milwif

I have been banded for about a year and a half now. With the band there are many things you come to expect and rejoice in such as losing weight and getting healthy. One thing I did not expect to still be struggling with was my body image. While it has improved beyond measure, I still find myself comparing my body to other people's bodies, and looking in the mirror with disdain. Why do I do this to myself? I am so much happier and healthier, I have lost 85 lbs, my relationship with my friends, family, and husband has improved, I do things I never thought possible, and all around my life is significantly better. I suppose that to some degree I will always be just a little too hard on myself, I just hope that with time I learn to truly love my body and appreciate the progress I have made. One thing that I have also noticed is that before when I was bigger, I had no idea what I would look like at a certain weight. I could only guess that at 160 lbs I would be __ size or at 150 I would look like __. So now that I am actually hitting these numbers it's odd to compare how I look in reality, to how I imagined I would look. Can anyone else who is a ways out from surgery relate to these feelings?

Ok...I really shouldn't use the word "disdain" it's much too harsh. Don't get me wrong, I do love my body and I am so thankful for how far I have come. I just still have those days where I feel fat or I wish I were skinnier.

Hi all, I'm new on here so I thought I should start with my introduction. I've been browsing this site for a few months now but just joined the other day. My journey originally started December of 2008. I talked to my PCM about WLS and he completely shot me down. told me to diet and do what my skinny friends do. So I took matters into my own hands and found a surgeon and attended a seminar. Applied for surgery but got denied by my insurance(ODS) I was crushed and had given up hope. Fast forward to April of 2009. My husband is in the Army and I now have Tricare(Triwest) and a new PCM. My new PCM was very supportive of WLS and submitted a referrel to Tricare for the surgery. Tricare approved me almost immediately for the consultations and pre-appointments(sleep study, etc.) So now I'm just working on getting these appointments out of the way. My surgeon is at OHSU in Portland, OR and they unfortunately want me to attend another seminar which isn't for a couple of weeks. I hate the waiting game. So I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that when I get everything taken care of Tricare approves me for the actual procedure. My husband got deployed to Iraq so we were never able to have a real wedding. When he gets home next summer we are going to have a big outdoor wedding and my dream is to walk down that aisle looking beautiful. PS...My name is Liz, I'm 21 years old, 5'1, BMI 42.7. It's awful being so young and so big. I'm praying for this surgery.

Man how time flies! I was talking with my mother in law tonight about my surgery because she is interested in getting it and had a few questions. I was telling her how much weight I have lost and how long it took and it occured, exactly one year ago today I had surgery and changed my life! Here is what I have gained in my life: A positive outlook confidence and self assurance a gym membership smaller clothes happiness being social again the experience of doing a half marathon a husband that chases me around the house:wink2: a healthy, happy body! Here is what I have lost: 70 lbs. depression health problems trouble breathing doing simple tasks size 24 pants and 2x tops being embarrassed to go out or run into people I know I would do it all over again in a hearbeat. I heading nowhere fast as far as weight loss went and this band was really a blessing. I know that I still have weight to lose (30 lbs or so) but I have come very far and I'm so proud of that. Oh, I can also paint my toenails again:smile2: