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??????????????????

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

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.

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

Thanks for the support, Janet. I have a question for you. It's off the subject. After losing your weight, how do you feel about the condition of your skin...do you have sagging? or are you one of the lucky ones?

Tom...happy to hear you lost 3lbs and decided against the steak. Hang in there, Bud! Not only are you shrinking your liver in prep for surgery, you are preparing yourself to be strong after your surgery and the liquids for awhile. What pushed me over the edge to have this surgery was lab reports of an extremely fatty liver. I want to be around for my grandkids (If my sons would get off their asses and produce some).

I don't know if I will be able to give up coffee. I know I can cut back on it but I just love a cup in the morning. My dr. says to cut out caffeine for six weeks after surgery. So many drs., so many different opinions!

I'm staying on plan today because when I don't I go to bed feeling yucky and wake up feeling yucky (both emotionally and physically yucky)!

Thank you for the support, Cindi. I am ready for all of this to take place. Been looking at doing this for three years and feel that I am fully prepared for what's ahead.

I also look forward to taking this journey with you, Cathy. Sounds like our surgeries won't be too far apart from each other (if I get approved). I am ready to get the band and start the next phase....we'll talk soon. The other Karen