I was looking in the mirror of this person who is me. I wonder what I will look like in 2yrs. I know its a bit early to wonder this as I have not gotten approval yet.. but I wonder.

I have a few questions of curiosity:

1. If you have cellulite before surgery does it fade away in to sunset with the weightloss or does it hang with you till your last breath?

2. Did you wonder what you were going to look like in the months/yrs to come after your sugery? How far off where you on your thoughts and how much were you surprised?

Thank you to all who have read this post and responded to me. Its great to find a place where I can ask the "hard hitting" questions..

Hi Maranda. I haven't really had any problems with cellulite or loose skin (yet.....or maybe because I'm a dude). As far as the "new me"...my wife and friends tell me I'm starting to look like I did in college, so nothing too drastic there.

1. My derriere and thighs were looking a little worse for wear pre-band, but I can honestly say that most of the cottage cheese look has dissappeared. They aren't perfect now but I have a nice shape coming out and remaining problems are really minimal. However, if cellulite never went away it is still way worth it because thin looks better than heavy in clothes and only my dh sees me in my birthday suit . . . and he loves me no matter what I look like :0).

2. I have lost the majority of my weight and am pretty close to normal. I did wonder what I would look like before, but to be honest with you reality is much better than my expectations set after reading other peoples stories. Many people say their chest deflates (tennis ball in the tube sock phenomena) but I have retained a nice shape and have not lost my breasts. Actually my breasts look bigger than they were in that I have shrunk everywhere else so the proportions are different.

I thought before that my stomach would be a mess, but it is not so bad. It looks relatively flat in clothes. I still have some ghosts of stretch marks from pregnancy, but hey, what can you do but live with them? However, the fat on my thighs and butt seem to be taking the longest to disappear.

Beyond physical transformations, I did not realize how it would affect my personality. I have a lot more confidence than before and have become more open and direct. I also have a lot more energy. You know all those people you see working out like crazy, biking or jogging daily . . . and can hardly relate to. I have become one of those people and sometimes I hardly recognize myself for it.

There was another transformation related to self-confidence.. This might sound strange, but I eat more with other people now. Eating for me was a somewhat hidden event previously. Only my husband knows I am banded but I seem to have lost the shame I used to have regarding such a normal everyday activity with anyone else.

My physical expectations would have been more realistic if I would have thought back to where I gained first. All in all, I am very pleased with where I am today. :0)