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Hi, thought I would chime in with my story. I too have been overweight most of my life, definitely since high school - LOL 33 years - wow time flies. I have dieted, lost some, gained back more - the usual story. My wakeup call was ending up in the hospital with Atrial Fibrillation. I have had HTN for 10 years, borderline diabetes, not too much joint pain luckily. Since the hospital last October, I really had to look at things for real. My cardiologist basically told me I needed WLS or I would probably die. My heart valve is enlarged due to the weight and if it gets much bigger it will mean uncontrolled A Fib. My PCP suggested a Lap Band, but I am Miss Allergy personified and I felt that having a foreign body left inside was a really bad idea. Besides I did a lot of research, I am a Medical Technologist and I understand all of the medical jargon etc. So, I decided on the VSG. Lo and Behold, my insurance has an exclusion for WLS. I did not even get my sleep study done in a very timely manner as my cardiologist wanted it in Nov, and I had to wait for Feb - it was excluded under last years policy but allowed this year. The sleep study results were if anything scarier than being in the hospital. I have complex sleep apnea - stopped breathing 34 times an hour and oxygen saturation dropped to 66%. My brother went into respiratory arrest with a Sat of 80 - he has very bad asthma. I really did not expect the sleep study results to be that bad, I don't even snore unless I have a cold!! But, got put on a VPAP Adapt, and have actually gotten more than 4 hours of sleep at a time - YAY!!! So, I knew a girl at work who had gone to Mexico for a Lap Band, and I talked to her about her experience. I have lived overseas, so the prospect of going to Mexico was not too daunting. I did some research on doctors on this site and at Obesity Help, and decided on Dr. Kelly. As I am self pay (am going to use my FSA) I knew I needed to go outside the US. So, saved my tax refund money, and with that and my bonus from work I am scheduled for 3/25/11. I am going alone because my options for travel comapnions, brother and father, both hate hsopitals. My mother was not an option - she can darken a room with her negativity. Last thing I need at this point, she knows I am having the surgery - but has so far not commented. My brother and his daughter live with me, and he is very supportive. His girlfriend had RNY maybe 5 years ago. She lost the weight, but also a lot of her hair, and is constantly struggling with the whole vitamin deficiency thing. She has been a really good example of why you do not overeat after WLS - I have seen her in misery after too much consumption. Unfortunately, my atopic dermatitis has been going crazy - and I have been on prednisone since March1st. So, decided to just deal with very little weight loss on the pre-op diet - probably will lose a ton of water weight when I am off the prednisone, but I need my skin - especially the belly to not be rashy and inflamed before the surgery. It is looking good right now - everyone keep their fingers crossed for me - only 5 days to go. You know, the weight kinda creeps on and you think - well I'm doing OK - I will get around to dealing with it - at some point in the future of course. Then you get that wake up call - I was really mad at myself for a while. But I am going to counseling and need to focus on the positives - this is a tool that can help me acheive better health. The pre-op diet (2 weeks) has not been too bad. I rarely get hungry now, so hopefully my liver is nicely shrunken, and the surgery will go well. My PCP, is in favor, but a bit leary about the Mexico aspect. I saw her last week and she was supportive, but concerned that she would get to deal with the complications. I told her I did not plan on having any complications, I know she is watching to see how it goes - maybe they will refer people. I did have to educate her about the VSG, and she understood my reservations about the band. So, my journey has begun. Highest weight 335, current weight 315, pre-op loss so far 9 pounds - with no excercise beyond work at the moment. If I get hot I get itchy and start scratching...bad bad idea. But, the skin really is much better and I will start excercising again post surgery. I am trying very hard not to stress, because that can cause the itchies as well. Got to have a very quiet week - it is spring break ending here and my brother went to his girlfriend's and my neice went down to her Mom - they are back tonight. I should be able to cope, am off tomorrow - work Tues and Wed, then fly on Thursday. Have an appt with Rorry (counselor)on Wed before I go. Sorry I know this is long, but the venting has been good. I have really enjoyed reading about everyone's stories so here is mine. I will keep you posted on progress.

