Hi there to everyone.

I'm "dare301obx". The "dare301" is my radio call number and the "obx" is for the Outer Banks of NC.

"What??????" they ask.

Ok.... My name is Charlie Watson and I'm the acting EMS Director for Dare County EMS (the Paramedics) on the Outer Banks of NC.

I was banded on Wednesday, Feb 11, in SENTARA Norfolk General Hospital by Dr. Mark Fontana.

My weight at my pre-surgery physical exam was 267. I weighted 236 this morning....31 lbs so far!!!:scared2:

Still no fills; only the initial "let's make sure it doesn't leak fill" from surgery and so far I've not really been hungry any, not REALLY. There have been some "twinges" but I just let them pass me by.

A little more about me... I'm 54, married to a wonderful lady who is really standing by me in this process (she's actually following the same diet that I have to and she's lost over 25 lbs too!... she's not a candidate for WLS due to a number of previous abdominal surgeries... lots of internal scaring)

We live on the wonderful Outer Banks of North Carolina... you can't go any farther east without getting your feet wet in the Atlantic. We live in Nags Head, NC and our house is about 1/3 mile from the oceanfront but we try to spend as much time as we can, especailly in the summer, in Rodanthe, NC (that's right... where they filmed the movie "Nights in Rodanthe") about 30 minutes south of our house on Hatteras Island. There we have an old 34' travel trailer on a "permenant" spot in a oceanfront campground. The trailer is about 250 yards from the beach there.

Needless to say....we're a couple of real "BEACH BUMS!":Banane30:

My goal, besided the "want to be more healthy" BS is actually.... I want to be more healthy... for real. I want to outlive my parents. I want my quality of life to be better than what it's been the last couple of years. I don't want to feel like I'm pulling an anchor around with me all the time.

My weight goal is to see 175 again. That will require a lost of just over 90 pounds. But then,,, once I reach that weight, I want to keep it off. That was one of my main questions when I saw my surgero for the first time..... "Slow and steady is fine with me.... I'm more concerned about where I'll be in 5 years.... 10 years after surgery."

So.... bear with me and join me as I join you in this journey to bandlandia!

Good Luck! :confused:

Congratulations and welcome as you began this journey.

I was fortunate and both my wife and I had surgery on 9/12/07.

While the journey has not been easy it has been very beneficial for my health.

I no longer have to take metformin for diabetes, and I no longer have to use a Cpap machine for snoring.

I no longer take pain medication for my back and knees.

I to want to outlive my parents.

Welcome to bandland. I know where you are. We do a trek out here almost yearly. We camp as well. Grew up in nash county, know Nags Head well. We visit Rodanthe as well do the KOA or the CAmp Hatteras with our membership. It's a 4.5 hr trip one way for us now. I am 14 months out and 8 lbs from goal. luv my band. I have had 9 fills total of approx 9cc in 10 cc band. Full of energy. Take it slowly don't rush. Work on your new eating habits and keep a food journal of everything you eat. Good luck:thumbup:

welcome. i am envious of your location. i am in the the heartland of the country, the midwest, in cincinnati.

i was banded four weeks ago and get my fill on friday the 13th. best of luck to you.peggy