Hi, I am new to LapBandTalk. I am looking forward to finding some wonderful support here. :-) I am 28 years old and I was banded in October of 2003. I am down appox 105-110 lbs. (I don't weigh myself often). I've lost a little slower than I've wanted to, but I had to have my port replaced. I am very happy with my progress. I started out at 287 lbs and I am down around the 180ish mark, give or take a few. I may or may not ever reach my goal of 150, but if I don't I still concider myself a LapBand success. :-) Here are some of my before/after pictures. Enjoy....

oops..how do you post pictures?

I hope this works.

:-) What kinds of specifics are you looking for? I should have listened when people told me to write down my progress, I never really did...but I will try and wing it. In the summer of 2003 a friend of mine introduced me to WLS. She was talking about bypass, but I told her quickly I wasn't interested. I did research it and I came across lap band. I thought about it and thought about it and researched and researched it and finally told myself now is the time. I am a teacher, and I taught at a year around school at the time and I had three weeks off in the month of October. I knew I couldn't get it done here and be back to work in three weeks, so I went to Dr. Ortiz. I was able to have it done the next week. I started off at 287 lbs..I am 5'7". I wore about a size 24-26 depending on the brand or whatever. I didn't get my first fill until December. I kept on losing and eventually my fill wasn't working. The my Dr. checked me and there was no fill left. He filled me again and had me come back in a month...the fill was gone again. He checked me under flouro and there was a leak. It took about a month and a half or two months before I was able to have it fixed. During that time I was unfilled I never gained any weight, but I didn't lose any either. I had my port replaced in November of 2004 and I've been losing slow and steady ever since. I am about 180ish and I'm wearing some 12's and 14's. I feel wonderful, I am just having a hard time living in my new skin. Sometimes I wonder if I should seek some professional help. When people (who knew me at 287 lbs) tell me how good now, I look I really could just crawl under a rock. But when people I don't know complement me, it's different. I dont know..i just feel uncomfortable. I try to help my husband understand, but he just does not. MEN!?!?!? haha..he's great though.

I have never set a goal weight because If I never reached it some people would concider that a failure. Others might just see it as an easy way out or whatever. If I don't lose anouther pound, I feel that I am just as much a success as the person who made it to their goal. I've changed a lot of habits, but one major thing is I won't deprive myself..that's not what I got into this for. :-)

Hi and welcome to LBT. Thank you for sharing your story, I love to read wonderful success stories!

You look wonderful!!

Isn't this band the best?????

Hi and Welcome to LBT! Im also 28, but only 2 weeks into my band! You have a wonderful success story! And you look GREAT! its an inspiration!!

Congratulations on such success! Your story and pics are very inspirational.

Thanks for sharing your story here with all of us and welcome to LBT

P.S. I was also banded by Dr. Ortiz on 4/6/04

Wow, I think you are adorable, I love the hair. You're quite the inspiration and welcome aboard.

You have done a great job with your band. I love your pictures, you need to go to the thread before and after pictures and post yours!

Wow, you've don'e great work! Congrats on your good works so far. I haven't set a weight goal either, I want to be a size 14 or so. If I weigh 180 at a size 14, then so be it, if I weigh 120, that's cool too.

Welcome to LBT

Welcome to LBT! So GLAD you are here.

You have a great story. A lot of things I could definately relate to.

Are you still losing weight?

Well done, Cambron! You look gorgeous and you should be very proud! I am more concerned with the size of my clothes than the actual weight number, but it's hard not to be distracted by that number at this point. Thanks for the inspiration!

Hi Cambron, welcome to LBT!! Thanks for sharing your story and yes, we definitely consider you a success!! :D

You look awesome. Your story is definitely a SUCCESS!