My surgery is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2006.

I am soooo looking forward to this being the answer to my life long struggle with weight. I'm not expecting this to be magic, but it sounds like most people are really happy with their band and have had great success.

I'm a little nervous about recovery time because I'm a massage therapist and use my full body for work. I'm hoping that I will have a quick recovery so that I can get back to work. Being self-employed means no sick leave.

About me & weight: I'm almost 32. My first diet started age 8. I've yo-yo dieted for 24 years. I know I can lose the weight. It's the keeping the weight off that I struggle with. I'm hoping the band will keep me from binging.

About me: I live at the beach with my 2 dogs. Love my job. I work a lot, play a little. But it's not work when you love what you're doing.

The plan: By next summer, I will be having a great time in my cute little bathing suit at the beach!

Other than me being a little older than you our height and weight are very close to the same. Congrats on getting your band, you will be sooooo proud that you did. It was the best decision I've ever made and I'm just 2 months out. My weight loss has really slowed down but I am scheduled for another fill on Tuesday. I had lost 40 pounds in the last 2 months but can really tell I need another fill. I wasn't down but for a couple of days and then I was doing everything I ever did. I never had any of the shoulder pain and I contribute that to constantly walking after surgery. Good luck and I will keep you in my prayers. I too went to Mexico and that was another wonderful decision. They really know they're stuff there. You'll have a lot of people dog you because you went there, don't pay any attention to them, I don't. I know that my surgeon, Dr. Sanchez has done more than any surgeon in the states and they will never know as much about the lapband surgeries as he does and the others there in Mexico because it's been done longer there.

Hi and welcome to LBT! Congratulations on your decision to get the band. I hope to join you on that beach in my itsby bitsy teeny weeny bikini too someday!

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm not worried about Mexico at all. I speak fluent Spanish and have spent my whole life travelling down there. My dad even lives in Mexico now. I also only live 25 minutes from the Mexico border so getting fills will be super easy for me!

i am having my surgery in mexico with dr, ortiz, am worried about going by myself and a little nervous. i also have told only one person and they didn't like mexico. any info about mexico would be helpful

there is a yahoo group called mexicanbandsters. I recommend signing up with that group to see what advice you can get from people who have already been there. My friend got banded a couple of days ago in Mex and she said it was totally no problem. Just a little bit of language barrier with the night nurses but she said it was no big deal.

You will be at the beach in your sexy swim suit in no time!!!! you wont recognise yourself.

I wore my first bakini since i was a kid a few months ago in thailand, sure I am still a size 16-18 but there are somethings you can get away with in developing countries that I wouldnt do here in Australia. But it felt sooooo good to be hanging around the pool with my new found friends in my bakinni and my scars getting some sun on them. . It was an awsome feeling, and I hope one day you can feel it too.

Colleen