Also gonna get some Adkins protein shakes and sugar free hot coco tomorrow. Have you had any problems with skin milk? I can't tell if my tummy likes it or not yet

OK, you two are bad (Laura-Ven and zenandnow) and now I'm gonna jump in. I saw a woman this morning whose lips looked like she kissed a blowfish. Went great with that elfin eye look you get from pulling the skin too tight behind the ears. Butter: We also have great farmers markets. There is one almost every day somewhere in the valley during the summer. The one in Mt. View is the best I've been to. Lynda

Hey my surgery is monday and my bag is packed ... I have metal free scrunchies for my hair (because no metal in the operating room) and hair brush, my toothbrush and toothpaste, my deodorant, I have my sports bra and underwear, I have my loose fuzzy pj bottoms, and non skid socks for walking the halls, and I also got a loose tank top and cut the top of the strap and put buttons on them so I could slide it on over my legs like pants up to my top and then button it so it dosent effect my IVs.. That way no hospital gown and I also got a very loose tshirt and sweat pants and house shoes to wear home, and I am bringing a book and 2 stuffed animals that my kids wanted me to bring

A lot of people, myself included, have a sort of food funeral before the preop diet. It's perfectly normal to be aware that there are foods you won't be able to eat for a long time after surgery or ever again and to want to eat those foods as one last hurrah but believe me, you'll want to take it easy. The more crap you put into your body right before you "de-junk" on the preop diet the harder it's going to be and the worse you're going to feel. Especially if these are very carby or surgery. Caffeine is another thing to be careful for. The withdrawal has been awful for some people who drank it regularly and then had to stop. Not to mention, the whole point of the preop diet is to prepare your body for surgery. So depending on what you want to be pigging out on, just be careful. Most likely maintaining discipline now would help you a lot when the real hard part comes. Honestly sometimes I wish I had eaten a whole 6 pack of ramen noodles by myself before surgery, but looking back now I'm really glad I didn't. Dealing with the changes that come with surgery takes mental fortitude and stamina, and putting an addictive substance into my body in large amounts right before having to give it up forever would have just been unnecessarily cruel to my body and my mind. My "last meal" was a bourbon street chicken and onions with red skin potatoes at Applebee's.

Well, I know there is a bottom limit, so if she has mentioned it, make sure you stay above. For me it was above 40 when I went to get approved for the surgery. After that I could drop as much as I wanted. But I got approved 13 days (my surgery got moved up by 4 weeks because there was an opening and everything but insurance was approved at that time.) Thank you. My motivation has always been to prevent another back surgery, which I did. Now I need to find another motivation to pull myself together a little. I have been slipping a little lately. I do have extra skin. It might not look like ut, but it's there, especially on my legs. I know I have been lucky, considering I'm close to 100lbs and have no overhang. I'm up and down on my kcal, I have also been up and down with tracking lately. I'm anywhere from 1100-1600 I think. Today is a high day of over 1500 if I eat everything I have put into myfitnesspal. I believe one key to my success is that I meal prep. It gives me less options to stray into eating unhealthy stuff. So do you know when you'll have surgery?

"Hey, I have bones!" is on of my favorites. The fact that my collar bones are in my wedding pictures is one of my favorite things about them LOL. I also like my wrists and my ankles. I can see the bones and the muscle movement under the skin n' stuff. Honestly, the weirdest one is thinking I look pretty. I say weirdest, just because it's not like I was ugly before, just fat.

Thank you so much Maggie and Denise! Glad you are doing well after your surgery Denise The only thing that worries me the most is once I lose the weight the sagging skin. I feel as that is going to stress me out the most.

I am glad to have reached 100 pound loss but still have 100 more pounds I want to loose. Surgery September 2, pic

People lose in different places at different rates. You can't spot reduce (for example, when you measure fat on the arms of tennis players, both arms are the same percentage fat). But I started adding planks to workouts, and while the excess skin is there, the new muscle is providing some support and contour. And surprisingly it made my back feel better too. Try this: https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-30-day-plank-challenge/

Losing slower (1-2 lbs a week I mean) usually means not as much skin sag and also statistics show you keep it off longer. Can you see about changing drs or bringing those kinds of things up to him? I wouldn't do well with that pressure and I'm working hard to follow every single rule.

Do you have any suggestion on what you would of done differently if you would of known then what you do now. Any suggestions on anything to do with the surgery, weight loss, diet, loose skin...????

Well the day you prayed for, worked so hard for is almost b here. Try to get some rest tonight, I'm sure by now you have all the loose ends tied up at home, right? Okay tomorrow get up and go to your facility with firm conviction of the rightness of what you're doing, hope in your ❤, belief in your surgeon and their staff and plaster a great big_(1 step below S***eating grin) smile on your face, it is YOUR DAY, you are the STAR OF IT ALL.! But today do something I failed to do, take measurements all over your body, this is the LAST TIME you will be THIS SIZE! Yes, hips, waist, around "the Girls" but also upper and lower arms, wrists, thighs, calves and ankles and around your neck. Don't have to share these with,anyone else, these are a point of reference for the future! When I started losing, first places were forarms, wrists, face and neck, now Much of the rest is getting thinner but that was my first areas. And if you can and have someone help ing, frontal, back and profile pictures. Later when you look at them you will be gratified by your changes. I wish I had taken more pictures of the people at my hospital, they all treated me so fine and it would have been like a pictorial autograph. I have tried and tried to get a picture of my Dr Needleman, finally almost 6 months after meeting him,i got one in what I call his natural plumage, Scrubs, I had an unexpected rehospitalization November 28- December 5th and i got it Then! And promise you will update us when you make it safely(as You Will) through your surgery! Auntie Frustr8 will be Waiting!

