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Great idea Margo! Here's my list: 1. I can get down on the floor at my son's school to help him with his boots and not worry about being able to get back up again. 2. I can hug my husband without bending at the waist to get my arms around him. 3. I'm more easygoing. Life just seems easier when it doesn't take as much effort to do the little things. 4. I don't obsess about my next meal. 5. I don't feel guilty about indulging my cravings because they have been drastically reduced and I won't be able to eat much anyways. 6. Like Cindy, I also take way more time with my appearance now. 7. My hubby was always attracted to me, but now... it's just better all around. 8. People are always telling me how great I look. That hasn't happened in years! 9. I can sit in the captain's chairs at the end of my kitchen table. I remember buying the table two years ago and thinking how dumb it was to spend money on chairs I couldn't fit into. 10. I don't feel like I ran a marathon after climbing the stairs. 11. I can shop at plus size stores again (I was out of 3X shirts at my highest so catalogs were my only option). 12. I eat less than my Mom!! She has always been small. She's always talking about how she eats 1/2 piece of toast for Breakfast and then is too full for lunch... Wahahahahahah!! Don't mistake me - she's an awesome mom and I love her dearly, but it still feels good!

Kudos to you Margo, what a wonderful idea, here are mine: 1. Insulin dependent no more 2. Half the amount of blood pressure medications, stopped one completely 3. Below 300 lbs 4. Far enough below, not afraid of a little Water weight anymore 5. Energy to do what I want when I want, like shopping for hours on end 6. Feeling my rib cage when I lay down, didn't know if the darn thing was still there 7. Gave away all my really fat clothes as they were falling off of me 8. Able to wear some of most of my skinny clothes 9. No more difficulty breathing 10. No more sleep apnea 11. Able to fit into a regular hospital gown BUT THE BEST ONE IS I AM PROUD OF MYSELF AGAIN AND NO LONGER FEEL LIKE A SIDESHOW FREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy, Happy Holidays Cindy

WOW!! It has been a looong road! I Was sleeved August 10 and didn't eat again until soft mushies Christmas Eve! I have had feeding tubes, stent operations, 6 dialations and let me tell ya, pnemonia, painful ear infections, thrush and sooo much awfulness. Sliming and foaming and sick. The doctors where sooo kind and willing to try anything to fix me... A twisted stricture doesnt happen all the time. On Dec 8 th they performed a strictureplasy. And I really feel like I have my life back again. I still have a J tube that comes out of my side and it hurts. But they will remove the bolsters soon (holds the intestine up) and then maybe another couple of weeks and the tube will be gone too! I am so happy that I am a regular sleeve patient now and I love my working sleeve, I love eating smaller portions. The doctor didnt charge for countless specialized care either. I had all three of their direct numbers. Did I mention that I am so happy to have a normal sleeve? Lol

Had a good week not just in terms of weight loss but more so emotionally. I am just really found myself admiring myself, loving the newfound me this week. I even had to check myself not to be looking in the mirror so much. I bought a dress pre-surgery that I loved but it was also only $8 so that made me love it even more...Well, it was an an "XL" and even still was pretty tight but I put on my spanx and made it work. (I had to walk with my legs squeezed because you could hear the spanx rubbing together. I had the leg kind on). Well, I wore this same dress on Wednesday and oh what a differnece. I wish I would have taken a picture now. But the dress was so much longer, dragging the floor even since it had less to go around. Those spanx that used to hold everything tight were actually too lose and so I put on another pair that I had outgrown...First no swishing as my legs dont overlap as they did...Still touch but no overlap...My stomach look as if it is was not there and the dress just flowed from me...Not snug in the least bit. In fact, I think I had my last wear in it because it will be too big by the time I put it back in the wear cycle. My sleeve buddy posted in our FB support forum, how so many of her milestones are marked by her remembrance of her weight and as I got to thinking about I have several of those moments too...Weight really had taken over my own being...Funny thing is I am still marking milestones but its not marking them with a new look as my weight goes down. I go home to visit my family back in Arkansas and it will be the first any have seen of me since having surgery. I am both nervous and excited about their reaction. I think a lil more nervous then excited. I is my motivation to really work hard and maintain a straight line with diet compliance so that I can see 180lbs by Nov 19th. Pretty lofty goal but I know really think I can make it happen with "Two-A-Day" workouts...I love the Insanity workout which I do in the morning and then in the evening 4 days a week I will get my run on. And speaking of running, I committed myself to a running a half marathon on June 1, 2013. Keeping a goal such as this in front of me keeps me motivated to stay on the grind, particularly during the winter months when it becomes easy to get lazy with a warm blanket and hot chocolate. HW 232 & SW 227 (VSG 08/17/12 & 5'8) LW 196.2 CW 193.6 [Total Weight Loss 38.4] GW 155

