I'm just wondering how did the lap band change everyone's life, relationship, job the way people treat you?

Oh, not really significantly at all in those ways. I mean I feel better about myself, am healthier, have more energy to cope with what life throws at me and have a better outlook but I can honestly say I've never been discriminated against, felt ashamed of the way I look or let my weight stop me doing things before.

I'll just list the top one in each category.

Life I feel normal . I feel like I blend in. I don't feel like I stick out because of my size.

Relationship I feel like my husband is proud to be with me. He never made me feel otherwise, I know it is different for him now. A good different.

Job I am a dog groomer. I let my customers stay while their pet is being groomed if they want. I don't sweat like crazy while I work . It was very embarrassing to me. They knew why their pet and their selves were comfortable with the temperature and I was sweaty. I was fat.

edie

My husband tells me if i can lose 100lb people wont recognize me i wonder what I'm going to look like even 50lb off.

I know that I feel like a different person when I am thin. I walk different, talk different all of it!

I can hang my coat at the front of the restaurant and not wait until I am seated to remove it....sound familiar?

There is no way this band can't have a positive outcome. I know this is my last fat summer and that thrills me to no end. I look forward to my winter vacation this year because the beach towel will wrap all the way around me by then.

So far, I haven't lost enough weight for anyone to notice, however, the ones that know I have the band keep asking me "how do I feel" as if I am about to die. My family GP shows no interest in whether or not I succeed even though when I told him, he told me he would support me. Ha! he doesn't even weigh me. The only support I get is from my husband and the two support groups I go to. Doddie

I have told no one, except the HR rep at work. I haven't lost enough to have anyone notice yet (it's only 5 weeks out), but I have noticed that it's taking me longer to eat lunch when I go out with my friends and I'm also eating a lot less than I would have pre-band.

I can't wait until December when I see my family back home. I want so badly to be done 25-35 pounds by then. That amount should be noticeable on me.