Tonight it seems boring here. Lets all tell each other about ourselves. I am 50 years old, graphic designer for a printing company. Been married for 30½ years to a great man. have a 29 year old son, great-daughter-in-law, two little Granddaughters both blond hair, blue eyes and both left handed like my son, they are 4 and 2. I see them almost everyday. I have 2 little doggies that I love so much they are 13 and 12 years old. I suffer with clinical depression and anxiety, so I am pretty much at home all the time. In July I will have been banded 2 years down 84 lbs. No real problems at all.

Cheri

Nice to meet you, Cheri. I am 56, married for almost 30 years, two children, one grandson, seven cats, four dogs, two horses. Banded almost 14 months with a weight loss of 53 pounds. I make my living through equal parts writing, teaching dance and art, and acting for a local historical reenactment group (yes, I get paid for acting! )

My favorite leisure pursuits involve horses, motorcycles, walking, reading, sewing, embroidery, and gardening,

Cheri, my depression/anxiety/arthritis pain were all greatly relieved by Cymbalta, a prescription drug. It enables me to live a kind of life I never expected to enjoy. I wish you equal relief from your own struggles with the Big D and A.

Hello!

I'm Marcy. I turn 36 next month. I have three little boys ages 7, 6, and 3 1/2. My husband and I have been married almost 9 years. We have 2 English Mastiffs, 3 cats, a guinea pig & a hamster and are looking at maybe adding a pig. I've been a registered nurse for 16 years and specialize in labor & delivery. Our family loves being outdoors, camping, and just playing. We live on 3 acres in the woods in the foothills of the Cascade mountains (we're leasing a home for 3 years but may end up buying). Hmm...I also love to read, cook/bake, and my goaal of losing weight is to improve my health, the health of our kids (thru example) and to honor God by treating my body like I know He would want me to.

I'm Erin! I'm 33 and I'm married with 3 children, ages 16, 14 and 7. I am married to my high school sweetheart (but we didn't get married until 2003!) We have amazing two dachshunds and until recently we had a chinchilla but she passed away.

I am the Membership Director/Director On Duty of our local YMCA. I love my job! We are a service branch and I feel blessed and lucky to be in a job where I get to help people every single day!

My teenagers keep me busy. This is the first year in a very long time that I haven't coached Pop Warner cheerleading (my daughter will be cheering for the high school this next football season!) and I also coach a swim team in the summer. Sometimes, I help coach beginner gymnastics for fun.

The Y keeps our family busy and active but that hasn't stopped me from battling my weight. I grew up skinny but since I've been an adult, I've battled and battled and battled until finally I decided I wasn't going to battle it by myself any more! This is why I chose lapband. I feel confident that it's going to be my safety net and catch me when I begin to fall and start making bad food choices.

I just recently was banded in March but I already can tell that the changes I'm making will last a lifetime!

We live in Sunny Florida, so I just got home from the beach with my girls and my older daughter's best friend. We had a blast! I love living in Florida. I love going to the beach and my other TRUE obsession is DISNEY! I love theme parks and the Disney parks are a definite favorite and very special to my whole family.

I also play the piano and LOVE LOVE LOVE music. I have 5 piercings and 2 tattoos. I used to have 9 piercings but I needed to present a more professional image at work and took out the visible ones!

I also ride a little scooter and I LOVE it. My husband thinks I need a motorcycle like him, but I'm more of a scooter princess. It's a lifestyle, I swear it!

I am also obsessed with Facebook so if you like it, too - feel free to add me! www.facebook.com/scooterprincess or erinjoleen@hotmail.com

That's basically me! I look forward to getting to know you guys. It really helps to know other people who are experiencing the same journey! It makes me feel less crazy

I'll go next...

My name is Renee. I am a 41 year old mother of three teenaged daughters and have been married to my best friend for close to 21 years.

My oldest daughter is 18, will be graduating this year and will be moving on to college. My other two will be a freshman and a senior in high school. My hobbies seem to revolve around them. I watch a lot of softball right now, but have done my fair share of cheering on volleyball, the junior high cheerleaders, and our high school musical over the last school year. I also teach math at our high school and my husband teaches science there as well.

When I am NOT totally centered on school, kids, and hubby, I like to camp, hike, and letterbox. I enjoy reading trashy romance (Nora Roberts, Jude Devereaux, Iris Johanson, Sandra Brown), but haven't done much of it recently. Recently, I have begun working out and try to hit the gym 3-4 times a week. I am also a Facebook/Farmville (the Facebook game for old people per my 17yo dd) junkie.