Also give recovery time bc I was in recovery from 10-4 some time was from pain and the rest was trying to get a room Sent from my iPhone

I went back to work after 10 days. I went in for surgery on a Friday and was back at work on Monday - 10 days later. I have a desk job and it wasn't any real problem going back to work. I wore the elastic binder under my shirt everyday to support my new stomach. I've seen some people post that they were back a work after 3 days.

I'm new here. Had surgery on July 2nd. Been a very easy recovery but i feel no restriction at all. Still on full liquid stage and eating only what I'm supposed to but starving. Getting in my protein with Genepro 3 times a day. And I'm sure I should not be weighing myself but I cant help it. Lost 20 pounds first seven days but the scale has not moved in the last four. Just seeking some reassurance that this is normal.

I'm pretty sure the answer is going to be no, but thought I'd ask anyway. Due to delays by the psych office in faxing over my report, and then the surgeon's office in submitting to insurance, my surgery has been delayed until mid-June at least. I am supposed to go visit my sister at the end of June, and due to a job change and other factors, there is no other time for that visit this summer. Long story but I really do have to go visit her. We will be driving and it's about 12 hours in the car. If I stop every hour to walk around is this even do-able at all? Always assuming there are no surgical complications of course. Otherwise, I have to delay surgery until September. I know that's the most responsible thing to do, but I was so counting on getting started losing weight this summer, not spending another summer miserably hot and sweaty due to chafing, and not having the energy to do much outside. I cannot afford to fly (my kids are going too). I may have to do all the driving, or my oldest son might come along and split it with me, but either way I would stop hourly to prevent any clots.

Hello Gabbee, Well I'm now 10 weeks after Sleeve Surgery and I can almost eat everything. Yet, my stomache gets a little upset after eating chicken or Meet (patty) or heavy/full-fat food. When I eat stew or boiled veggies I can eat in mote quantities and stomache being less upset. Just stay away of peppers and spices and full fat food. That's it for me... I'd welcome any advices or comments Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Hi Everyone!! I am so glad to be here and start this process. This site is so informative and has been so helpful already. I just recently made the decision to have the lap band procedure after debating for the last two years. I am so happy that I have made the decision. I feel like there is light at the end of this tunnell for me.I just started the process, I got the referral from my family dr to go see the bariatric dr - that came highly recommended so I think I made a good choice and he is in my insurance plan. I had to fill out a complete questionair from the bariatric dr and it took a while and and it really confirmed for me that I am making the right choice for me and my life.I have lost and gained 100lbs on my own a two times in my life. I am 34 years old. I have gained and lost the same 20lbs more times then i can remember....I hope to put an end to the roller coster.I know I am an emotional eater and I am also full blooded italian - so my family eats to celebrate everything - even just what day of the week it is....lolI am 248 pounds and about 5ft 5inc tall. Most of my life my weight was 180 - I spent my twenties at 145 for about 10 years....I spend a majority of the time caring for my husband over the last 10 years who was ill, but is on the road to a full recovery!!! So now it is time to take care of me and I am happy to be able to do that...I am so looking forward to this. I wanted to find out if anyone was able to tell me how the insurance part of this works. I am hopping it is covered but not sure how long the approval process takes? Does the bariatric doctor work on getting everything approved? I figure it will be a 6 months process from beginning to surgery? But not sure....Any help would be greatly appreciated.Looking forward to hearing about everyone and their success and struggles and making new friends.Jackie

Its a Great Date to be Banded ! We will be Soul BandSisters. I was banded 10/31 also.

Hi, I was banded 10/25/11 and have been doing pretty good. I can walk a mile, sit, and stand without discomfort. I'm not very hungry. Getting about 600 calories a day, 70ish grams Protein a day average. Saturday I had lots of gas and the shoulder pain was intense. Heating pad and gas-x strips help but I ended up taking a dose of my pain med at bedtime. Lots of gas release today but the shoulder is pain free. Just follow you doctors instructions and you should be fine. TBM TheBandedMan is on YouTube

My surgery was 10/19 and I had to take all of my pain pills because I had a hiatal hernia repair during my banding procedure. I'm on the mushy diet stage and can't wait to eat soft foods on Thurs. I've lost 11 lbs. so far.