I haven't had surgery yet but was planning on having the lap band. However when I went to the first meeting with my surgeon he suggested that the rny would be better for me. I have insulin resistance and like 140 lbs to loose. I was so confused. So I did all of the research and asked a lot of questions and made a pros and cons list. I made the decision to have rny. For me it is the best fit. I don't want the maintenance that the band requires. I don't want to be able to absorb the high calorie foods that I'd be able to with the band (like ice cream). I don't want to worry about erosion or slippage. So for me this is the way to go. I wish you luck with your decision. It is a hard one I know. But you'll be OK.

hi, Officeslave (that moniker evokes all kinds of images that fit where i work too--made me smile.) my surgeon helped me set expectations early-before he agreed to do my surgery, in fact, made sure i understood that weighting myself athome was "bad" and that i should adjust my expectations to 1-2 pounds per week on AVERAGE. he taught me that losing more than that was not healthy for my body, as mhazelrigg said, that the skin and hair and all that needs the time to "slim down" to continue to fit also. i congratulate you on your 37# reduction and hope that you will become more regular in your exercise. i walk every day--even only 20 minutes and not, necessarily "vigorously"--but EVERY day. it MATTERS. i play tennis (well that's what i call it--i'd never be mistaken for Chris Evert) once a week with a tennis ball machine. it keeps me moving and doesn't criticise my swing... :biggrin2: the nice thing about walking and tennis is that they don't require any significant $$ to do them and you don't have to go to the gym... you're really doing well--give yourself a break.

I was banded yesterday, and wanted to share with everybody about a very neat little gadget that I got before leaving the hospital. My Dr. said that they go to great lengths to try to ensure that you are not nauseated, and I now believe it! By the way, I have absolutely loved my Dr. He has been so great! Anyway...You may have heard of it, but I had not, and I just think this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. :cursing: It's a band that looks like a watch. The face of the band is worn on the wrist and when turned on, it releases low level electrical pulses that you feel in the palm of your hand and in your middle fingers. There are two little electrodes that touch the skin and it comes with a tube of conductivity gel that you rub on your skin before putting the band on and then you add more about every 3 - 4 hours while using the band. The band has 5 different settings and this thing really works. I have taken 1 pill for nausea and the rest of the time I have just turned on my band. Love, love, love it! Too bad I didn't have something like this when I was pregnant.

I went back and forth with wether or not to tell my co workers. I thought about it at first, I didn't think it was anyones right to know, but the way I figured it. It wasn't like I was able to hide the fact that I was fat, and my co workers were professional, respectful, everything you would expect before I got the LB, so why wouldn't they be happy that I decided to do something to become more healthy and loose weight? So far I've had nothing but support, and those "I have a friend who has the LB, or I know someone who has the LB". But it is a personal choice.

Welcome. I totally agree with everyone, even though I haven't gotten the "easy way out" mantra thrown at me. However I sometimes criticize myself for not being able to loose weight the ""normal" way. Giving my son a life with a healthy mother is what I've decided to choose and I think my turning point was when my weight continued to tip the scale and several health issues began to stack against me. Two years ago when I found out I had hypertension should have been the wake up call, but with sleep apnea and diabetes side by side, the wake up call became a bullhorn tearing out my eardrums. So here I am, proud and ready that I've made the decision to become healthy for me and no one else...so I guess that is the easy way out for me, and the hard part will follow !

OMG! there are so many but I can't think of any! Changing ring sizes 2x None of my old clothes fit me new pants that I bought 2 months ago are baggy I wear m shirts size 10 jeans size 8 pants 1 of my favorite M blouses is a little toooo big. More energy loosing in inches more room in seats The person I'm working with is tongue wagging all the time and telling me how good I look. And there's a lot more. I'm truly grateful that I had this procedure, it has changed my whole life.

Ok, im 8 day's post op EVERYWHERE i turn somebody’s eating in my face. It seems like my parent only cooked once a week now it's like EVERYDAY. So Im trying not to visit as much, then i get the “ O since you lost 21 pounds you think you to good to visit” ( It’s only been 8 day’s) I jus do not understand !!! I no i really want to get the weight off an Im trying to be dedicated but the temptation are killing me, it's only been 8 day's if Im going through it now what’s gone happen in a week or two? :help: Also why do everyone think when you loose a couple of pound that you think your “All that” or “ Better then them” IM STILL ME!! I haven’t even reached my goal yet why is people changing already?? :think HELP ME !!!

