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I have been in onederland for awhile now-well a few weeks-and my weight loss has slacked off, but I am still stoked about being under 200 pounds. I only weigh 10 pounds more than my hubby-WOW. I have only lost 10 pounds over the last month, but really that is more than I thought. I have reached the point where I can accept that stalls will happen and when they do, I quit weighing so I don't go berserk. I am in a size 12 snuggly and 14 loosely now and I am THRILLED about that. Still having issues accepting my body in the buff and am really challenging myself with strength training to rectify this. I still don't feel like I have reached my baseline strength level as far as gaining muscle mass back, and I drink protein drinks almost daily still. But I will get there. I didn't get this way in overnight! My hair has begun to really thin. I had a massive amount of hair to begin with so now it is just to the point where it is actually manageable, but i sure hope it slows down soon. I have doubled my protein powders and have added Biotin,and brush it more to stimulate the follicles, but it is still falling out. I think it is beginning to slow down, but we will see. For the most part, overall, I am very satisfied and gratified with my surgery and I can't believe I have lost 68% of my desired weight loss already and it isn't even 4 whole months yet. WOW. I have learned I cannot eat flour tortillas or chicken strips or hot peppers or chewy bread...lol. I am sure there will be more things but these cause vomiting and pain. I am so glad I have taken this drastic step to getting my life back in control.

Found this site today while looking for the Good Morning America story on Weight Loss Surgery. There aren't many people in my area that I know that have had the sleeve done. Most at our support group have had the by-pass and a few have had the lap band. I am hoping to chronicle my journey here. My surgery was 9/13/11 at 7:30 in the am. Sure was an early wake up that day. Once I received the Versed I don't remember anything until around 1 pm when my wonderful was sitting next to my bed. I drifted in and out for a number of hours but was able to get up in the early evening and start walking. The hardest part was getting in and out of bed. Having had surgery in the past I knew how important it was to get up and moving asap. I knew how to get out of bed with the least amount of pain so I was up and moving. The next morning I had the video fluoroscopic swallow study and was found to be leak free. Started drinking an ounce an hour of fluid. No nausea or vomiting - yeah! I must have been quite tuned into the hour restriction because I woke up all night on the hour to drink my fluids. The next day I was sent home. I was out of work full time for 2 weeks and then returned to work part time for 2 weeks. I actually worked 69/80 hrs. I found I was exhausted each day but during the week my endurance improved. The 5th week I returned to work full time. Once again I found I was exhausted but improved as time went on. I am now almost 8 weeks out and still require more sleep. That may be that my CPAP isn't working as well with the weight loss. I am awakening with a dry mouth, the pressure is to high for my weight and I "puff" out air due to the pressure. I am not awakening refreshed as I was. The pulmonologist did send an order to reduce the pressure so I expect to sleep better next week. My insurance required I participate in a weight loss program for 12 months prior to getting approval for surgery. I am 5' 4.5", I was 255.8 lbs. Over the course of a yr I was able to lose 25.8 lbs to a weight of 233.0 lbs. I had a 4 month plateau regardless of exercise and continuing to follow my diet. This was an effect I had experienced in the past with all the other options for weight loss I had attempted in 25 yrs. I started the liquid diet 3 weeks before my actual surgery even though it was only required for 2 weeks. My insurance didn't get the approval done in time so I continued on the liquids for the 3rd week. I dropped another 6.4 lbs over those 3 weeks. I really did expect more. 3 days after surgery, my 1st day home I weighed in at 223.6. What was this? I had surgery, basically had not eaten anything for 4 days and I was still almost as heavy? Figured it might be the IV fluids, swelling and inflammation from the surgery. The weight did start to come off, quickly at 1st then right into a plateau again. at 209 - 210 for a week. Since Oct 4th I have been dropping again. Today I was 197.6 after a 2 day stay away from home at a conference. I finally broke the 200 lb barrier on Oct 28th 6.5 weeks past surgery and 6 weeks after I restarted weighing after surgery, 24.8 lbs lost. Now losing about 2 lbs a week. I have dropped from a size 24 pant to a size 18. Some of the 18s are still too tight but the 20s are to big. Will have to look to see if I have any clothing in smaller sizes. I have several bags that never got to the Goodwill. If I don't have any smaller clothes I will be shopping at Goodwill soon.

