I was banded in Mississauga (Toronto) on December 18th, 2014. I am 11 weeks post-op and down 37 pounds.

It may not be a ton of weight lost, but its all gone, gone gone forever, and I am losing slow and steady. As I lay in bed last night, I touched my ribs (I have ribs?!) and reflected on how things have changed for me since being banded two and a half months ago.

I realized last night that I am totally, completely, madly in love with my band. Here's why:

• My size 22 pants fall down to my ankles if I don't wear a belt.
• Even when I do wear a belt, my size 22 pants look like I'm wearing a parachute.
• I can put on my "old" jeans without unzipping/unbuttoning the fly.
• My tummy scars are a proud (and only slightly scary) red/purple, and serve to remind me every day of the commitment I've made to myself.
• My College students talk about me when they think I have my back turned/can't hear them and say things like "Damn, she's looking GOOD".
• I no longer have to use a "bath sheet" sized towel. A regular sized one wraps around my bod, thanks very much.
• I am no longer winded when I climb a set of stairs.
• People at work tell me hair looks AMAZING. What they are actually saying doing is choosing my hair as the way to give me a "YOU LOOK AMAZING!" compliment without verbalizing my obvious weight loss. This gives me JOY.
• I can no longer feel my thighs pressing against the sides of my office chair.
• Truth: In the shower, I no longer have to lift stuff up to wash other stuff. Seriously.
• When I get up to pee in the middle of the night there is no pain in my body. Anywhere. The aches are gone.
• My favourite LL Bean down jacket from before I chubbed out FITS ME and I can zip it up easily.
• I proctored an exam the other day sitting cross-legged on a desk.
• My herniated disc (due to obesity) has resolved. I can now roll over in bed pain-free.
• I can sleep on my stomach again. This is also something that gives me JOY.
• I sat on the floor with a group of students the other day, and realized I had gotten up again with absolutely NO EFFORT.
• I can chug water! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do this after being banded. (It's the little things...)
• I have been watching my cheekbones emerge. Wow.
• Our grocery bill has gone down dramatically. I eat 1/3 (if that) of what I used to eat. My husband says with the grocery money saved since being banded we could buy a cottage in Muskoka. (lol!)
• Speaking of my husband, I weigh less than him for the first time in a decade.
• And more about my husband: I've noticed him touching my bum. A lot. And smooching me up. And hugging me close. He's proud, I can tell.
• My band gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) reminds me to slow down when I eat. Thank you, dear band.
• I have learned what freedom from the hunger monster feels like, and MAN OH MAN is that ever sa-weet.
• I have a constant backdrop of satiety. I no longer think about, or worry about, my next meal. Love those band adjustments!
• I am looking forward to getting into my MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op - the Canadian version of "REI") 'Rad Pants' I've kept from 1994. They are red, they are a size 10. The summer is almost here and with it comes a canoe-trip. I will be wearing those pants.
• I feel like a I have a new lease on life. Woo hoo!

It's okay to stall. It's ok to have the occasional chocolate banana fritter. (Whoops - damn it was good). I am in a love affair with my band, but more importantly, with myself.

THIS is why I am in love with my band.

Happy happy!

Update: Still in love and am now firmly in "ONE-derland"!

I've been 194! for awhile now, and the process to get there has been heavenly and fun. Yesterday I bought a pair of Size 14 skinny jeans that look and feel amazing. At this time last year (pre-surgery) I was a Size 22.

Someone on FB commented on my new profile pic (which shows off cheekbones (I have cheekbones??!) and my newly more-slender Self - "What on earth..?? The fountain of youth has found you. You are radiant"!

Getting banded is the best decision I have ever made for myself.

thanks for the positive messages! am being banded in less than 4 weeks and was feeling scared reading the horror stories

Yes the horror stories are scary, aren't they? I've learned that being banded is a lifestyle change that has to be accepted by both the body AND the mind. I have adjusted very well to 'band-eating' - nothing carbonated, no bread, tiny amounts of Pasta, small bites, eating slowly... these changes are what has led to my success (so far!).

