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One of the things that keeps us motivated is success stories. I know there is a Before and After thread, but I like to hear about the success too. So many people could benefit from reading about your success. I am still working on mine being just a 8 weeks post-op. Thank you!

Tell us...

When?

Why?

Who?

Insurance or Not?

How it felt?

What has changed?

Pictures!

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I was 320 before I started the process. I lost 30 lbs on my own before June. I am now down just over 70 lbs. I was a size tight 24 and now I'm a size 20, 18 on top. I had United Healthcare and they covered the entire surgery just not the fills. I've had 4 fills. My doctor is awesome. His name is Robert McKeen here in San Jose, CA. I would change anything. I love my band.

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I can't believe with all the people on this site that they don't want to share and help others. Come on...tell us how you did it! We all need help!

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I think most of the ppl who frequent this website on a regular basis are like us....less than one year out. IMO, this can't be included in the "sucess story" catagory.

I would love to hear about folks who are doing great 2-4+ years out. We don't see many of them here.

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I'm less than a year out, but I'll still reply. It's not that we don't want to help others -- most of us have already answered these questions many times in other threads.

When? March 1, 2006

Why? Many reasons including, but not limited to, desire to have children, desire for improved quality of life, and as medical preventative measures.

Who? Dr. Hoehn

Insurance or Not? Yes, covered at 100% minus my co-pays.

How it felt? Weird (I have a very long description of this posted, and it would take way too long to recreate)

What has changed? Weight, size, self-satisfaction, perspectives... lots of things.

Pictures! See picture thread. I don't know the file path off-hand so I can't repost from work.

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Can we resurect this one too for us new folk who haven't been here long enough to read or are not able to find the other threads???

Thanks guys you guys are great!!!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Audree

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One of the things that keeps us motivated is success stories. I know there is a Before and After thread, but I like to hear about the success too. So many people could benefit from reading about your success. I am still working on mine being just a 8 weeks post-op. Thank you!

Tell us...

When?

Why?

Who?

Insurance or Not?

How it felt?

What has changed?

Pictures!

well, i consider myself more of a "work in progress" than a success story. today is my 3 month bandiversary and i have lost 64 pounds.

when - 09 Oct 2006

why - 402.5 pounds :faint: :faint::faint:

who - Marsden, DFW area

insurance paid 90% - united healthcare

didnt hurt much, more discomfort. i was extremely tired the first few days.

what has changed - pretty much everything. i am loving (and living) life now. i am 10,000,000% more active. i work out in the gym at least 8-13 times a week. i can play with my daugher - i can chase her around and have fun... i can stand for long periods of time.

i have taken 3 or 4 kick boxing classes and LOVED them ... so not much has stayed the same.

pictures are attached.

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When? 22 Feb 2005 (almost 23 months ago)

Why? 297lbs!

Who? A local banding surgeon.

Insurance or Not? It works a little differently in Australia, but my health cover paid a fair % of the total.

How it felt? I have very few bad memories of the early days, but I do recall I was in very little pain.

What has changed? Well, I am 178lbs lighter for a start! :nervous I am a million times more active, my whole family has felt the benefit of my (and our) lifestyle change.

Pictures!

Before;

behan_before.jpgCopyof000_0023.jpg

September 2005

1YEARAGO.jpg

And December 2006 in the pants I am wearing above.

1yearlater.jpg

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well, i consider myself more of a "work in progress" than a success story. today is my 3 month bandiversary and i have lost 64 pounds.

when - 09 Oct 2006

why - 402.5 pounds :faint: :faint::faint:

who - Marsden, DFW area

insurance paid 90% - united healthcare

didnt hurt much, more discomfort. i was extremely tired the first few days.

what has changed - pretty much everything. i am loving (and living) life now. i am 10,000,000% more active. i work out in the gym at least 8-13 times a week. i can play with my daugher - i can chase her around and have fun... i can stand for long periods of time.

i have taken 3 or 4 kick boxing classes and LOVED them ... so not much has stayed the same.

pictures are attached.

Thank you so much for your story...it really helped me this morning. I have been kind of down about this whole thing. I been thinking it doesn't work and we are just guinea pigs.

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When? 22 Feb 2005 (almost 23 months ago)

Why? 297lbs!

Who? A local banding surgeon.

Insurance or Not? It works a little differently in Australia, but my health cover paid a fair % of the total.

How it felt? I have very few bad memories of the early days, but I do recall I was in very little pain.

What has changed? Well, I am 178lbs lighter for a start! :nervous I am a million times more active, my whole family has felt the benefit of my (and our) lifestyle change.

Pictures!

Before;

behan_before.jpgCopyof000_0023.jpg

September 2005

1YEARAGO.jpg

And December 2006 in the pants I am wearing above.

1yearlater.jpg

WOW! You have done really great. I am praying that I will have the success that you have had.

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When? August 7, 2006

Why? I was killing myself

Who? Dr. Ortiz/Mexico

Insurance or Not? Nope, the Teachers' Health Trust ignores all known data about how 90 some percent of all people who lose weight the "natural" way regain it. They DO offer $50 a year toward gym membership, Weight Watchers, etc. and encourage increased exercise and decreased calorie intake. (Is this asinine or what????)

How it felt? I was so excited about making this move and how it would affect my life, that I didn't focus on the physical aspect much. I DO remember wishing I'd brought pain pills from home though.

What has changed? I am 5 months and 3 days out, and I've lost 90 pounds. I am me again with energy, life, and hope. At times, I get a bit blue when I reflect on how hard I've worked to get to this weight, and I've worked my way all the way up from super morbidly obese to morbidly obese. I have to get that out of my mind!

Pictures! None yet, but I'll work on that soon.

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OOp, please disregard the DH on my prior posting. I didn't realize I wasn't operating under my own user id.

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I too am a work in progress. Just over 6 months out but having great results.

When........June 27, 2005

Why..........My health mainly but I can't say the way I look didn't have a part in it.

Who..........Dr. James Longhi, Morgantown WV

How it Felt.Not alot of pain mostly gas pain. Went back to work the following Monday.

What has changed.My opinion of myself, No more meds I am off BP med, Cholestrol med, Sugar level has went to normal, No more GERD.

Pictures......Not yet I need to find some of before and those I don't have a lot of.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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