Got my band on 10/25/11. Doing pretty good, only took the pain meds on the 1st day home...still a bit sore but able to sit and walk around comfortable enough. still on a clear liquid diet which is getting more and more difficult, because i am starting to feel hungry. Looking forward to this wednesday 1st followup and should be able to add full liquids to the diet, yay! Good luck with your surgery. Lisa

My sleeve was January 19 and I've only lost 12 pounds though I lost 23 on the pre op. I gave up weighing every day for 2 weeks and I gained. I'm back to weighing every day. I think it makes me a little more accountable even if the fluctuations are tough to see. I was banded in 2008 and was not successful so yes I do have a lot of anxiety that this won't work for me. But I'm gonna keep at it.

I would assume fever with flu, too. I'm also not achy at all. I'm 100% sure I'm not pregnant:). Though my 10 yo would love that. I haven't eaten anything in 2 days cause of this pressure and the heaving. Maybe I'm just wacko;) I think I'll go to my family doc today and get her opinion. Part of me is starting to wonder if it's not just severe gastric reflux.

I was sleeved 9/16/14 - initial dr visit was 8/28/14 and weight was 223. Surgery date was 9/16/14 and weight was 221. So didn't lose too much post op. today 10/9/14 and I'm at 206.6. Am I on schedule ? Seems others are half MORE by now than me. I'm not able to reach any of my goals. Also having problem with ideas for puréed stage. I need to get the protein in as well as the water. So hard to do both. Am I alone in this state ?? :-/

I hear you on the deductibles! Milk that free healthcare as much as possible. Yoga is fantastic. At least, it should be. Not tremendously easy to do when you are larger (despite what those "Plus Size Yoga!" books claim. I want to pursue that after surgery, it's supposed to be great for your mind and body. I also plan to get a personal trainer, dependent upon whether I can find one that doesn't charge a small fortune. I don't think I will need them too long, just a few months to tell me how to do things, which exercises to focus certain areas etc. I haven't seriously worked out in over a decade, and I highly doubt the exercises I did then as an athlete would be the best idea now. I also have a nice expensive elliptical I hope to actually be able to use. I purchased it at my highest weight, then swiftly realized that if I used it for me than 10/15 minutes my knee would swell to the point I couldn't walk. Yeah... my knees haven't taken this whole being 280+lbs thing very well. The thing that I am looking forward to exercise wise is to be able to go for a run. I used to love it. Hopefully, I'll get back to doing morning runs every day.

I had my surgery on Jan,10 and I hit a stall 2 weeks ago I haven't lost anything for the 2 weeks but I am down 23 lbs and even though that scales not moving I am losing the inches.So im happy with that.Im on the lower end of BMI I weighed 209 day of surgery and we do all lose at different rates keep doing what your doing it will come off.!!!!!

I've had my lab band for approximately 2 years I went from a size 1x to a size 10 and was still losing. I went in for an adjustment and was informed that my band had dilated. My band was emptied and I will be consulting with my doctor on the 25th. He mentioned gastric bypass or repairing the band. I 've gained 13 lbs since my band was emptied. I'm very distrught over this and I'm not sure which direction to take. Gastric bypass seem so extreme with the cutting and re-routing of this and that. I've observed several co-workers with the gastric bypass they lose the weight quick and look great. But again I'm concerned about drastic procedure.:tongue_smilie: Can someone share a similar experience or just their opinion on the matter. Terry.

10 day transformation celebrity cleanse. I have just started my 2nd 10 day cleanse today.