Girl, you will get through this and you will be better off for it! You have lost yourself through this marriage and now it's time to recapture the essence of who you really are and what you can be! I went through a divorce years ago and it wasn't easy-never is. Stay strong and focused. To me, you sound like an amazingly strong person. Deciding to get a divorce and turning your life around atthis point take a tremendous amount of courage-good for you! And deciding to have the lapband was another life-changing decision! You just capapulted your life into a new direction and it will be difficult and scary at first, but then you will land on your feet and realize that life can be a happy and you deserved to be loved and cherished. I love this quote: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing Enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Oh I have definitely been in your shoes! I had my surgery on May 25th and a week or 2 after surgery I lost some weight but then I barely lost anything-a very slow process! I started all this self-doubt thinking that maybe this surgery wouldn't work for me. I still could eat pretty much anything and was becoming discoraged. Slowly after each fill I could sense myself inching towards the "Green Zone" and out of the stage they calle "Bandster Hell" (<--the period of time that weight lost is low and hunger is high). Then my 4th fill did the trick -3 months after surgery! I still get hungry but I simply can not eat normal sized portions and my weight loss keeps going down (slowly-but steady). Yesterday I was trying on coats-last year I was a 20/22 or 2x and yesterday I stood in front of the Macy's mirror with a size 14 coat on!! A friggen 14!! I LOVE to go clothes shopping now! I actually feel sexy now and I haven't felt that in many, many years. My point is-you are still in the very beginning stages and you don't have the correct fill to get you into the green zone. With each fill you recieve it will get you closer. Before you know it you will be looking in the mirror and thinking "Wow, I look good!" Keep summer in mind-by summer time you'll be looking fabulous and feeling so much healthier! Meanwhile try to eat healthy foods and get out and take walks, drink plenty of Water, vitiamins, get your Proteins in so you don't feel the hunger monster as much. You will get there son enough!

I don't think anyone is encouraging him to cheat. He asked a question and people are answering him. Truthfully, I started eating solids in my mushy stage. Hi, my name is Raquel and I'm not perfect! I love how so many people on this website are perfect though, lol.

I don't know you, but we've had a few posters from the "web site whose name must not be spoken", and at first, I suspected you might be one. I guess not. It's pretty clear you got screwed by a bunch of quacks and I'm surprised you're not going after them if your account is accurate. This is exactly why I recommend Centers of Excellence. Many people think they can't afford them, but how do you know if you don't ask? Band surgery is quite profitable if the surgeon doesn't provide any support other than anesthesia. Fills are a very simple procedure, the actual fill takes 2 minutes. You can go to any of a hundred clinics to get one. As far as the band itself, I can provide reliable statistics that the band is easier and more reliable and dependable than any other WLS provided it's done by a qualified surgeon. I don't want to make an enemy of you, even when you introduce yourself the way you did, and if there is any help (other than financial) I can give you, I'll be happy to.

I've been banded five weeks and have not lost any weight since the second week in. I get my first fill next week. For me, its easy to forget about the band. I have had a good recovery and am able to eat just about any kind of food. Old habits rear their ugly head on occasion. I'm a stress eater and as we all know, there is A LOT to be stressed about! Everyday, I wrap my head around the process a little bit more. One of the biggest factors in my journey was the nutritionist looking me square in the face and tell me what I need to eat. No more "what I don't need to eat". I need Protein, I need veggies, I need Vitamins, etc. Reading the message board helps. I get to see that there are people out there just like me. We have good days, and sometimes bad days. Hope for more good days than bad. Don't beat yourself up, that won't help. (I know because I have a lot of experience in that, ha) I know LapBand surgery is not the complete answer, but, it gives me motivation. I spent a lot of money and time getting here and I'm not going back. I'm exercising, drinking Water, eating healthier and I'm ready for a change. So, keep going! If what you are doing isn't working, do something different. Food diaries are great. You can look back and see exactly what you have taken in.

Great List! Really got me thinking.... I'm having surgery Jan 26th, and here's what I am most looking forward to: 10: Wrapping a regular size towel around me after I shower. Not a bath sheet! Just a regular towel. 9: Putting my 'skinny' rings on again. I miss them, especially my thumb ring. 8: Being able to tie my sneakers without getting out of breath from leaning over. 7: Being able to go on a roller coaster with my children (ages 8 & 5). 6: Feeling confident going for a walk on the beach without hiding under a big t-shirt and shorts. I haven't worn a bikini since I was 4. I'll be just as happy to wear a tank-ini! 5: Joining exercise classes. I've especially always wanted to joing a swimming aerobics class. I just know I'll love it, but have always been too embarrassed. 4: Going for a bike ride with my children around the neighborhood without my fat a$$ falling asleep because it's hanging over the teeny-tiny seat. 3: Being able to slide into any booth in any restaurant. 2: Buying a watch or a bracelet without trying it on first! 1: Not having the feeling that I'm going to break the chair during my kindergartners parent-teacher conferences when they make me sit in his seat! Goodness! I can probably think of 10 more given enough time!! Thanks for the idea!

