The reason Im posting this is because I felt totally different when i started this process. So much so that i looked for reasons to postpone surgery dates which I regretfully did once!

This is not the hell I thought it was going to be(hell might be too strong). I wanted to do this to lose weight and get healthy even if it meant "depriving" myself of the one comfort I knew I could count on to make me happy, food! I even scheduled my surgery for March(2010) because I wanted to enjoy the holidays. At that time food is what made me most happy and satisfied, dont get me wrong I still love to eat but Enjoyment meant being able to eat 2 full plates of turkey at thanksgiving, Eating what I wanted at Christmas and so-on. Actually most things I do today pretty much involve food, I just dont eat as much and the better choice thing is still a work in progress!

Well Im here to tell you I feel like a real idiot now! Enjoyment to me is not eating until Im sick, gorging myself. Its seeing results when I look in the mirror, its buying new clothes at "normal" stores(still borderline, depending on brand of clothing), its taking food home in doggy bags, its hearing people tell me how good I look, its thinking about how I wont have to worry about gaining weight over the holidays, its not having to make excuses to justify my bad food choices, its being off my meds, and most of all its me feeling much, much better about myself as a husband, father, and person.

Im not at goal yet, not even close. That changes by the day. My point is I dont feel deprived at all. This is the best decision I have ever made(it ranks near the top). I just want people who are still deciding to know, all the feelings I felt(most negative) before surgery where for nothing because I can still eat what i want(that might change when I have more restriction)and I actually feel more normal now than I ever have! I still have a long way to go(Id like to lose about 50-70 more pounds, Ive lost about 50 so far)but I wish I would have scheduled it last Aughust(2009) instead of last March(2010)!

I hope this helps people who are having a hard time deciding, but as always everyone is different and research is the most important thing you can do to help in your decision.

Good luck to all of you in whatever your decision is!

Edited October 30, 201015 yr by loserbob

Thank you so much for sharing with us. I cant wait

Don't feel bad about the delay Bob, you might not have been as mentally ready in August as you were in March.

I was forced to delay mine by other health issues requiring surgery. I could've had my band about a year before I did.. but I needed the time to get my head together for the lifestyle changes being successful with the band requires. I also had to grieve over the loss from the other surgery.

Be happy that you are doing well. :thumbup:

I am with you on the "can eat anything" boat.. almost. I'm finally at the point where soft bread sometimes gives me trouble. I think the band should be used to diminish appetite, not so much a physical restriction. But other people work it differently.. and that's cool if it works for them. For me, it's been a way to reduce my portions and stay full on smaller amounts. I don't want to be so tight I can't eat normal foods.

Congrats on your success and here's to your continuing loss. :smile2:

Wonderful post, Bob. So nice when ppl share stories like this.

Congrats Bob! Isn't life wonderful! :thumbup:

I remember your posts from the beginning Bob (we were banded around the same time) and i have to admit they were a bit hard to take sometimes......but what a dramatic change! It's so great to see that you are emerging out of that dark place you were in. Keep moving towards the light!

So glad things are going good for you Bob! Great post . . . from the heart.

Cheri

thanks for that post, it helps so much to hear that positive stuff. i am just beginning the process. have my first appt's on nov 23 hope to band in the new year. so scared but feel i must do this to save my life.

Thank you Bob. I too have postponed doing this for over 3 years. Telling myself, "Oh I don't need this surgery, I can do this by myself". Hence 40 lbs later and 3 years. I'm hoping to have surgery in December. Posts like yours are so encouraging to read. They mean so much

to those of us still waiting in the wings to fly. I am so thankful my insurance company has required 6 months of supervised nutrition guidance. This has given me the time to completely recognize the benefits of this surgery and to fully accept the responsibilities that go along with it. I have done my homework. I'm excited and ready for my new life. Hearing your words not to mention the fact they were spoken from a man ( you guys don't normally share your feelings) has more impact on me and the benefits I'm so ready to experience. Thank you for opening up and sharing. You are an inspiration.:thumbup:

Thanks for the post, Bob. You give a wonderful meaning to the word "loser."

I'm so glad you posted this :thumbup: Just starting out it's all pretty daunting. I get nervous thinking about it, but I am so excited about the possibility of being healthy!

Good for you Bob! Keep up the good work.

Once you get used to the whole thing you can relax and coast through the process. There are negative things about the journey, but it's nice to let some of that go and just enjoy feeling trimmer.

Awesome Bob! Thanks for motivating words!

Thanks Bob! It is so easy to talk our self out of things, something like this mostly out of fear. But it is a personal journey for each and everyone who has ever posted here. Some good responses and some not so good. I think, being an over weight person most of my adult life we just wire our self to be more negative and worrisome when it comes to things as weight loss...

and awesome job!

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have not been banded yet. I am going through the insurance process but I have had thoughts of whether this is the right choice for me. I think that your post says it all. :wink2::thumbup:

I just posted this to let people who are "on the fence" about it know its not at all what I thought. I thought I would be miserable because I would have to give up eating everything I like. So far I've only given up little while gaining alot(for once Im not referring to gaining weight). I would assume many people feel as I did. So far its been a very easy transition and like I said I still have a long way to go but it hasnt been the doom & gloom I thought it was going to be. I still cant find the motivation to exercise like I should and I dont always make the right choices but Im not the kind of person who can change everything in one day, I need to make gradual changes for it to work. But Its been pretty easy so far.