I, too, was a skinny mini kid who could eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Unfortunately, my body changed, but my habits didn't. My weight became a pretty constant battle for the last 15 years. I was working toward getting banded about 4 years ago and ran into too many roadblocks, so it didn't happen and I gave up. This time around things just seemed to fall into place and I was banded in December. I am down a total of 65 pounds since August and 56 since starting my pre-op diet in November. I have about 25 left to go to reach a "healthy" BMI.

I am extremely pleased with my decision to get banded. I think I was mentally ready for it and the fact that everything went so fast this time really helped me fly past the 2nd thoughts. My initial consult was the day before Thanksgiving and my surgery was 12/16. Fortunately, I didn't have to jump through all the hoops because I had done it previously and was already being treated for sleep apnea, cholesterol, plantar fasciitis, asthma, etc. My insurance did not pay for the band, but they did pay for the hiatal hernia repair, so I was only partially self-pay and was able to do it in the states (chickened out of going to Mexico the first time around).

Well, that's me in a nutshell. Happy to meet all of you!

**oops, can't believe I forgot to mention our SEVEN dachshunds! Yes, I love the breed, but only one of them is mine. Each member of the family has at least one and my husband and one daughter each have two. They are definitely our spoiled babies**

Thsisme here! 52 years of age...one of the lucky ones to be retiring at the age of 53 and looking forward to re-starting a new career after my husband and I of 12 years travel a bit and get re-settled in where ever we decide will be our retirement location. We have 5 children 3 girls and 2 boys or should I say women and men as their age ranges from 25-34. We have three grand babies 2 grand daughters and one grandson all of whom live up in Alaska (sigh)....

I am a workaholic and am extremely passionate about my job as a nurse. Our current children in the house consists of 1 cat rescued from the dumpster, 1 dog rescued from a person who gave her third degree burns and last but not least a bottom feeder fish whom I found in our youngest's bedroom under a bunch of clothing after she had left the house. This fish has out lasted all of his neighbor fishies and I don't think will ever go to fish heaven.

I have been obese all of my life and am a life long failed dieter. I made the lapband choice due to the fact that I simply could not wrap my head around moving body parts or removing them as the case may be..and felt better about inserting a piece of silicone/plastic into my body to assist me in loosing the weight which had become a health hazard. I wanted to be free of pain, I wanted to walk a few miles without being so short of breath that I wondered if I was going to faint, most of all I want to be around to enjoy the grand babies, and the things that I have worked so hard to achieve and after 2 failed marriages, I thought it would be nice to hang around until God calls me home to be with the person whom I like most in this world.

I 've only had my band for approx. 8 months now, but have not regretted a day! My weight loss has slowed as expected, but thanks to this site and my surgeon, I was prepared for it and actually had some good ideas of what to experiement with in order to shake the weight loss into losing rather than plateauing while maintaining my sanity. (what little of it that I have left)

Thsisme, or at least partially who I am....

My name is Danika and I'm 21. I had lap band surgery in january of this year and along with the pre-op diet have lost 46lbs as of today. I have an 18 month old son and I'm currently in cosmetology school... =) it's my passion. I am engaged to my sons father and we've been together for four years. I spend my free time with my son and doing homework or housework, haha. every tuesday I go to karaoke in my town with a few friends as well. I'm so excited about my weight loss and my wedding. In September I will be getting married and I hope to be around 135 lbs by then!

Hi my name is Susan. I am 46 years old and I have been overweight since 1991 when I had breast cancer at the age of 26. I also miscarried a baby at the same time and instead of dealing with it I turned to drugs and food. I have been clean for over 15 years and am ready to get on with my life. I am a member of an order in the Catholic church called the Franciscans. But we are a secular order so I live in my own home and work a regular job with a great company called National Instruments. I have taken private vows so I am considered married in eyes of the Church. I'm a diabetic and it was getting harder to get my blood sugar under control. I've been saving for retirement and I wanted to actually retire some day. I Alamo own an antique store with my parents and love auctions. I trained for 5 years as a bookbinder and also make a little money binding editions and repairing books. If you want to see what I do try Made in Smithville on facebook. I live in a small town where Hope Floats the movie was made and we have two new movies coming out soon, Tree of Life with Brad Pitt and Doonby with Jphn Sneider coming out in next month or so. Everyone knows I had lap band surgery. I had to tell them or they would make something up. My mother once went to emergency room for what turned to be indigestion but the rumor was that she had secretly gone to Austin for heart surgery. Better to tell them what is really going on. I was banded 2 weeks ago and have lost 31 lbs since my first dr appt and 15 since surgery. I have 2 cats and a dog. I am very close to my sister and her 4 kids, literally, they live down the street!

