I decided it was time for me to start a little 'home' for my journey. I am being banded Dec 18/06 with Dr. Ortiz in TJ. I live in Victoria, BC.

I have struggled with weight my whole life - no kidding. I am tired of it. I want to be in control of food, instead of the other way around. I am very confident in this procedure, and in the results I will have after it. I am a hungry person, and not a happy person when I am hungry. So then I eat to control my inner grouch, and get fatter and more depressed. I am sure you can all see where this is going.

I am married to a great supportive husband, and have 2 boys who are 21 and 18. My youngest is supportive of this procedure, but my oldest wants mommy just the way she is. He is worried about safety. My youngest is only worried about money....hmmm.... I might have to chat with him about that.:guess

I am off to work now, I hope anyone who pops by this thread, finds something of interest. Best wishes to you all.

Oh, and BabyGotBack... the fact that you haven't weighed yourself since surgery is AWESOME. Hold out as long as you can!! And keep waiting as long as possible, for as long as you can! I'm guilty of letting my scale decide how my day will go... even though I try my hardest to only weigh a COUPLE times a week. I can't stop myself, but at least its not every day. Once my scale dies, I WON'T get a new one!

I think it is the same for me, I would let the scale determine how my day would go. I'd be in a bad mood for no reason.I would rather hold out and have a bigger lose to boost my confidence, then see a couple of pounds after liquids for 3 weeks!!! My clothes are fitting looser, so for me that is enough for now. I had read a post somewhere and I wish I could find it, but the lady recommended why we shouldnt' weigh for 6 weeks till our first fill. I think I will weigh when people start to notice. So far only my husband notices.

I know when I start, I won't be able to keep of the scale. I will do it everyday like always. For now I am giving my scale and my emotions a rest from the scale.

Thanks for the encouragement!!!

Bandiva, I have my fill appt. for Feb. 17. What should I expect? I am kinda scared

I don't own a scale, and so the only times I have been weighed is when I have had my fills. Other than that I let my NSVs do the talking as to how much weight I've been losing. Of course the way I knew I was getting fatter and fatter was that I kept growing out of my clothes! Looking in a mirror was not nice, either.:think

Growing out of my clothes, wish I had some of the old ones now. I got a pair of suspenders to keep my pants from falling off. HaHa what a complaint.

Hey Bandiva!!!!

I finally gave in! My husband was dying to know!!! I wouldn't even look till I saw a huge smile on his face!!!

I started pre op at 190, surgery day I was 186 and this morning I am 173.

A total of 17 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am doing the happy dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a lucky guy!!!

Hey Bandiva!!!!

I finally gave in! My husband was dying to know!!! I wouldn't even look till I saw a huge smile on his face!!!

I started pre op at 190, surgery day I was 186 and this morning I am 173.

A total of 17 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am doing the happy dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's brilliant! It took me a lot longer to lose that amount of weight but then I am 57! :cry Congratulations.:clap2:

57, what great age. My best friend was killed by his refusal to deal with his weight problem, age 43. He was so misrable for the last 5 years.

57, what great age. My best friend was killed by his refusal to deal with his weight problem, age 43. He was so misrable for the last 5 years.

Yep, you are right. Although 57 has its bad points it also has its good points and I am content with my age. It is pretty interesting being 57.

That is sad news about your best friend dying through his refusal to engage in his weight problem. I feel for you. I really, really feel for you. My kid brother recently died at the age of 48 of bowel cancer. He didn't like doctors and had refused to see one for ten years before his death. I still miss him deeply.

Way to go Audree. You must be looking and feeling fantastic. I hope your mom is being supportive now! Sounds like you have a great husband. Me too! Having the right people in our lives makes all the difference doesn't it. As for my fill. It was completely painless. Really. It hurts more to go get blood drawn. It was really quick, about 5-10 minutes. I asked if I could see Dr. Miranda while I was there so I got to spend some time with her as well. (No extra charge) I walked across the border. I recommend doing this, but take a cab! I didn't take a cab on the way back and walked in circles for a while before I found the border. It probably wasn't very safe for me to do that, and I can assure you, some of the places I walked smelled really really bad.

KW and Green- I am sorry to hear about you losing loved ones. I can only imagine how painful that is to watch and to be a part of. Big huge hugs to both of you.

KW-Great news on the clothes. I LOVE that feeling, even if it means I have to spend more money on new clothes. Nothing makes me feel slimmer than feeling 'it' in my clothes.

Green-I can't believe you don't have a scale. I am a slave to mine. I visit it every morning. I have tried not weighing, but I always gain weight when I am not weighing daily. It is hard to think that the day will come that weighing myself won't be the first thought I have when I wake up in the morning. GOOD FOR YOU!

Mandi- The toast and PB didn't go down quickly. Probably ate it over an hour, but I was full/not hungry for about 4 hours. I think I am feeling a little more restriction. I hope I am good for a few months now. Thanks for your support and feedback. Byt he way, I agree about the ticker BMI, I am trying to focus on that rather than the amount I have to lose. Losing 10 BMI sounds easier than 100 pounds!

Well, I can't believe it and I am almost afraid to say it, but we leave for China in 2 days. I am screaming inside my head. I am so excited/nervous/scared that I can hardly stand it. I have to work a long day today, and then tomorrow I will pack and buy groceries for my son, etc...then monday I work in the morning and leave at noon. I can't even fathom what it will be like. Thanks for all your feedback on that subject, I am suprised to realize that I almost didn't go!

Bye for now!

Have a great time Bandiva!!! We will want to hear all about it when you get back. Plse don't forget to get up on the plane several times and walk around and do leg exercises while u are sitting!

China ! How cool is that ! How long will you be gone for ? Oh my god, you are goung to have such a great time !:clap2:

I also heard somewhere that eating on a plane does something to our band that gives us a lot of restriction. You may want to do liquids on the plane.

Have a great time!!!! I start solids today!

Have fun in China. I am so envious, grrl!

As for the scale thing, I decided to stop weighing myself when I was 25 years old and since then I have become a wee bit phobic!!!!!! LOL

Have a great time in China Bandiva .