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So, in an email yesterday my bandster friend C had a mama moment and told me that the money I spent on my band would be wasted if I don't exercise. She said that I am no longer allowed to ride the elevator at work unless Tom Cruise was waiting on me. My email reply: Can it be unless Clive Owen is waiting on me? I tried walking up the two flights of stairs and made it through 36 steps before my legs started burning. The last 12 of 48 were a killer. *gasp*cough*gasp*cough*cough. But I did it! This morning, as is my routine upon arriving to work, I hailed the elevator and, as I stepped on, I saw a half sheet of paper taped to the wall of the elevator. There, looking out at me, was Clive Owen. The words read "You weren't really going to take the elevator were you?....... I'm watching you....... You never know where I'll be....... xoxoxo - Clive." Which caused me to laugh out loud. And turn around. And walk up to the second floor to see my friend C, laughing the whole way. She said she had been waiting to hear my laugh. And then she apologized for forgetting that I work on the third floor, stating that I need to start small. Silly C. And yet, I still have a smile on my face, glancing frequently at Clive Owen looking out at me from the side of my computer monitor.

I have to share my excitment! I was banded in July at True Results in Houston. I've had 4 fills now. The first 3 fills I was only given .5 cc. I was under the impression that that's all they would do at True Results, so imagine my surpise yesterday... The nurse asked me how my hunger level was in between meals... I told her a 6 (out of 10).. so she gave me a 1 full cc! I'm now at 7.2 cc. Feeling the restriction now .. hoping it stays like this!! Much love and happiness to all

I'm so excited! Met with the surgeon and he answered all my questions- he leaves 2-3 cc's in the band at surgery, which is nice. Then follwup every 4-6 weeks, with fills then if needed. I start the pre-op liver shrinking diet on Thursday, and I'll have a lot of fun with that, LOL. I'm on my way, and I can't wait!

What kind of tricare do you have? And with your BMI you should have no problems getting approved. As far as dieting, last year tricare didn't require 6 months of dieting beforehand. Of course, the policy could change since it's the new year! Good luck!

Being newly banded just 11 days ago, those feelings of nerves combined with excitement are fresh in my mind. It really is a very minor surgery. I was truly shocked by the lack of pain around my incisions (I have 5 of them, no stitches). I was up walking to the bathroom before I even got out of recovery. My steri strips have come off them just in the last 2 days and they have healed beautifully. The only issue I had was with the gas they pump into your abdomen during surgery. It was a bit painful and uncomfortable. My best advice is to walk as much as you can handle because it really does help to work that air out. So far, I'm doing well. I'm anxious for my first fill on February 6th. As of this past Friday, I've already lost 30 pounds just from the pre-surgical diet and a week post op. I definitely am glad I did this so far! Best of luck to you and be sure to let us know how it goes!

Ding Dang it....was hoping it was instant

My surgeon also gave me a little card saying I have had surgery and that allows me to order off the children's menu, which is really nice!

5 years ago I found myself 24 years old, 322 pounds, and minserable! I decided to have the lap band surgery with the help and support of my family. I successfully lost 90 pounds and my GERD, but couldnt keep up with the frequent and expensive band fills and eventually gained back 25 pounds and the GERD returned. I became demotivated and couldnt stick to a diet long enough to make much progress. Then, last year by eldest brother had the sleeve gastrectomy and went from being 280 pounds and unhappy, to an active marathon runner and happier than I can ever remember seeing him. Not to mention how handsome he looks! Needless to say, that inspired me to do my homeowork on revision surgery and reach out to my "family bariatric surgeon" Dr. James A Davidson (he complete my mother, father, brother and my surgeries). I was concerned that after my emergency gall bladder surgery 3 weeks ago that I would have to push back my surgery due to the weight loss as a side effect of the gall bladder illness. I started a protein shake diet to boost my health and it worked, Dr Davidson approved my bloodwork results and I had surgery on January 13th! The surgery was slightly longer and a bit more invasive since he had to first remove the lap band equipment, so it feels more painful than I remembered. On the bright side, the staff at Forest Park Hospital (Dallas, TX) were very compassionate and informative and the hospital itself is beautiful. I left feeling prepared to handle any issues that might arise and very optimistic. Its only 3 days post-op and I am feeling better everyday! I cannot wait to see my progess in a few weeks, months and especially in a year. I am also starting to put together an action plan. I want to participate in a marathon, learn to scuba dive, buy a bicycle and join a gym! All the things that I was either too embarrassed by my size or just too overweight to do!

Not drinking while you eat is not downing a glass of Water, you can pour yourself a glass of wine, enjoy it before the meal, and sip it during. that's not going to have much effect on anything. I never drank soda very much so didnt/dont miss that. And I can eat almost anything, just in much smaller quantities. My life hasnt changed in that regard, I entertain, go out etc - BUT (and this is a big but) you need to let go of the importance of food in your life. There's a fundamental difference between fat people and effortlessly thin people and that's that thin people enjoy their food, but it has nowhere near as much importance as it does for someone who's gotten fat. They dont sit there worrying about what others will think about what they eat, they dont rush in so that they get their share, they dont worry if they're out of the room while the donuts are brought out, because hey, its only a donut and you can get one anytime you reall want one, right? Make no mistake, to lose weight and keep it off, you MUST change. Your eating habits and approaches have made you fat. Whether you get a band or not, you cant continue to be the same or your weight will only continue to increase. I worried exactly like you are doing before I realised that one fact and then decided that I would go with the band to make sure I really DID change. But it took me several false starts to feel ready to do that. Now, my life is a new normal. There's some things I cant do or eat or whatever, and over the years, that's just become normal to me, no mourning for old times. And now I'm doing it again as I've had major bowel surgery a year ago (lost quite a lot of my plumbing) and now have to relearn how to eat and manage a much shorter digestive system. I would be desperate if I hadnt been through such a change before when I got my band and know that eventually, it will just become normal to me.

First, congratulations. My question is, if you are banded, what was it that was so "Dammmm Hard" for you in the process???