i have been thinking about when i get my band and lose the weight i need to, its gonna change everything. i cant think of myself being a normal size i have alway been big the odd one out its gonna be so strange. so how did everyone ajust to being thinner then you were... ps sorry if my spelling is bad.

That's funny, I just had a moment yesterday and I thought about being thin. Now don't get me wrong, I'll be glad but all I could think was... "I'm not gonna be me anymore" Almost got a little sad. I have been heavy since I was a child, I've had a wonderful life with wonderful friends and family and I have never let my weight effect my life or the things I did, or my career etc. (so I think ...) For a "brief" momment... I missed me. My life will definately be very, very different. Good Luck to you, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made... so glad I did it!

That's funny, I just had a moment yesterday and I thought about being thin. Now don't get me wrong, I'll be glad but all I could think was... "I'm not gonna be me anymore" Almost got a little sad. I have been heavy since I was a child, I've had a wonderful life with wonderful friends and family and I have never let my weight effect my life or the things I did, or my career etc. (so I think ...) For a "brief" momment... I missed me. My life will definately be very, very different. Good Luck to you, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made... so glad I did it!

i know what u mean i too have not let my weight rule my life i still do what thinner people do but i do it in my own way, i am finding out my date of the opp in the next week or so, so i getting really nervus but also excited at the same time i know i am not going to regret the decision to have it done for one min... i think i am thinking about it to much..

It's a great adjustment! Though I'm only down a total of about 70 pounds (after regaining 30 and then losing 43), it's kind of sad how differently people treat you. There is definite discrimination out there against larger people. More people talk to me and men are hysterical. I was even asked if my wedding ring was a decoy ring!!! I looked at him, in WaWa by the way, and said what is a decoy ring? He explained some women wear rings because they get hit on a lot. I just laughed and said, I'm very happily married. My husband got a kick out of it when I told him! Of course, he then was a wee bit jealous and said if he knows that and you're trying to avoid being hit on, why would he even ask? I just laughed and told him he was very cute being jealous.

What's really great is being able to fit comfortably in airplane seats, baggy clothes that were once tight, fitting easily in a regular bathroom stall, and the look my husband gets in his eyes when he catches a glimpse of me in something new or sexy! I still have a ways to go but I'm feeling good about myself and know you will feel great about yourself soon.

All the luck in the world to you as you begin your journey!

It's a great adjustment! Though I'm only down a total of about 70 pounds (after regaining 30 and then losing 43), it's kind of sad how differently people treat you. There is definite discrimination out there against larger people. More people talk to me and men are hysterical. I was even asked if my wedding ring was a decoy ring!!! I looked at him, in WaWa by the way, and said what is a decoy ring? He explained some women wear rings because they get hit on a lot. I just laughed and said, I'm very happily married. My husband got a kick out of it when I told him! Of course, he then was a wee bit jealous and said if he knows that and you're trying to avoid being hit on, why would he even ask? I just laughed and told him he was very cute being jealous.

What's really great is being able to fit comfortably in airplane seats, baggy clothes that were once tight, fitting easily in a regular bathroom stall, and the look my husband gets in his eyes when he catches a glimpse of me in something new or sexy! I still have a ways to go but I'm feeling good about myself and know you will feel great about yourself soon.

All the luck in the world to you as you begin your journey!

You all have so much to look forward to! I have been at or past my original goal weight since August. I'm not stick thin (in a size 8), but am very happy to be in single digits instead of a tight 28. Unlike a couple of you, my weight affected almost every aspect of my life. How I related to other people, what I've done, what I haven't done, and it underminded my self-esteem and confidence. Much of that has changed. I am overall a much happier person, and for once in my life I feel good about myself.

It's fun now to shop, I don't worry either about fitting in chairs, the seat belts on airplanes, and the person nobody wants to sit by in a crowded seminar because I overflow onto their seat. I am so much more active, used to sweat like crazy and am now usually cold or need a sweater (I'm talking in the summer). I've enjoyed the compliments, the positive attention from others, and feeling like I "fit in". That was the one thing I really wanted. To feel like I was normal and fit in. And that was the main reason I gave my surgeon about having the procedure other than to be healthier and hopefully have a longer, better chance at a quality of life. I wanted my weight to no longer be an issue. That I realize may never be as easy as I want it to, but it definitely is something I can manage now with the band. I have a sense of control that I've never had before and that has meant the world in terms of keeping sane while trying to maintain.

I wish all of you the very best in your journey and hope you enjoy all the amazing things that you will feel and experience along the way. And if nobody ever says it to you, I'm proud of you all for doing something to make yourself healthier and have a better quality of life. Be proud of your accomplishments along the way...you've earned it!

I think I understand . . .only for me, "feeling normal" was "being big" --big child, big teenager, big momma, then fat momma! Five years ago I got banded and without any of the complications here, lost about 5-10 pounds a month (1-2 pounds a year) and one day I was 100 pounds less --242 to 142 --I'm 5'9. There were some psychological changes too --I called my doctor's nurse (I only saw him for the six fills and one unfill --then he died) --because I was worried I'd starve to death --she said that fear was normal, about the time you start feeling bones under your skin, you start worrying about "what if I can't stop" --but "we're here" she said and assured me I wouldn't starve to death.

One day in the mall, I saw an attractive woman and thought how I had a similar shirt --only it WAS me in a mirror! ME! and I thought I was attractive!!! Until then, I avoided looking at my reflection . . .

And size by size I went down. And down. And down.

When I hit the weight I wanted, I got a face lift, dyed my hair platinum blonde and got rid of EVERY stitch of clothing I owned "before" I sold every sinlge thing on ebay or gave to Good will ---then I bought underware at Victoria's Secret, clothes from ebay and Goodwill --but with labels from Gap and TAlbots --as high end as I could afford and find and I bought NEW SHOES (my feet shrank too) with HIGH HEELS.

I wear makeup every day!!

Do I feel normal? Heck NO! I feel great!!!

:-)

I love the answers you bandsters have given. I sooo am looking forward to being "banded" I had my initial consult on monday and I'm loving her. Tho another bariatric surgeon interrupted our consult to tell me he felt the band was a "mistake and people only lose about 30lbs with the band" I had to tell him i'm well aware of results with the band. How I know it's not a magic bullet, i've done my homework and the band is what I have decided on. Needless to say he disagreed but I had to let him know, your opinion is not only unwanted it's unrequired. I'm so thankful he isn't my dr! lol