Hi Everyone,

Today is my two year bandiversary!!!! I was hoping to be at goal today but I had a very long plateau and a slight weight gain due to the fact that I quit smoking in preparation of plastic surgery in August. So now I have six weeks to get to the 170's!!! There are lots of things I want to share, but many of been said by other tenured bandsters here on this board. The most important change in my life is that I can do most anything!!!

I fly airplanes regularly, go to theme parks and do all the coasters, go to Water parks, play with my kids and chase them around and I have lots of energy!!!

Plastic surgery is the last part of my journey and then I need to maintain my losses. The one thing I have found is that if you really want to gain weight with the band, it is quite easy to do so. No matter how long you are banded, you have to stick to the plan. meat and fish first, then veggies and last carbs if there is any room left. And exercise is so important. No matter how big you are, it is possible to get exercise if you really want to do it. NO EXCUSES!!! LOL

SO today for my second bandiversary, I am going to see my plastic surgeon to finalize all of the details of the procedures that he will be doing tag team with another plastic surgeon. I am having an abdominoplasty, medial thighplasty, breast augmentation with implants to help my saggy boobs! I am excited, but also nervous. It is anticipated that my surgeon will remove about 14 lbs of excess from my stomach and thighs. Yucchhh! But hopefully the results will be worth the pain!! I am scheduled for transformation on august 3rd. I changed the date from June 15th cause I am moving, packing and in the process of building a new house, so the June date didnt work.

I want to thank everyone who has offered me great advice over the last two years!!!!

Babs in TX

334/18-/170

-154

6/23/03 :rolleyes :laugh :rambo

Babs, congratulations. You've worked really hard & it has certainly paid off. You are a huge (oh, I mean skinny) inspiration.

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I didnt get back to all my buddies here!!! To answer some questions:

Lisa: Nope, I dont have anyone to take care of me. Anybody out there that will take care of me for a week for a free ticket, food and company, I'm game.

I just got back from my doctor and based on the total amount of money I have to cough cough cough up to have the boobs the deductable for my insurance and the difference I have to pay for the upgrade from panniculectomy to full abdominoplasty, I am having second thoughts about the expense.!! Out of pocket even with insurance paying is about 10K If I cut out the boobs, I can keep things in the 3-5k range.

Carol: So good to hear from you. I am glad you are having plastic surgery as well.

Esmerelda: Insurance almost never pays for boobs unless they are so big they are causing pain. They may cover reduction, but surely wont cover an increase if they think it is for cosmetic reasons. Very hard to prove, so I gave up after the first turndown. Chances are you will need maxopexy (skin removal and lift) coupled with saline implants. This costs more than just a breast augmentation or just implants. My boobs dont really sag too much unless I bend down and then they hang to the floor man!! There is excess skin and there is no mass when ya grab them. So its more work than just putting in an implant. They need to cut around the outside, take out the excess skin, then put the implant in. Hope this information helps!!!

Anyway, thanks everyone for the well wishes. I will take before and after pics and let yall see whats been done to me.!!!

Babs in TX