Losing the weight is our primary goal, but I also want to hear about what other health benefits people are experiencing as a result of losing the weight or other changes you've made to food choices and your activity levels.

Has your diabetes gone away? Have your allergies or asthma lessened or disappeared? How is your arthritis? Still got swollen legs and ankles? Is your skin clearer or rosier? Has your cholesterol gone down? Have you had to reduce or elimate medications? Etc...

If you have seen changes, has it been just losing the weight that has made the difference, or has it been other changes you've made since being banded that have contributed?

:cursing: Let's hear it!

I think one of my biggest changes is having a normal period. I use to only get it 3-4 times a year. People would comment that I should be thankful for that... but really it made me feel abnormal.

I never knew when it was gonna come... or if I might be pregnant. It feels good to be normal and predictable once again!

My cholesterol is down, I nap MUCH less, and do seem to have less headaches than before.

I have also weened myself off of antidepresants already and all has gone well. I know this is due to feeling much better about myself!!!

Awesome! My cycles have been irregular for as long as I can remember...that's one change to "normal" I'm not looking forward to.

Glad to hear about your cholesterol and mood meds. Great progress all around!

I was banded on 8-27-07. I was on a liquid diet for 4 weeks prior to that. By the end of September, I was off of the 3 blood pressure pills I had been on! My energy level is awesome!!!! I don't think twice about dropping off my car for repairs and walking 3 miles home. I used to tell my kids that I couldn't walk a block to the park because it was too far. I recently went off my C-Pap machine for sleep apnea. My ankles, knees, and feet used to throb from 6 hours of teaching. Now, I they don't hurt at all. When my weight was at it's highest, my chest would hurt when I would lay down. As of this morning, I'm just 5 pounds away from the 100 pound mark! I LOVE MY BAND!!!! :cursing:

9) I can cut my own toenails;

Is that a good start?

Jack! Awesome start.

Just the other day I started writing down the things I'm looking forward to after I lose the weight...giving myself a pedicure was on the list! :thumbup:

You're an inspiration! :cursing:

I used to have Gastric reflux atleast once a week. I also had a very high blood sugar. Before the Pre-op diet, My sugar had gone as high as 250 in the morning.

When i first started the liquid diet (12 days before the surgery) my sugar was 167.

I had my surgery on May 12th. And now my sugar in the morning range anywhere from76-100. I'm hoping that when i go in to see my regular doc she will agree that my diabetes is going into remission...

Also, I had PCOS (irregular periods). Before last month, I missed my period for 9 months. Maybe it's a coincidence, but this is now the second consecutive months that i'm having my period....

So... my health totally improved! I love it!

Very well put!

Normal blood pressure without meds. Normal blood sugars without meds. No more reflux - or meds. No more swollen legs and ankles. No more medications at all. Haven't had blood work done since I started this journey (will do that next month) but expect all values will have improved. I've had great improvements in health very quickly!

I've lost 75lbs so far. But I have to say that I noticed a difference in my back and knees after 25-30lbs weight loss. I hardly ever get knee pain anymore and my back hasn't gone out since I had the surgery.

You mentioned somthing interesting about allergies. Mine have gotten worse since the band. Anyone else have more problems with their allergies post surgery?

33 lbs lost so far. Went down from a 10 ml BP tablet to a 5 ml one. No more diabetes tablets (was only on them for about 3 months before I had the lapband). I'm going for another sleep test to see if that has improved. I walk nearly every day and feel so much fitter. Can't wait to lose more because I want to be totally off my BP meds. Woohoo!!

I was banded on May 7th.

No more prilosec

No more blood pressure pills

Quit 2 medicines for diabetes and only taking 1 1000 tablet of Metformin.

Need to have my blood tested to see how the cholestral is doing.:rolleyes2:

It seems like the overall theme here is that health benefits are being enjoyed after the first 30 pounds of weight loss for most of us. That is so amazing! Isn't the band grand! :rolleyes2:

Great job everyone!