I promised myself, that when I hit a year, I'd post a "success" story.

A year ago today, I lay in the "big" hospital bed at 274 pounds and completely miserable. The two days prior to surgery were the worst ever. I called my Dr's nurse the morning of surgery and told her "I think I need to cancel, I can't do this." She told me that she wasn't going to listen to me and that she expected to see me at the hospital in a few hours.

I'm so glad I did. There are very very few things in my life that I'm more happy about than my decision to have Lapband surgery.

I was 32 and miserable. Couldn't stand to look at myself, even more, couldn't stand to have my husband look at me. We got together when we were 17. I was fit then, always the bigger girl, but very active. Softball, cross country, track, etc. Almost immediately after HS, the weight just piled on. When we got married at 20, my wedding dress was a size 16. I hated my wedding photos, they are horrible. To this day, very few people have actually seen them. I still have them in proof form, in a box underneath my desk. I have no pictures of my wedding out on display. For that matter, I have very few pictures of myself in the last 14 years.

We have two kids, two boys, who are very active. It was so hard to want to do anything with them. My husband, thank goodness, is one of those people who could eat the world and couldn't weigh more than 160 if he tried. So, while I always took the pictures or sat on the sidelines, they had the fun.

I spent my 20's with no sexual drive whatsoever. I was disgusted with myself. If I couldn't even look at myself, how could my husband want to. It made him sad, he always said he didn't see me the way I did. I couldn't believe him.

So, after three years of research, I initially tried to get the band in 2007. My insurance changed at year end and no longer covered it. So scratch that. In 2010, I went to my GP and he asked if I'd thought about it. Yeah yeah, I did, but insurance. He encouraged me to call and check again. Unbeknownst to me, they covered it again. I cried and cried and cried. That was in Feb 2010. I quickly researched the two Dr's that I had chosen and decided on one. Went to the seminar, got my 6 month supervised diet in, all the other pre-req's and next thing I knew, I'm laying in the hospital bed seriously thinking I shouldn't be doing this.

Recovery was HARD, not hard hard, but not what I expected. The first week, I was sure that this was the worst decision I had ever made. Only a clinically insane person would put themselves through this, I was sure of it. However, things started getting better. I was losing weight and I was losing it quickly.

When I was around 3 weeks post op, I started walking/running. Eventually, I was running a mile, then two, then three. I was actually able to RUN and ENJOY it!!!

There have been some bumps along the way. Mainly mental. Around September, I was sure I was going insane. I was okay, but, it wasn't until then, that I actually realized my crutch, my addiction, was food. I was going through a "detox", lol. It made me for one very very grouchy and irritable woman.

I believe, I finally hit onederland on December 8th. 75 pounds gone since July 29th, a little over 4 months. By the end of 2010, I was down 80-85 pounds. Now, today, I'm down 106 pounds. I still have 15-20 pounds until I reach goal but I'm happy. I'm so happy! I'm plateaued, but I'm happy.

I run 5k's WITH my kids and husband now. I have energy. I'm the person, I think I always knew was inside of me.

Make no bones about it, it is difficult. It is a huge mental mind screw. There are days I look in the mirror and I don't see me now. I see me as I was a year ago. It's hard. But there are days, I look in the mirror, with the biggest smile on my face and I see me as I am now. I've made it and I've done it.

Hugs to everyone who does this journey. It's well worth it.

I was going to post some pics from my gallery, but they were insanely too big.

Here is the link. http://www.lapbandta.../7195-new-pics/

Congrats! on your loss and your bandaversary! Mine is coming up on the 23rd.

CONGRATS!

Great post, Twinkles. You've done an awesome job. Congrats and good luck with reaching goal. That really is the hardest part.

I'm at work going through story after story...still on the fence about what to do. Then, I come upon your story. I'm at my desk with tears down my face. I, without a doubt, know my answer is yes. Yes, I want to do this. Yes, I want to feel the way you feel. Your inspiring and I applaud you for your success....and hope I can be in your place one day, helping someone make a wonderful decision like I am going to do.

Thank you!

I'm at work going through story after story...still on the fence about what to do. Then, I come upon your story. I'm at my desk with tears down my face. I, without a doubt, know my answer is yes. Yes, I want to do this. Yes, I want to feel the way you feel. Your inspiring and I applaud you for your success....and hope I can be in your place one day, helping someone make a wonderful decision like I am going to do.

Thank you!

Thank you for the kind words and I'm happy that my success has had an impact on your decision. It is a tough decision but one that I don't regret at all.

*hugs*

I am so happy for you and you have done such an amazing job! You are truly an inspiration. It takes a lot, a lot of hard work to get where you are now. i just hope that I will get there someday too. Thanks for the post!

amazing!!!

you are so adorable. love that yellow shirt.

I'm into the last 10lbs, too. just gotta stay the course. you are doing so great

congrats!

