Hi, I am new here. :-)

CambronKD · May 12, 2005

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....

CambronKD · May 12, 2005

oops..how do you post pictures?

CambronKD · May 12, 2005

I hope this works.

CambronKD · May 12, 2005

:-) 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. :-)

coyotegirl · May 12, 2005

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?????

TrishS · May 12, 2005

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!!

La_madam · May 13, 2005

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

HarleyNana · May 13, 2005

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

Iluvharleys · May 13, 2005

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!

vinesqueen · May 13, 2005

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

paula · May 13, 2005

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?

the best me · May 13, 2005

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!