Well. Here we are. You and Me, Me and You. I bet you're wondering how you let your life come to this. How could you end up in front of the computer at this ungodly hour reading a blog about someone that you hardly know, or at least thought you knew. I'll tell you how. Fate. Fate has been a cruel mistress, that is, if I had mistresses, but also a fantastic one. My life began simply enough. I was born to a Paramedic Father, and Nurse Mother, with one older brother. I grew up normally. It wasn't until I met a certain Argentine that things began to get obscure in my life. Dating a very talented Musician with a famous mother, and successful business man as a father would be any 16 year old's dream. Put the cherry on top with summers in Spain, and learning Spanish in that 'oh so sexy' Argentine accent and you have a cocktail for adventure. Truly it was an adventure, every minute of it. Probably the best years of my life so far. Until I graduated High School and life hit me like a ton of bricks. Realistically I knew there was no future for me living in Spain. I returned home, and my estranged relationship only suffered more, until under the weight of the stress it snapped like a fine weathered thread pulled to it's limit. I felt like life was pointless, and I packed up what belongings would fit into my mid sized car and hoofed it to SoCal. Land of renewal, land of redemption, land of a whole lot of Mexicans. There I settled into a good routine. Working, School, Sleep, Working, School, Sleep. But how much could I handle at the tender age of 19? Again I felt that thread begin to age, and the stress began to pull tight until finally it relented to the pressure, and I was on a plane back home to Michigan. Even then I still hadn't forgotten my years with the Argentine, but life was still moving forward at an alarming pace. Michigan weather began to cool, and the breezes were nipping at my new California glow, and the urge to escape this place of memory and heart break swelled in me once more. A chance meeting with a certain Doctor to be set my mistress in motion once more, and before I knew what was happening I was on a plane to India. The heat of North India was fierce. But the new budding relationship of this brother of a doctor to be was keeping my head swimming in cool water. Four months passed, and it was time for me to return back to that place that I had been trying to escape for so long. Back to the land of my parents, and grandparents. Life again, sat on that sting, I watched and waited for months. Idly passing my time with months on end in a small room, hoping that things would change, that life would begin again. I wondered how long my life had been in a stand still. Three years. College was a refuge, for a short time. It wasn't until I decided that I would begin again, alone, just me, just Miss Duke, and no one else. I would depend on myself alone for pushing forward, did things really begin again. Here it is, Four years later, I'm a Paramedic Extern, and soon I will be attending a very nice University in Detroit. Wayne State. Something came out of my trials and tribulations. I traveled the world, learned three languages, learned a lot about myself, about other people. I became conscious of other people. Something many Americans never learn, never attempt at, never imagine. Now that there is some understanding of who I am, how I am, and why I am. I can begin the blog that will help fill in the missing lines, and paint with broader strokes to elaborate this short explanation of a Legend.

Almost 2 years since my band became a part of me I have cracked 10 stones! 142 lbs to be exact and never did I ever imagine I would lose so much. Most of the weight loss was in the first year and now it's just an occasional pound here and there that I lose. I reckon I am almost at my natural weight and still I am obese! I am 7lbs away from weighing the same as I did when I was 18, I am now 52 so I can be happy where I am and a little happier if I make it eventually. Still I can not get used to being smaller. I see gaps in aisles when shopping and look for a bigger space in which to manouevre my bulk. I can now bend in a smaller space without knocking items from shelves with my derriere, that's bizarre. I still talk about the band like it happened yesterday and expect never to get really used to it. Daily, some days, hourly it reminds me of it's presence. I do forget for a short time that I have it now and again and make the mistake of not chewing properly, of placing too much food in my mouth and forgetting NOT to try and hold a conversation at the same time, therefore forgetting that vital chewing process we must all remember with every bite. I have dropped 6 English sizes and am now size 18. I know this would be horrific for a woman who has been used to being size 8 or 10 but for me this is slim, normal, no longer freakish or the butt of skinnie's jokes. Not that I ever heard many of them anyway so they were wasting their breath. Being 'normal' is difficult to comprehend. I have met up with some old friends since having the band fitted and they see no difference as I was this size when they last saw me, I imagine I bore them rigid with my talk about it at times. One friend did tell me not long ago that I really wasn't the dress size I thought I was and to try smething 2 sizes smaller. Can you imagine when that 2 sizes smaller fit? I was used to wearing loose clothes for so long that it never occured to me to wear something that fit me. Now instead of specialist larger ladies clothes by mail order I can walk in the supermarket and buy regular clothes. I have choices. I probably will never have my band tightened again, we get on ok as we are now even though some days do seem much tighter than others, today especially feels like a tight belt around my middle. I dream of it being removed and eating pizza, loaves of bread, take away all to myself, well I can dream but it's really the nightmare lifestyle that got me where I was. Hell I miss pizza and no doubt about it but Pizza manages quite well without me thank you and I manage much better without IT!

Actually, the band has been the 'gold' standard in the UK for some time now. I believe the procedure has been being done for at least 10 years or more.

I hope you get some good news soon. I called after two weeks and ended up finding out I was approved. I cried. I can't tell you how long it took to get approved and how many hoops I had to jump through. It can be so frustrating. I have a friend who had been trying for almost 10 years to get the surgery so I'm thankful it took about 9 months. Keep at it and don't give up!