I was just thinking in the car earlier about this and thought I would ask you guys to share the list of things that have improved for you since being banded.

Please let us know how long you've been banded, too.

I've been banded since early April and this is my list:

1) I've lost 21# forever

2) I've joined a gym for the first time ever and am loving it!!

3) I've reduced caffeine from 5+ servings per day to 1, maybe 2

4) My recurrent back pain is almost gone completely

5) My plantar faciaitis is almost gone

6) I have way more energy and feel much stronger

7) I move with greater ease

8) I feel sure my bloodwork will be much improved

9) I always have at least 64 oz of Water each day

10) I have reduced my alcohol intake from 6-8 cocktails/week to maybe 3 per month

11) My blood sugars are completely stable (previously hypoglycemic)

12) My salt intake is greatly reduced

13) I have hope

14) I have a bunch of new friends on LBT

15) My sex life has improved

16) I take greater pride in my appearance & self esteem has improved

What about you?

I haven't even made it through the end of this thread....I'm crying too much to see right now!!

I am SO happy to find it -- I am going to read it EVERY day that I find myself discouraged!

Thank you ALL and God bless!

Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow. You'll do fine! And very soon you'll be posting on this thread, my dear! VERY soon!!

Banded 4/24/07

45 lbs down

I can climb 5 flights of stairs at work without feeling like i'm going to die.

I can bend down to paint my toenails without cutting off my breath

I can go longer on the treadmill

I can feel the bones in my hands and face - what a treat

My rings are falling off

My blood sugar/blood pressure has gone down to normal

Tried on some clothes that I hadn't worn in a long time - 22/24 - and finally feel like I'll never see the previous 30/32 again

I can finally use my scale that goes to 300 cuz I'm in "twoterville"!!!!

Being able to bend over and tie my shoes.

<p>Hey, I just realized the patch of exzema I had on my arm for the past 8 months totally went away! I haven't had to use any medicinal creams on it since I got the band! <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/whoo.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Whoo" smilieid="339" class="inlineimg" /></p>

OMG!!! Stood in front of the mirror today in the buff (Now THAT's SOMETHING!!! I've been like a vampire for 17 years....running from mirrors...) and what did I see? Some sort of MALFORMATION on ME!!!! What could it BE????? Do you think.....Noooooo....well MAYBEEEEEE.....I think it is the start of a.....drumroll please.....WAISTLINE!!!!! Thank you, thankyou very much....

Hey, I just realized the patch of exzema I had on my arm for the past 8 months totally went away! I haven't had to use any medicinal creams on it since I got the band!

Wow!! That's cool!! Must be because you've cut back so much on carbs & preservatives! High Five!!:whoo:

We went camping this weekend and I actually could sit on the toilet in the trailer and NOT have my a$$ touch the walls!!! WOOOO FREAKIN HOOOOOO!!! It was great!!!

I laughed out loud at this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOO FREAKIN HOOOOOOOOOO............ indeed!

Feeling perfectly fine about posting embarrasing pictures such as THIS on the net...........

AND BTW They are NONstretch Levis size 14 and bygod they WILL BUTTON by Labor Day!!! There is much power in KNOWING that fact!

Tracy - You're AWESOME! LOL! I love your sense of humor and COURAGE!!! tooo funny... can't wait to see the same pants on you again with the extra junk GONE (or at least all packed inside)!

: )

I laughed out loud at this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOO FREAKIN HOOOOOOOOOO............ indeed!

Feeling perfectly fine about posting embarrasing pictures such as THIS on the net...........

AND BTW They are NONstretch Levis size 14 and bygod they WILL BUTTON by Labor Day!!! There is much power in KNOWING that fact!

ahhhh, Tracey, I got you beat..... I posted a picture of my before picture in a bikini - lol, we are brave souls aren't we. I can't post them here because I'm at work at they are on my hardrive at home. But, I'm brave enough to post my link http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/january-bandsters-25717/index215.html I'm proud of what I've accomplished, and even though it is a little shameful to look back at my "old me" - things have changed dramtically!

