Hello everyone!

Well well.... What can I say? It's been one of the craziest years of my life

I am putting this post in the 'lap band success stories" section because on many levels I really do feel like a success! I have lost a solid 60 lbs since august 2012 and am only 40 lbs away from my ultimate goal !

I have:

-went from a size 20/22 to a size 12/14

-starting running for 20 minutes at a time (I used to barely do 90 seconds at a time)

-stopped having arch pain in my foot and knee pain

-started feeling "normal" meaning that I no longer feel like my obesity defines me. Whenever I used to hang out with friends it felt like I was always the "fat one".

- Learned who my true friends are. Sadly many of my obese friends are bitter about my weight loss and only try to discourage me. I am learning now that they really are not my true friends after all. Mark twain (i think) once said "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great" I now understand that quote to the fullest extent. I am now seeing that my skinny friends, the ones who used to always intimidate me are the ones cheering me on the most!

I have so much to say about my band that I really don't know where to begin... I have really mixed emotions about my band in general... The surgery went really well and I was on my feet back to normal practically the next day... The first fill went as expected and provided me with minimal restriction but nowhere the green zone... The same happened with my next two fills and on my fourth fill I was feeling really great! But a few days after the fill I got some heartburn (ironically still nowhere near the greenzone, just heartburn). Doc said he wanted to do an upper GI to rule out a slip- just the thought of a slip made me nervous! But, alas, no slip was found but he kept my band empty anyhow just to allow the irritation to resolve.

Now a few months later I still have no Fluid because 1) I'm nervous about the heartburn 2) I never really liked my surgeon in general- Never really listened to me and was rough around the edges... (and he is about a 55-75 minute drive from me which ruined my entire day)... So I made a consultation with another surgeon in my area (15 mins away) and will be having another fill in a few days! He is such a sweetie and was SO proud that not only didn't I gain anything without any restriction, but that I actually lost weight! He claimed that I was doing really well which made me blush lol!

I really can't wait to get started again, because, honestly, with an empty band I am losing weight so slowly that it's almost nonexistent...

Overall I DO NOT regret getting the band!! I just wish I had the smashing success that others on here are having (losing 100 lbs in their first year, losing their sensation of hunger... etc). I am hopeful that with enough patience and perseverence I will reach my goal by the spring!

Great big shoutout to all members of this forum who have always provided me with the motivation+encouragement to help me keep going!!!

(I'm talking to you, mis73 and carolinagirl )

Congratulations!!!!

What a motivating post; thank pu so much! I am waiting for a surgery date and love to read stories like this. Congratulations on the 60 pounds gone forever and now on to the next chunk. You are doing beautifully -- so great that you have found a new surgeon to work with -- so important to have the right medical professionals. Best wishes to you!

Congratulations on losing without any fills. Continued success.