Hi everyone. I'm a 29 year old female (it almost feels wrong to say that... my birthday is in 13 days...) from Tennessee. I have been married for about 5 years. I have two wonderful (step) children - 9 & 12, both boys. I am a softball player (yes i still play) and consider myself a healthy fat girl (as healthy as you can be anyway). Almost sounds like an oxymoron huh? I don't have any comobidities but I do plan to lose about 120 lbs. During March-October, I am pretty much at the ballfield every day. Both my boys play baseball (travel teams) and l play softball. My family is very supportive but really has no idea what it's like to be "obese." I don't really like that word. Sounds like a weird fungal disease or something. I don't personally know anyone that has been banded. All my paperwork was submitted to the insurance company on 11/22. I'm trying to be patient but am pretty much driving myself insane. I have a tentative date set for 12/27. Yes, this requires me to be in the 2 week pre-op diet during my 30th birthday party AND Christmas but I figured if i'm going to be successful I'm going to have to hit the ground running with this thing. I've been heavy my whole life. My then stepmom started me on my first diet at 13/14. Since then it has been one rollercoaster after another - and not the fun kind! Before my sister got pregnant she was a size 4/6, my stepmom was a 2/4, and my brother is like 6'2" 185 and can't put on weight. YES IMAGINE HOW I FELT AT THE BEACH EVERY SUMMER! I've never had surgery... i'm scared, overwhelmed, excited. So many emotions. Trying to be patient but like i said, i think i'm driving myself insane...

Hi swan, My name is JeweI I am 29 and had surgery 1/4/10. I was on preop diet during thanksgiving and christmas last year. My Doc had me on preop diet from my very first visit. I lost 18 pounds preop. I was so nervous and afraid I was gonna bolt out of the preop unit. The anesthesiologist said he would give me something to calm me down. A minute later I woke up and my surgery was done. It happens so fast. I was up and walking around right away. The nurse said if I peed I could go home, So I went right away and did. I am also a nursing student so now I understand why. If you like you can see some videos I posted to youtube. I explain how I am feeling all along the way.The surgery is just a day in your life. The changes that you are getting ready to make will change our life. I never regret this decision. I aslo had this perfect plan that I would lose 100 pounds in 1 year. But I was filled too tight and had an unfill. I got of track for a few months but am rebuilding my habits. And have gotten back to a sweet spot. I say this just so you know there will be hicups along the way but it is all worth it. I am down 56 pounds and will be running my first 5k in 2 weeks. Feel free to ask me any questions and tell me how your feeling. I hope we can be great buddies and encourage each other throughout this year.

Also I have been married 11.5 years and have a 6 year old.

JeweI - Thanks so much for your reply and your encouragment. It's so nice to hear stories about other's journeys and what to expect. It's a relief to hear that you were up walking and out of the hospital so quickly. Congratulations on the 56 lbs! My starting BMI is pretty close to yours. I'm 5'5" and heavier than you started at. Getting to 204 would be WONDERFUL! I know lapband is slower than gastric - part of the reason I chose it. How is your skin? And I've heard a lot about hair loss. Although judging from your picture, your hair is fine. I will definately watch some of your videos on youtube. THANKS for the link. I'm pretty excited about the changes. I know I have great will power but also know there will be moments when I will struggle. Did you tell many people you were getting banded? How are peoples reactions to you? Sorry for the 20 questions... i'm just really curious. Thanks again!

JeweI - Thanks so much for your reply and your encouragment. It's so nice to hear stories about other's journeys and what to expect. It's a relief to hear that you were up walking and out of the hospital so quickly. Congratulations on the 56 lbs! My starting BMI is pretty close to yours. I'm 5'5" and heavier than you started at. Getting to 204 would be WONDERFUL! I know lapband is slower than gastric - part of the reason I chose it. How is your skin? And I've heard a lot about hair loss. Although judging from your picture, your hair is fine. I will definately watch some of your videos on youtube. THANKS for the link. I'm pretty excited about the changes. I know I have great will power but also know there will be moments when I will struggle. Did you tell many people you were getting banded? How are peoples reactions to you? Sorry for the 20 questions... i'm just really curious. Thanks again!

My hair is really thick. It did thin a little but never had a bald spot or anything. Just kept sweeping it up. It did freak me out a little but honestly it wasn't that much. Plus I started taking Biotin and it stopped. I am no longer on the biotin and the shedding never returned. I didn't tell many people for the first 10 months. My doc encouraged me to tell people so they could encourage me. I told my entire class (24) and they were amazed. They are also very supportive. They stopped offering me fattening foods and tell me how great I am doing. Only one nay sayer but he was on youtube. I don't feel that this is cheating because I don't belive this is a game. It was my life or death. My skin is just the same as preop. I already had sagging belly from being pregnant. My arms aren't really sagging either. Some people do make it through without the sag. I may save up for a tummy tuck though. Kinda as a reward for turning my life around. 5 years ago I couldn't get out of bed. Now I am in nursing school and losing weight, running. It feels great to be alive again. I love my new life and I haven't even reached goal yet. I can't imagine where I will be then.

My hair is really thick. It did thin a little but never had a bald spot or anything. Just kept sweeping it up. It did freak me out a little but honestly it wasn't that much. Plus I started taking Biotin and it stopped. I am no longer on the biotin and the shedding never returned. I didn't tell many people for the first 10 months. My doc encouraged me to tell people so they could encourage me. I told my entire class (24) and they were amazed. They are also very supportive. They stopped offering me fattening foods and tell me how great I am doing. Only one nay sayer but he was on youtube. I don't feel that this is cheating because I don't belive this is a game. It was my life or death. My skin is just the same as preop. I already had sagging belly from being pregnant. My arms aren't really sagging either. Some people do make it through without the sag. I may save up for a tummy tuck though. Kinda as a reward for turning my life around. 5 years ago I couldn't get out of bed. Now I am in nursing school and losing weight, running. It feels great to be alive again. I love my new life and I haven't even reached goal yet. I can't imagine where I will be then.

My hair is really thick too - but fine. I lose a lot on a normal day. My sister does my hair so I'm sure she will keep on top of it. I'll just have to have her watch for signs. I've watched some of your vlogs. Great information. I'll finish this in a personal convo.