I can cross my legs

I have colar bones

I wear a size 12 (and some 10's)

I weigh less than my husband

I no longer have high cholesteral

I am off my diabetes medicine

I am comfortable in the bedroom now, with the lights on. :Banane20:

I like myself

I have more energy

I feel good

I have better relationship with my kids/DH (because I am happier)

I love life

I no longer dread walking

I love to exercise

I love healthy foods

I am committed to myself

I know that I deserve to be healthy & fit

I will no longer be a quitter!

I know that I will NEVER go back to 248 lbs again!

Tracy - You're AWESOME! LOL! I love your sense of humor and COURAGE!!! tooo funny... can't wait to see the same pants on you again with the extra junk GONE (or at least all packed inside)!

: )

HEY I SAID THEY WOULD BUTTON..... I didn't say I cared about BREATHING!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonya: WOW GIRL.. I went and looked at your pics and I can not believe3 how much you have shrunk!!!!!!!!!! Those bottoms were hanging off you in your 12wk challenge photos!!!!!! You look GREAT!

I am down 58 pounds and. .

*Like TerriDoodle. . . .My boobs stick out further than my stomach now!!

*Down to a DD without breast redction surgery - yeehaw!

*Diabetes is gone / no more meds

*Blood pressure is back in the low normal range

*I fit in the rides at the kids amusement park this year!!!!!! Last year I

couldn't ride with my kids because I was too big!

*Sex is MUCH better

*I have hip bones!! Who woulda thunk it?!?!

*My rings are too big, can't wear them any more

*sleep apnea is gone and so is the C-Pap machine!!

*I almost have collar bones

*I only have one chin now!!

*I can wear an XL shirt rather than a 3x

*I wear a 16/18 pants instead of a 26/28

*I have never lost this much weight in my life and KEPT IT OFF!!!!

*I will get to enjoy my kids because I will be here for them

*I am no longer morbidly obese

*My boobs (and the rest of me) now fit comfortably in the restaurant

booths. . . . and still have extra room!! :whoo:

*I have more confidence

*I can walk up stairs and not be out of breath and exhausted

*I can run up stairs if I want to, just because I CAN!!

*I am no longer the biggest person in the room at work meetings

*I am almost in ONEDERLAND!!!

*I am MUCH healthier and happier than I was 7 months ago

Okay, that's it for now, I'm sure I'll be back with more. These are fantastic and super inspirational posts!!!

How could I forget. . . .the underwire from my bra digs into my ribs now, cuz, I have ribs!!!!!!!!! And, I'm happy about this, lol! :clap2:

GREAT LIST, Stacy!!! I'm so happy for you!!!!!!

I'm not banded yet, but I've been dreaming....

:faint:... Imagine buying what I "like" rather than "what fits!"

.... I am looking forward to the day I wake up to get dressed for work and don't have to worry if my blouse will still button... I only have "five" work outfits that fit (sort of)... so if I'm not careful, I'll have to call in sick! :sick And won't it be wonderful when these 5 outfits don't fit me anymore because they are TOO BIG! There will be no tears shed (well, maybe tears of joy)!

:Banane21:... Won't it be nice when my favorite outfit becomes my LEAST favorite once I see a photo of me wearing it...

... Sitting on the floor with me little granddaughters to play... being able :pto keep up to them without *ME* being the one who needs a nap!

:bored... clipping my toenails

.:clap2:.. running up and down the steps at home like they're acutally fun... right now I dread each trip up and down...

:rolleyes... not needing a special "gown" when I go for my mammogram & physicals...

... no food spots on my "shelf" where things seem to fall at each meal...

:Banane21:... not having to stretch out my t-shirts to fit around me...

:notagree... sleeping peacfully and blissfully as I become healthier

Congrats Tracy, Stacy and Sunshine! Great NSV's!