O.K., I'll try this,, I'm Shirley: I have been Banded for 5 yrs. this Halloween I lost over 120lbs in a year, but do to complications from the Doctor, I gained it all back except around 20lbs.. I found a new place to go to, and turned out there was nothing wrong with the band, just lousy aftercare,

So I am back on a new journey, that I look forward to going threw, because I am more knowledgeable now. So it's day by day, and enjoying life...

I am 56 yrs young, married 35 yrs., 2 sons, and 2 Grandsons, and 3 Dogs. 2 of them are BOXERS, and a Bull Mastidor. (THAT"S A BULL MASTIFF MIXED WITH A LAB.) We live in Northern, Michigan and are Retired.

I am also a chocolate Lady, Cake Lady, and I make a lot of Fudge. (I USE TOO)

My days of taste testing are done. It is to fattening, but I did specialise in sugar free Chocolates, and LIQUORED CORDIALS. I can remember when I was learning, we were making cordials, if they weren't good enough to sell, they were called eaters ! One after another got ate, and we got loopy, and I called it quits till the next day. From that point on,,, I gave a label in the box that said: DO NOT EAT AND DRIVE, YOU WILL GET BUSTED ! That was very true.

I'm waiting for a good year when I can do Craft shows with all the colored chocolates. Especially Halloween. Kids love it ! I will take a white skull, and with brushes and colors of chocolate, and paint. So I will crack his skull Red Blood, Stitch it up Black Chocolate. or do a Monster in Green, and stitch him up too.

That's all Freelance in Arts, and I love doing it. I hope this fall will be a better year to enquire about Craft Shows.

I meet my new surgeon next week. He was trained by my old surgeon. I hope we get along, and I get a fill. I have 2.5cc in a 4cc band.

I am a workaholic and am extremely passionate about my job as a nurse. Our current children in the house consists of 1 cat rescued from the dumpster, 1 dog rescued from a person who gave her third degree burns and last but not least a bottom feeder fish whom I found in our youngest's bedroom under a bunch of clothing after she had left the house. This fish has out lasted all of his neighbor fishies and I don't think will ever go to fish heaven.

Whaaa? Was it in a bowl of Water under a pile of clothes? And for how long until you found it? When I first read this, I thought you were saying you found it on the ground, out of water and under a pile of clothes, and that it survived.

I'll go next...

My name is Renee. I am a 41 year old mother of three teenaged daughters and have been married to my best friend for close to 21 years.

My oldest daughter is 18, will be graduating this year and will be moving on to college. My other two will be a freshman and a senior in high school. My hobbies seem to revolve around them. I watch a lot of softball right now, but have done my fair share of cheering on volleyball, the junior high cheerleaders, and our high school musical over the last school year. I also teach math at our high school and my husband teaches science there as well.

When I am NOT totally centered on school, kids, and hubby, I like to camp, hike, and letterbox. I enjoy reading trashy romance (Nora Roberts, Jude Devereaux, Iris Johanson, Sandra Brown), but haven't done much of it recently. Recently, I have begun working out and try to hit the gym 3-4 times a week. I am also a Facebook/Farmville (the Facebook game for old people per my 17yo dd) junkie.

I, too, was a skinny mini kid who could eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Unfortunately, my body changed, but my habits didn't. My weight became a pretty constant battle for the last 15 years. I was working toward getting banded about 4 years ago and ran into too many roadblocks, so it didn't happen and I gave up. This time around things just seemed to fall into place and I was banded in December. I am down a total of 65 pounds since August and 56 since starting my pre-op diet in November. I have about 25 left to go to reach a "healthy" BMI.

I am extremely pleased with my decision to get banded. I think I was mentally ready for it and the fact that everything went so fast this time really helped me fly past the 2nd thoughts. My initial consult was the day before Thanksgiving and my surgery was 12/16. Fortunately, I didn't have to jump through all the hoops because I had done it previously and was already being treated for sleep apnea, cholesterol, plantar fasciitis, asthma, etc. My insurance did not pay for the band, but they did pay for the hiatal hernia repair, so I was only partially self-pay and was able to do it in the states (chickened out of going to Mexico the first time around).

Well, that's me in a nutshell. Happy to meet all of you!

**oops, can't believe I forgot to mention our SEVEN dachshunds! Yes, I love the breed, but only one of them is mine. Each member of the family has at least one and my husband and one daughter each have two. They are definitely our spoiled babies**

They are the best, ever, aren't they!? I love my dachshunds. The one I was closest to passed away last October and I just haven't been the same since. It was like losing a child and yes, I have children! They are just so sweet and baby-like! <3

It's very nice to meet you!

