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I'm not sure if anyone will read this, but I don't really care- I need a place to write down and journal my everyday experiences as a new, and ultimately permanent, VSG patient. Day 9 is better. I have felt like myself since about day 5. I've been going to work since Monday, 4 days after surgery. I think this was a smart idea because it keeps me busy and I don't have time to sit around and think about my decision. I have found myself questioning the significance of having this surgery. It is PERMANENT and that is terrifying to me. I can't go back to my old lifestyle. I think and dream about all of my favorite foods that I ultimately cannot fully enjoy anymore. I told my friend the other day that I enjoy eating food and that I enjoy eating A LOT of food. It makes me happy. Unfortunately, I don't have this safety net anymore. I decided somewhere in my mind that being skinny and healthy was more important than enjoying large amounts of food. I am currently having this debate in my head, even though my decision is permanent and I can never go back to eating large quantities ever again. I'm excited about the prospect of eating real food again in a few weeks. I already know the first thing I'm going to have and drool just thinking about it. I feel silly, walking around with only a piece of my stomach left. Like I made some kind of material, superficial decision and abused my body for ridiculous reasons. Could I have lost all the weight on my own? Probably. Would the process have been long, defeating, excruciating, and depressing? Probably. Would I have gained the weight back? Yes, probably, especially since I like food. And now I'm sad because I want to eat something, but can't. At least I can express myself on here. So far I'm not happy with my decision. I pray for my sanity that these feelings change.

Hello, I am 54 turning 55 five days before my surgery, I guess you could call it a little B-day present. Once I made this decision it has happened really fast, I will be a self pay patient. I was a little nervous over that part but quit reading all the negative aspects and am concentrating on the positive. Of course it helped when my surgeon said " I will take good care of you, don't worry". I am married with 2 grown boys (27 & 29) one 4 yr old "sweet as pie" grand daughter that I am by golly gonna keep up with. We love Rving and take our 3 small dogs with us. I am actually looking forward to this challenge. I am the heaviest I have ever weighed and if I don't get control only seeing it get worse. I am the Director of a Cosmetology school of about 170 students. Looking good is important in my field and I am so tired of ordering online because I can't bear to look at myself in that dressing room mirror. Heck, once the weight is gone I won't even have to shop I have a whole wardrope waiting on me. I miss my nice fitting jeans more than anything. Being able to walk in shorts without them riding up the inside of my leg and pulling them down every ten seconds would be nice. Having this forum to talk to people who are going thru the same thing you are, to me is as important as a strong support system. Nothing compares to being able to talk to or ask someone something and have them understand exactly what your talking about. Finding this forum makes the journey ahead all that more exciting. I have enjoyed reading everyones stories and look forward to visiting with everyone as we progress.

The answer to the OP's original question is: "It depends on the individual." I was never much of a junk food person and never a sweet eater. People would look at what I ate and say there was no way I could weigh over 300 pounds eating what I did. Most of these people ate far more than I did and had no weight problem. I once saw a woman on Oprah who was about my same height and build and weighed roughly what I did. The covered a tabletop with what this woman ate in a day. If I had eaten like that, I would've weighed 600 lbs or more. Heck, I gained 12 pounds in a month on WW and told them it was no surprise since it was far more than I ever ate in a day. I understand now my body does not process carbs like a normal person. For me, it's not just 'how much' but 'what'. I always knew low carb worked best for me as far as losing weight, regulating blood sugar and better lab results but didn't realize that the whole grains and fruit I continued to eat were still the reason I was still not in optimum range on any of these and why I eventually became a diabetic. Then I read Dr. Bernstein's "Diabetes Solution" and it was an eye opener. As you can see from the variety of responses in this thread, everyone has an opinion of the best way to lose weight and be healthy...but keep in mind that applies only to that person. If I ate the type of diet recommended by many on this thread, I'd still be taking insulin and struggling to lose even a pound a week (if that) on a 1200 calorie diet...gaining on an 1800 calorie diet. If you believe just eating less will work, try it. Just for your own information, you might want to use something like Fitday.com to record what you're eating so you have something to look back at if it doesn't work. .

Well let's see. I'm 42, married, no kids, but have two golden retrievers who are like my kids I live in Denver, but I was born in Southern California. I lived in Everett, Washington for 7 years before moving here to Denver in 1998. I have two sisters, both younger than I am, who are also overweight but not as much as me. My mother died in 2004 of cancer, and my dad is remarried and lives in Paso Robles, CA. I work for a national residential property management company - we manage over 200 apartment communities from Hawaii to New York. I'm a regional manager and oversee 8 communities in the Denver area. I've been with the company for 8 years and my husband works for them too. I have to travel at least once a month, and I absolutely dread getting on the plane and fitting into those tiny seats. That will be a major milestone for me, to fit in there and not have to ask for a seatbelt extender. The event that triggered my desire to lose weight once and for all was about two years ago. I was in Philly for work, and we went into NYC to see some of our recent apartment purchases there. We walked all over the city, and I was always lagging behind, huffing and puffing and just wishing I would die and get it over with. By the third day, the pain was so bad in my legs and feet that I called my husband in tears. I told him I didn't care what it took, I had to lose weight, I just couldn't go on like this. I started my research and decided on the lap band because it was less intrusive and could be removed if it wasn't working. I love to read - my Kindle is never far from my side. I tend to be a homebody - my mom used to call me Susie Homemaker, because I like to cook (and eat), have a clean house, and take pride in my home. I also married a homebody, so sometimes I do get cabin fever, we don't go anywhere except for our yearly vacation. I'm hoping that losing weight will make me go out more and do things, even if it's to the farmer's market on a weekend or to the movies - when I can fit in the seat better. The first thing I am going to buy when I lose enough weight are knee high boots. I've been wanting them for several years, but at my weight, the calves are just too big and nothing fits! It's so frustrating and that's a major goal for me. Another goal is to be able to buy clothes in a store, actually walk in and get them, rather than buy online. It's been 2 years since I hit the size 30/32 mark and I want to scream sometimes when I buy a bunch of clothes online and have to send half back because the fit isn't right. To be able to walk into Fashion Bug or Lane Bryant and buy clothes should happen within a few months, and that will be a great milestone Other than that, my goal is to lose 10 lbs a month - that's all. If I lose more, fantastic, but I'm not going to beat myself up for losing just 10 lbs a month. That's a year and a half to reach my goal weight, and doable. I'm so tired of being my own worst critic! It feels good to focus on me and not everyone around me for a change

Looking forward to the pre diet as well as getting the band. Sounds silly but biggest worry is being constipated...crazy, huh?

Super excited to hear about everyone's experiences as we go through this together!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why would you even join a site (today) that is for people that WANT to get lap band just to tell us that you dont want to get lap band. That is so stupid. Did you think you would be accepted with open arms. Not very likely. Most everyone on here has done so much research, we could probably do the surgery ourselves. So I would suggest not posting here anymore if you do not intend on getting the lap band and leaving this site for people that looking for support.

Me too! Countdown started! I start the liquid diet this weekend. I know I'll be sucessful having my surgery to look forward to!

I see alot of people talking about their 3-week liquid diet before surgery. I'm glad I don't have to do that, but I do have to do the low carb for 2 weeks prior..it is definitely challenging, I miss sugar so much. They had a potluck at work today and I could smell allt he good food. I just ate my chicken and salad in silence. It's like a drug addiction, you have to seriously learn to get over your cravings. I'm so ready for surgery..April 5th!! Woo hoo, I can't wait. I'm hoping to buy a bathing suit by the end of the summer.

April 18th for me! Woo hoo!!!!!