Seems a lot of the horror stories (not all) come from those who fought their band or refused to give up the bd habits that made them obese in the first place.

@@bel1995 Have faith that the band will work it's magic for you the way it has worked for me, provided you have an excellent surgeon and you follow-up the placement of the band with the changes your body deserves! Eating less, eating better, moving more...

Please keep us posted about your surgery and experience - we have all been where you are! As someone one year in and 3/4 of the way to my goal weight (having dropped from a size 22 last Christmas to a size 14 this Christmas!), I can only hope that you will be as in love with your band as I am with mine!

Wishing you the best!

Thanks so much I will certainly post an update on how it all goes. You have definitely made me see more of the positive to the band thats for sure. Well done on veing so determined and sticking to the rules of the band

The Proffessor how are you doing? Let us know your progress. I just read your comment and I loved it! I too love my band!

Hi Emily!

@@EmilyMikulec

I'm doing great, thanks for asking. :-) I am so happy with my band. I took a discipline hiatus over Christmas and enjoyed wine again and just a wee bit too much brie. I stalled my weight loss, but now that I've been banded for over a year I know exactly how to break out of a stall.

How are you doing? You love your band, too?

Yay us!

Love reading your posts! Am on my pre diet and being banded on 25th jan. Your posts are so positive

@@bel1995 - I am SO COMPLETELY EXCITED for you! You are almost there... stick with the pre-op diet and take it one Protein shake at a time!

Keep us posted - we love to support each other on this site!

Hey there. Well this is why I love my band!!! My heaviest was 275+ after several years of being miserable and trying every fab diet I decided I needed to do the band. It took a year and a half for my insurance to finally approve my procedure. I was banded in March 2014. I struggled with it at first trying to get to my heavenly green zone and it also took my brain a while to understand that I don't have to eat everything is sight. It was a very slow weight loss the first year I think I only lost like 40 pounds. Then after my last fill which was in March of 2015 I was losing a lot of weight and I was doing my part to contribute to the weight loss. Also what really really helped me was talking to people like me that had the lap band because no matter how much support you have people will not understand unless they've gone through it. Little by little I continued to lose weight and when I gained a little I didn't get super upset I would just start again the next day. Oh and I weigh myself every Wednesday so I can take accountability for celebratory times when I lose and also for when I gain. If I gained I just really really watch what I eat the next week. You can't bully yourself into losing weight. Just realize what you did wrong and do it better next week. After my long struggle i weighed in this Wednesday at 164. I can't believe it. That's a weight loss of 111 pounds. It was the strongest, bravest and smartest thing I've ever done! My quality of life is so much better and I am so happy!!! Best thing I've ever done!!!

Wow - now THAT is seriously inspirational!!!!

Thank you! Your posting made me much more confortable to do this surgery. I am going for my first appointment with the surgeon in two weeks and I can't wait to get it done.

Am a week away from being banded - Something i didnt think about. I was asked yesterday what my surgeon said my goal weight should be. We didnt discuss any of this. Is this normal? Should i be concerned? From what I have been told by others my surgeon is a good surgeon but doesnt seem to have the best bedside mannerism. He was friendly to me discussed my eating habits and band but as for other details nothing was mentioned. I plan on going back to the specialist for follow ups and refills but as for goal weight etc i can do that myself or go to my doctor. I do have two dietician appts booked in through my specialist rooms.

is there any thoughts?

My surgeon never set my goal weight. Somebody, can't remember who, asked me what I wanted it to be. So I picked it myself.

thank you i feel more at ease now

@@bel1995 I was never given a goal weight. I chose for myself what felt right. I remember setting goals in increments for myself, as having 100 pounds to lose seemed an insurmountable amount go weight, and I was happy my surgeon didn't give me that goal or I might have been discouraged.