This was so inspiring ! I'm only 23 and I'm worried to death about being banded next year, while I feel scared and not quite sure about it now, I know getting rid of the feeling I have when I see myself in a public dressing room now will outweigh any worries. you look amazing and I can't believe you've come so far in just one year ! :]] Congrats

I promised myself, that when I hit a year, I'd post a "success" story.

A year ago today, I lay in the "big" hospital bed at 274 pounds and completely miserable. The two days prior to surgery were the worst ever. I called my Dr's nurse the morning of surgery and told her "I think I need to cancel, I can't do this." She told me that she wasn't going to listen to me and that she expected to see me at the hospital in a few hours.

I'm so glad I did. There are very very few things in my life that I'm more happy about than my decision to have Lapband surgery.

I was 32 and miserable. Couldn't stand to look at myself, even more, couldn't stand to have my husband look at me. We got together when we were 17. I was fit then, always the bigger girl, but very active. Softball, cross country, track, etc. Almost immediately after HS, the weight just piled on. When we got married at 20, my wedding dress was a size 16. I hated my wedding photos, they are horrible. To this day, very few people have actually seen them. I still have them in proof form, in a box underneath my desk. I have no pictures of my wedding out on display. For that matter, I have very few pictures of myself in the last 14 years.

We have two kids, two boys, who are very active. It was so hard to want to do anything with them. My husband, thank goodness, is one of those people who could eat the world and couldn't weigh more than 160 if he tried. So, while I always took the pictures or sat on the sidelines, they had the fun.

I spent my 20's with no sexual drive whatsoever. I was disgusted with myself. If I couldn't even look at myself, how could my husband want to. It made him sad, he always said he didn't see me the way I did. I couldn't believe him.

So, after three years of research, I initially tried to get the band in 2007. My insurance changed at year end and no longer covered it. So scratch that. In 2010, I went to my GP and he asked if I'd thought about it. Yeah yeah, I did, but insurance. He encouraged me to call and check again. Unbeknownst to me, they covered it again. I cried and cried and cried. That was in Feb 2010. I quickly researched the two Dr's that I had chosen and decided on one. Went to the seminar, got my 6 month supervised diet in, all the other pre-req's and next thing I knew, I'm laying in the hospital bed seriously thinking I shouldn't be doing this.

Recovery was HARD, not hard hard, but not what I expected. The first week, I was sure that this was the worst decision I had ever made. Only a clinically insane person would put themselves through this, I was sure of it. However, things started getting better. I was losing weight and I was losing it quickly.

When I was around 3 weeks post op, I started walking/running. Eventually, I was running a mile, then two, then three. I was actually able to RUN and ENJOY it!!!

There have been some bumps along the way. Mainly mental. Around September, I was sure I was going insane. I was okay, but, it wasn't until then, that I actually realized my crutch, my addiction, was food. I was going through a "detox", lol. It made me for one very very grouchy and irritable woman.

I believe, I finally hit onederland on December 8th. 75 pounds gone since July 29th, a little over 4 months. By the end of 2010, I was down 80-85 pounds. Now, today, I'm down 106 pounds. I still have 15-20 pounds until I reach goal but I'm happy. I'm so happy! I'm plateaued, but I'm happy.

I run 5k's WITH my kids and husband now. I have energy. I'm the person, I think I always knew was inside of me.

Make no bones about it, it is difficult. It is a huge mental mind screw. There are days I look in the mirror and I don't see me now. I see me as I was a year ago. It's hard. But there are days, I look in the mirror, with the biggest smile on my face and I see me as I am now. I've made it and I've done it.

Hugs to everyone who does this journey. It's well worth it.

I was going to post some pics from my gallery, but they were insanely too big.

Here is the link. http://www.lapbandta.../7195-new-pics/

CONGRATS!!!! What a great story!!! I am so happy for you!! I have to agree, this was the best decsion I have also made!!! It is some work, but that is why I am happy with the Band... this is going to have to be life change... not a quick fix!!... I am 5 months into my journey, and am down 45 lbs!... couldn't be HAPPIER!

My only regret is I didn't do it 2 years sooner!!!... I have a complete change in heart with myself... started my journey at 247 and my goal to be in one year is 155. I am 50 years old and feel like I am 30 again!!! Keep up your good work!!

I promised myself, that when I hit a year, I'd post a "success" story.

A year ago today, I lay in the "big" hospital bed at 274 pounds and completely miserable. The two days prior to surgery were the worst ever. I called my Dr's nurse the morning of surgery and told her "I think I need to cancel, I can't do this." She told me that she wasn't going to listen to me and that she expected to see me at the hospital in a few hours.

I'm so glad I did. There are very very few things in my life that I'm more happy about than my decision to have Lapband surgery.

