successful six months for whatever it takes to reach what you are striving for. Thanks for sharing your story