This has been the best 6 months of my life (as far as successful weight loss goes)! I have been given this excellent man made piece of machinery and it has enabled me to take control of my life! I could have NEVER lost 80 pounds in 6 months without the band and I thank God for the gift he has given me. I've been fat all my life and now I really feel like I have the opportunity to not be anymore! The hunger beast has been tremendously tamed with the use of my lapband. I can remember 6 months ago I was so scared to get this procedure done and wondering if I would be successful and if I could follow the "rules". I constantly dreaded the thought of eating something and throwing up. I'm glad to report that I have never thrown up! Recovery was hell, perhaps because I had a hernia repair as well and I doubted myself for making such an extreme decision, but I knew I needed help. Help is all the lapband is. I have control over food it no longer has control over me. I choose to make smart decisions when it comes to food. I also like to treat myself from time to time. I live in the south, so there is a plethora of good cooking and treats everywhere. Sometimes I mourn over the loss of tasty food every day, but I know that it is the best thing for me. I even envy those people that can eat whatever they want and not gain an ounce. I pray that I can continue down this path of successful weight loss. I know that it will only get tougher as time goes on, but I have some tricks up my sleeve to get over plateaus. I originally had a 6 month goal of 94 lbs. lost, but it's only been 80 lbs. I am still happy for that. I have some more lofty goals. I want to be 230 by my b-day in Sept., under 200 by my 1 year bandiversary, and at goal by my fiancée’s graduation (May 2012). I have great optimism and put in the hard work, counting calories, exercising, drinking Water, and turning down dessert when I go out to eat or tasty office treats, etc. I encourage everyone to share their experiences and ask questions. Also, I wish all my fellow bandsters much success in their journeys. I know the road along the way is full of bumps, roadblocks, trials, tribulations, and maybe even some dead ends, but it will be all worth it once we get to where we are going!

Me fat and happy in July 2010. 320+ lbs. (I stopped weighing myself after that).

Me playing in the dressing room a couple of days ago. 268 lbs. -80 lbs. since pre-op diet

Just threw in another pic I like a lil' better!

Wow! What an awesome accomplishment!! I haven't really ost much since my surgery a month ago. When did you feel restriction? How many fills did you have? I hope I can boast about my weight loss in another 5 months!

Wow! What an awesome accomplishment!! I haven't really ost much since my surgery a month ago. When did you feel restriction? How many fills did you have? I hope I can boast about my weight loss in another 5 months!

It's so funny that you say that. I see newbies (although I don't consider myself an old timer by any means) posting every other day they are not losing anything or they gained weight shortly after surgery. If it hadn't been for this board I would have been posting those same things! The first two weeks when I was on liquids and mushies I lost so much weight because I didn't have an appetite, but when I went back to regular foods I gained 4 lbs. one week and 2 lbs. another. I wouldn't stress out about not losing much after 1 month, especially if you are a "lightweight". I started exercising about a month after the surgery and it makes all the difference in the world. I started walking at a walking trail that goes in a figure 8. When I first started I couldn't even walk half that figure 8. My back was hurting so bad. Now, I can jog on the treadmill at 4 mph for 5 minutes straight. Never thought I would see that day, even in my slimmer days (215 lbs.). I've had 4 fills. My first was 1.4 CCs and I think the other 3 were 1 CC, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I have restriction because that means different things to different people, but the hunger beast has been tamed. My last fill did the trick. At first I was like dang I need another fill, but since it's 4 hours away I had trouble going back and the more I thought about it I said it doesn't make sense to go back if I'm truly not hungry, so make sure you don't overdo it with fills and keep your head hunger in check. Good luck!

YOU LOOK FANTASTIC! I am 2 weeks post op and you are an inspiration

You look great!! I had a tough recovery also. And was wondering what I got myself into. Now I am just over 1 week out from the surgery and slowly starting to recover. Still hurts to move but better each day! Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration!!

You look great!! I had a tough recovery also. And was wondering what I got myself into. Now I am just over 1 week out from the surgery and slowly starting to recover. Still hurts to move but better each day! Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration!!

Oh mine was bad. I didn't want to drink the first week. The Protein drinks made me gag and Water hurt my throat. I couldn't lay down in the bed. I was forced to the couch. I was so drugged up I kept having weird dreams, but it has all been worth it. You will see...