What a list! Everyone one of those things sounds wonderful to me. Sometimes I think I don't exist because I wont let anyone take a picture of me. The only pictures I have are taken by myself - close up, face only, at an angle above - so my face looks thinner. I decided to edit my post so I could add some things of my own (in no particular order): *Be able to sleep through the night without getting up 5 times to pee because my belly and organs put so much stress on my little bladder, it's like I'm 9 months pregnant. *Adding to my bladder problems, I'd like to be able to stop the stress incontinence that happens when I don't make it to the bathroom many of those 5 times I get up in the night... or all the leaks during the day. *Being able to sleep through the night without waking up to realize I'm not breathing (severe apnea that I haven't sought help for). *Being able to sleep in the same bed as my husband without keeping him awake with my snoring (see above). *Being able to bend over to tie my shoes instead of having to awkwardly lift my leg up to my lap and gasp in shallow breaths from my huge belly pushing against my lungs. *Being able to actually choose shoes that tie up instead of wearing slip-on every day (see above). *Being able to wear a bra without being stabbed in the sides by the boning and wires that are meant to keep my enormous breasts from hanging to my knees. *Being able to wear a bra without "poppin fresh" or "quadro boob" action... or a second set of boobs on my back that I am in denial about. *Being able to clean the house, do the laundry, wash the dishes, live a life that is organized because I will have the energy and ambition to do it. *Being able to give myself a proper pedicure instead of the nasty toes I have now. *Being able to wear shorts in public (I live in Florida) instead of getting dressed in pants just to go to Walmart because I'm so ashamed of my legs. *Being able to feel professional at work. I'm a bank manager and I always feel like I look like I'm dressing to go grocery shopping. I wear huge, flowing blouses and black stretchy pants. My future is a moo moo if I don't do something about this NOW. *Make my ex-husband rue the day. Yes, I know it's petty but he once told me I'm the fattest thing he's ever seen, that he's ashamed of me and embarssed to be seen with me. I'd like to not be those things when he sees me next. He doesn't have to say anything. I just want him to SEE. *I'd like to stop hearing that I "have such a pretty face." I think I'd like to hear "You have a nice butt" a few times before I get much older. *Being able to have sex with my husband. Not being mean, but he's not interested in me sexually anymore. He's so turned off, he can't maintain an erection. Before anyone judges him... he's never really said a word about my weight... but I can see it in his eyes. He's going to Afghanistan in less than 2 months. I'd like to look different when he comes home. *I'd like to eat a twinkie. Weird, right? Ever since I went over 250 pounds, I stopped eating junk food. I topped out at 268 and here I hover. Bread calls my name... maybe that's "my" junkfood. I need more self control. *I'd like to have the door held for me instead of people letting it go in my face. *I'd like to be able to drive without the seat belt nearly sawing my head off as I drive. *I'd like to wear high heeled shoes. *I'd like to not have to use 1/2 a pound of powder under my "apron" to keep from chaffing in the hot Florida weather. By the end of the day, with all the powder, it's like I've made dough. Want some bread? *Not to have to adjust my apron every time I sit or stand like I'm some nasty guy adjusting his crotch. *Speaking of crotches, I'd like to be able to locate mine again and "trim the hedges" appropriately.... and without getting pimples and boils from the ingrown hairs. It's been so long since I adequately trimmed it, I'm starting to feel like sasquatch. *Being able to wear my jewelry again. Most of the rings locked in my Safe Deposit Box are size 5 1/2. Now I wear a size 8 on my fat little fingers. There are rings, 16" necklaces and lovely bracelets I would LOVE to wear again. *Being able to have a period. I've had 1 period in 2010 and I think I ought to have at least a few more before menopause, don't you think? (I'm only 40.) *Not have to take Metformin for my PCOS because, at a normal weight, I probably wont have to. *Not have people watch me eat like they're watching a car wreck in slow motion. *I want to shop at a normal store and love the way I look in my clothes. *I want my physical self to reflect the person I am inside, beautiful, fun and optomistic. Robin

This is so AMAZING! These results are WONDERFUL! I love seeing all this as it motivates me so much and keeps me hopeful on those not so great days!