10/2009 Take a good look. This is what Morbid Obesity looks like. Let me preface this by saying that at first I was going to keep it all a hush-hush big super secret squirrel secret. But I figured blogging would not only help me chronicle my journey, but serve as a sounding board. Of course I run the risk of opening myself up to criticism and negativity. But I figured…they talked about Jesus they’ll talk about me too. And what’s more is – I really don’t give a rat’s sweaty nads. *shrug* With that said… I’ve never had a problem with being full-figured. In fact, I’ve embraced it. It’s a part of the me that I’ve been proud to be. Even flaunted my curves. And its not like I’ve been starved for attention. Most…well, a lot (only basing on what I’ve been told) of men (women too) think that I’m (are you ready for this?) SEXY. I’m not bragging at all…but can you imagine? Me, at 298lbs…on a 5′3″ frame. What doctors frown at in disapproval. What some people in public look at in disgust…but yet others…desire. To this day. As recently as an hour ago. 8/2008 *smh kinda confused* Admittedly, I’ve thought the same thing for a long time. My self esteem has remained in its proper sometimes over-elevated place. The men folk (husband included) never seemed to have had a problem with it, so I never had a problem with it… Until now. I’m at my biggest ever. Almost 30lbs more than I weighed when I was 9 months pregnant (2 years ago). I’m uncomfortable. I don’t like what I see in the mirror any more. My feet hurt. My knees ache. (ironically enough, the VERY reason why working out has been such a chore – that aside from time: 9-5 job, jewelry biz, almost 2 year old daughter, and a hubby that works nights/weekends). And now, my once high (sometimes too high) self esteem has taken a nosedive. So what to do?? 9/2002 I’ve done the diets, the shakes, the cleanses, the “lifestyle change”, the pills, the work-out regimen, etc… Something has to be done. NOW. So after about 6 months of mulling it over, I’ve opted to have the LAP-BAND®®® surgery. In fact, that’s the entire reason for this blog. My goal is 75-100lbs. Realistically, at 200lbs, I’ll still be +size…but ALOT better off than I am now. I’m making a decision to better my life, and thereby, my family’s life. I will learn healthier habits to pass on to my daughter and share with my husband, as well as actually be around a lot longer to see her grow up, and grow into the olden golden years with her daddy. This vixen, is about to change her game up, for good. I have my physical exam and initial info session at the Bariatric Surgeon’s office on Monday. Then comes the consult to chart the path forward, counseling, etc. I will join the Million Pound Challlenge to help get me started on the right track. But that’s Monday – and it’s going to be a life-changing day. So this weekend, I’m gettin it in. *lol* I’m gonna eat what I want…probably for the last time (at least for a long time); Celebrate my 35th bday (late, bc of all the snow) and celebrate in anticipation of a new life and a new, even sexier, healthier me… I’m excited. I can only pray that by sharing this journey, it will garner some support & encouragement from friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike. But even if it doesn’t, it’s no skin off my teeth. I’m CERTAIN that my words will touch or encourage SOMEONE out there. 1/2010 Beauty can be found at ANY size. From a size 6 to 26. However, HEALTH cannot. And that’s all its about for me. Taking off some pounds to add some years to my life. Phine, re-defined… *sexy grin*

I have referred several friends who have weighed less than 100 lbs to have lap band surgery. One only needed to loose 40 lbs., but it had been the same 40 lbs. she had been carrying around for 15 years. One friend needed to loose 60 lbs. and one needed to loose 55 lbs. I needed to loose 98 lbs. which is what I have lost since my lap band surgery. My insurance would not pay either. It was $15,000 where I live so I went Tijuana and had mine done. I love my band and it has been an awesome experience.

Wow! I can't have raw veggies until 4 months. I would peel the skin at first if I were you. Enjoy!!

I hear ya girl. I have an ultra conservative Dr. and in a 10cc band I have only 2.5 cc's right now. Have not lost jack! I have had two fills and am in tears all the time because everyone is asking me if I have lost weight and I have to keep telling them no! I am trying a new doc next month. It's so hard to see the numbers of those loosing over a hundred pounds on here. Believe me, I have such regrets about this surgery but a slight hope this will all work out for me.....

Good Luck Stormy! But yes, I will be patient and do what I am told! Has anyone who has lost weight not needed plastic surgery? I do not want to have to go there... I keep hearing everyone say that they have too much lose skin. Can that be avoided? Im 25, will my skin have elasticity?