Hello Band Mates,

I have never done a blog before and thought this would be a good way to connect with people who may be going through the same things or have already gone through some to the ups and downs of the Lap Band Journey. My Name is Nikkia and I am 33 years old and a single mother with two boys ages 8 and 5. I am 5'9 and my post op 280 and my current weight is 258. My surgery was July 27,20011. Looking back I am so glad that I made the decision to have the lap band surgery. Myself esteem was at an all time love and I just didn't know what to do and how to feel about anything because I was so caught up in my own mind of denial about my feeling and never really took action to make changes. I have a great support system and I am forever thankful. My mother and my boyfriend have both been there to see me through the process. In January I told Paulton that I was thinking about getting the lap bad and of course he felt that I was fine and didn't need to get the surgery done. what he and many of my family and friends failed to realize how unhappy I was every time I would look in the mirror or how I hated going shopping for clothes April 12,2011 changed my life and impacted in so much that it really made me search within myself to get healthy and happy. April 12, 2011 my step sister killed herself and three of her four children. Her death effected me in away that I had to take a good look at myself. I was always one to have a victims mentality about everything and scare to step out on faith out of fear. I went to a seminar on April 27, 2011 and the process was well worth it. The day of the surgery I was so nervous, I was to be at the hospital at 7:30 am. I don't think I even slept the night before. My mother and Paulton were there and so were my boys. Dr. Kwon put me at ease and it was time to get started. Today my love for Nikkia is increasing day by day. I am not going to lie I do have a slight fear of failing. I am looking forward to so many things but in the back of my mind I want to scream out joy because this is the first time I doing something for me. My first Post op visit was August 1 and I lost 15lbs. My next appointment is August 15. ( tomorrow)

I ask you to take this journey with me and allow the love for ourselves to grow. This is not a race, its a Journey. this .blog is for positive thinking only. I will add entries everyday day..

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

MsOutlaw378