O.K., I'll try this,, I'm Shirley: I have been Banded for 5 yrs. this Halloween I lost over 120lbs in a year, but do to complications from the Doctor, I gained it all back except around 20lbs.. I found a new place to go to, and turned out there was nothing wrong with the band, just lousy aftercare,

So I am back on a new journey, that I look forward to going threw, because I am more knowledgeable now. So it's day by day, and enjoying life...

I am 56 yrs young, married 35 yrs., 2 sons, and 2 Grandsons, and 3 Dogs. 2 of them are BOXERS. We live in Northern, Michigan and are Retired.

I am also a chocolate Lady, Cake Lady, and I make a lot of Fudge. (I USE TOO)

My days of taste testing are done. It is to fattening, but I did specialise in sugar free Chocolates, and LIQUORED CORDIALS. I can remember when I was learning, we were making cordials, if they weren't good enough to sell, they were called eaters ! One after another, we got loopy, and I called it quits till the next day. From that point on,,, I gave a label in the box that said: DO NOT EAT AND DRIVE, YOU WILL GET BUSTED ! That was very true.

I'm waiting for a good year when I can do Craft shows with all the colored chocolates. Especially Halloween. Kids love it ! I will take a white skull, and with brushes and colors paint. So I will crack his skull Red Blood, Stitch it up Black Chocolate. or do a Monster in Green, and stitch him up too.

That's all Freelance in Arts, and I love doing it. I hope this fall will be a better year to enquire about Craft Shows.

I meet my new surgeon next week. He was trained by my old surgeon. I hope we get along, and I get a fill. I have 2.5cc in a 4cc band.

I just wanted to say that I love Chocolate!!! Good luck on your second time around with your journey! I think you're gonna be a super star!

I just wanted to say that I love Chocolate!!! Good luck on your second time around with your journey! I think you're gonna be a super star!

WOWWW ! ! ! I don't know about that,,,, but I sure will try to shine.

Thank You...

Shirley.

They are the best, ever, aren't they!? I love my dachshunds. The one I was closest to passed away last October and I just haven't been the same since. It was like losing a child and yes, I have children! They are just so sweet and baby-like! <3

It's very nice to meet you!

LOVE LOVE LOVE my babies!!! They have such personalities and we love watching them play tricks on each other. We have had to learn NOT to give them bones, though. Even if they each have their own, they start fighting over them. Two of them are in time-out right now as a result. Just like children.

Nice to meet you, too!

HI! My name is Amy I am from TEXAS!! I am 26 and have been married for almost 2 1/2 years to my best friend! We have a very spoiled pug named Jax and a german sheppard mix named Duke, they are our babies! I am a student at Tarleton State University studying to be an elementary teacher! I absolutely love it! I will graduate next May and I can't wait! I have a degree in Architechtural drafting I loved drafting but I hated sitting at a desk for 9 hours a day! I have been over weight all my life... I am 5 feet tall, but I have always had an athletic build so I never looked as big as I really was... since 2007 i had a horrible reaction to poison ivy, I have not been able to keep weight off so i have steadily been gaining weight like nobodies business! where as I used to stay around the same range... but since then I have gone from about 180 up to 240... i have done numerous diets/workouts/bootcamps you name it ive probably done it... but it just wont stay off! So I decided to go the lapband route! I have been banded for 18 days and I could not be happier! I have lost a total of 16lbs so far and looking forward to losing much more! My hobbies include playing with my dogs, scrapbooking, crafts, taking pictures, and being outside. Well thats me in a nut shell! Its good to meet everyone and good luck on your journey!

HI! My name is Amy I am from TEXAS!! I am 26 and have been married for almost 2 1/2 years to my best friend! We have a very spoiled pug named Jax and a german sheppard mix named Duke, they are our babies! I am a student at Tarleton State University studying to be an elementary teacher! I absolutely love it! I will graduate next May and I can't wait! I have a degree in Architechtural drafting I loved drafting but I hated sitting at a desk for 9 hours a day! I have been over weight all my life... I am 5 feet tall, but I have always had an athletic build so I never looked as big as I really was... since 2007 i had a horrible reaction to poison ivy, I have not been able to keep weight off so i have steadily been gaining weight like nobodies business! where as I used to stay around the same range... but since then I have gone from about 180 up to 240... i have done numerous diets/workouts/bootcamps you name it ive probably done it... but it just wont stay off! So I decided to go the lapband route! I have been banded for 18 days and I could not be happier! I have lost a total of 16lbs so far and looking forward to losing much more! My hobbies include playing with my dogs, scrapbooking, crafts, taking pictures, and being outside. Well thats me in a nut shell! Its good to meet everyone and good luck on your journey!

I love how people from Texas are like I'm from TEXAS!! It really must be the coolest state, ever! <3

I think us March Bandsters have this!! Don't you? WE're so gonna rock it!