I was 32 and miserable. Couldn't stand to look at myself, even more, couldn't stand to have my husband look at me. We got together when we were 17. I was fit then, always the bigger girl, but very active. Softball, cross country, track, etc. Almost immediately after HS, the weight just piled on. When we got married at 20, my wedding dress was a size 16. I hated my wedding photos, they are horrible. To this day, very few people have actually seen them. I still have them in proof form, in a box underneath my desk. I have no pictures of my wedding out on display. For that matter, I have very few pictures of myself in the last 14 years.

We have two kids, two boys, who are very active. It was so hard to want to do anything with them. My husband, thank goodness, is one of those people who could eat the world and couldn't weigh more than 160 if he tried. So, while I always took the pictures or sat on the sidelines, they had the fun.

I spent my 20's with no sexual drive whatsoever. I was disgusted with myself. If I couldn't even look at myself, how could my husband want to. It made him sad, he always said he didn't see me the way I did. I couldn't believe him.

So, after three years of research, I initially tried to get the band in 2007. My insurance changed at year end and no longer covered it. So scratch that. In 2010, I went to my GP and he asked if I'd thought about it. Yeah yeah, I did, but insurance. He encouraged me to call and check again. Unbeknownst to me, they covered it again. I cried and cried and cried. That was in Feb 2010. I quickly researched the two Dr's that I had chosen and decided on one. Went to the seminar, got my 6 month supervised diet in, all the other pre-req's and next thing I knew, I'm laying in the hospital bed seriously thinking I shouldn't be doing this.

Recovery was HARD, not hard hard, but not what I expected. The first week, I was sure that this was the worst decision I had ever made. Only a clinically insane person would put themselves through this, I was sure of it. However, things started getting better. I was losing weight and I was losing it quickly.

When I was around 3 weeks post op, I started walking/running. Eventually, I was running a mile, then two, then three. I was actually able to RUN and ENJOY it!!!

There have been some bumps along the way. Mainly mental. Around September, I was sure I was going insane. I was okay, but, it wasn't until then, that I actually realized my crutch, my addiction, was food. I was going through a "detox", lol. It made me for one very very grouchy and irritable woman.

I believe, I finally hit onederland on December 8th. 75 pounds gone since July 29th, a little over 4 months. By the end of 2010, I was down 80-85 pounds. Now, today, I'm down 106 pounds. I still have 15-20 pounds until I reach goal but I'm happy. I'm so happy! I'm plateaued, but I'm happy.

I run 5k's WITH my kids and husband now. I have energy. I'm the person, I think I always knew was inside of me.

Make no bones about it, it is difficult. It is a huge mental mind screw. There are days I look in the mirror and I don't see me now. I see me as I was a year ago. It's hard. But there are days, I look in the mirror, with the biggest smile on my face and I see me as I am now. I've made it and I've done it.

Hugs to everyone who does this journey. It's well worth it.

I was going to post some pics from my gallery, but they were insanely too big.

Here is the link. http://www.lapbandta.../7195-new-pics/

Thanks to you all for your posts. It is encouraging for me and I'm sure others to see everyone in different stages of this journey.

To those who read my story and find it inspiring, that is the biggest compliment of all and one of the things that makes this so totally worth it. If the last year of my life has done anything to change the lives of others or make this decision easier, then I'm happy.

What a great story! I found it very inspiring.

Thank you so much for having the courage to share! I found your story inspiring and touching.

I too have struggled with the emotional side of my weight. I just turned 30 and barely have 20 full-body pictures of my last 10 years. I'm newly engaged and I don't have many pictures documenting our relationship, because I'd always crop out everything except my face.

I know I've got to tackle the mental part head on. It's going to be hard to love myself the way others do when I've hated myself for so long.

I sincerely appreciate your story. I look forward to surgery later this year and taking the official step to turning around my life!

Congrats!

Great story!! And success!! You will be my insperation!!

I feel that I am going to be where you were at your biggest if I do not do this now (scheduled for Nov 30th). I am 31 with one boy. 225 pounds. Also grew up "fit" and playing sports. Now I don't even want to think about chasing my little one around... I know that if I was to get pregnant now I would hit 260+ for sure!! I am also on thedailyplate.com or livestrong.com now. Can I add you as a friend to get some insight to your daliy food intake?? I am so excited for Nov 30th!!!

I am currently at your exact start weight and my seminar is on Monday night. Your story inspired me and gave me the extra push I needed to walk through those doors to start this journey. I can't tell you how much I relate and understand everything about your presurgery experience. Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

Just posting a quick update...

A little over 17 months from surgery date and 9 POUNDS TO GOAL! And it seems to be going very slow. However, I didn't gain over the holidays, so that is a plus! It's still falling off, but falling off slowly. Definitely thought I'd be at goal right now, but considering where I started, you will hear no complaints from me!

Still love my band and I'm still running. 3-5 miles a day, plan on doing my first half marathon this year!