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My last meal was bruschetta, little toasted pieces of baguette, rubbed with garlic, laden with chopped tomatoes and basil. I thought maybe I would never be able to eat them again, I mourned a little that it had come to this, I was excited to have hope again, I was already bookmarking favorites in online shopping, filling the imaginary shopping cart with pretty items in never before dreamt of sizes. Two years ago today I woke very early, 6 perhaps, amazing how some things get forgotten ... I had drunk the horrific milk of magnesia the night before and had my final water at the same time and now was nervous and thirsty, the adrenaline making both sensations all the more acute. My Mother and I were at a hotel around the corner from the hospital and we drove there, or did we take the shuttle? I was in my pyjamas, having just showered with the special cleanser they gave me. I was private pay from one of the best surgical teams for VSG in the world, Laparascopic Associates of San Francisco, so I got a pretty 5 star treatment, private changing room, garment bag for my things, robes etc. with the LASF logo stitched on. I must have been nervous but my adrenaline kept me from really feeling much. My Mom and I waited in a private room, I laid on a bed in my gowns. One last trip to the bathroom and it was off to the OR to meet the kindest anesthesiologist ever, I think she had all sorts of dogs printed on her surgical cap, that's all I remember ... Next thing, I was waking up in my room with a view of the City, in and out of consciousness ... there were popsicles ... there was walking ... there was feeling like I was going to barf but nothing happening ... I didn't pee when they wanted me to and a few other things so I spent an extra day in the hospital ... The following few days are mostly a blur, 2 years later my Mother tells me the timeline of events during those days and it's all news to me. I spent 3 weeks recovering in the country, in a little cottage up the coast a few hours from SF. That first night I stayed on the couch in a sitting position and the following 3 nights I slept in bed but only on my side as sleeping on my back gave me terrible sensations. My body was a foreign landscape that first week and for the first month I felt as close to vampiric as one can, I had no human bodily functions - no need to pee or poop, no interest in human food, in fact a revulsion of nearly every food or beverage. Before I walked into the OR they weighed me one last time, 294. 2 weeks later I came back for a check up and they weighed me, 274. 20 pounds! Those first 20 pounds were more stunning than the following 100. After all the research, all the thinking, all the talking to sleevers, it still had never genuinely sunk in that this was real and that it really does work. I sat in my Dr's office, stunned! There are plenty of people here on VST who tell delightful tales of reaching and exceeding their goals within 6 months, how they are now under goal, wear a size 0, and chirp chirp chirp, tweet tweet tweet. Well, good for them, wish I was one. That has never been my VSG story however. It was a full year before I joined the century club and 2 years out I am still shy of surgeon's goal by approx. 25 lbs and personal by approx. 50. Two years out I sometimes still reflexively tense up when I sit in a chair with arms, genuinely expecting to not be able to fit into it. I still stiffen up when in crowds, thinking people are staring and staring for negative reasons. I still FEEL fat often, I still feel frustrated that after so much time and effort I still probably look like a pudgy lazy bones to the average lay person, but I would rather be at this stage of the game rather than having never begun and still at square one! I've learned that losing weight and becoming physically active and strong does solve a lot of problems and does bring a lot of simple joy but that losing weight or becoming a specific size doesn't automatically confer happiness and that fat or thin life can just suck sometimes. Weight loss is NOT a fairy tale prince come to swoop me onto a horse and ride me off into a happily ever after sunset, a fact that honestly, I am still trying to come to terms with. One final thought, I think I might not have made the decision or had the success I have had or a lot of positive things if it weren't for this forum and the support I've found here. Fellow sleevers from around the world have supported me, advised me, commiserated with me and have just been indispensable on this journey. I hope I have been able to give some of that back. Here's to the continued adventures, the continued seeking of and eventual attainment of goals, for me and for us all, -Globetrotter

Hello everyone, I am a newbie J I couldn’t ride the rollercoaster at Disney World with my kids (July 2012). How humiliating to have to exit the ride because I was too big. How humiliating was the remainder of the day having to use the “check to see if you can fit” seat before standing in line. With eyes wide open, I now accept that my obesity is preventing me from living my life to its fullest. It’s more than just wanting to look good in my clothes, it about having full mobility, and control of my body. I sit here today amazed at how it has slowly disappeared as the years have passed by. I begin my 6 month (actually 7) physician supervised weight loss to satisfy my insurance requirements, then on to a barrage of test as you aware. Instead of looking at each visit as an obstacle, I am going to view them as small successes on the way to reach my goal(s). Although I am scared of the unknown, I am excited to be doing something to improve the quality of my life. I am glad to know I can pull on the experience and encouragement that can be found here. Thanks to everyone who has had the courage to share their experience as I embark on my own. Traci aka mykidzmom10k

SW 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4)

Five weeks ago, banded and hopeful. Today, I'm down 23 lbs and so happy about that! Not a super fast loss, but I'll take slow and stead and PERMANENT any day over fast and yo-yo! I'm finding that summer time is the most challenging time for me - although there are many fresh fruits, veggies and healthy options out there at this time of year, for me and my husband, there are many social engagements including barbecues, outdoor concerts, farmer's markets, weddings, and other really wonderful events. The events for me are not a challenge, and I'm finding that the food at the events is not the problem, but I am one to enjoy a glass or two of wine or a cocktail with friends at these events. While I'm still losing, I'm thinking that I'd do myself a bigger favor if I stuck to non-alcoholic beverages and watch the weight come down faster. But like I said above, it's not all about losing it fast - I am learning a new way of living right now, and if that life involves an occasional cocktail or glass of wine, so be it. This week has been full of festivities related to a dear friend getting married tonight. I haven't exercised as much because work has been insane busy and we've had engagements every night this week. But isn't that what life is all about? Some weeks are busier than others, it's all about having balance and taking care of myself. I feel like I've been doing a pretty good job in that area. Will I have a glass of wine tonight at the reception? YEP! My daughter turned 18 on Thursday and headed out to Denver (about 4 hours away) for the weekend. As life would have it, she ended up in a fender bender, wanting to come home, not sure about her future move to Denver for school, and so upset (poor baby!) My old mode would have been to hit the pantry since I couldn't be right there to help her. But this time, (luckily her dad is over there), I was able to deal with the problem, feel the emotions I was having, and not stuff them down with a bag of chips. I just talked them out, and I felt better than the food would have made me feel. Again, life happens. So the ups and downs can still happen without dousing them in food - I am learning a whole new way of being, a new way of dealing, and I feel good that so far I've been able to take on stress (good and bad stress) in a healthy way. Hope all of you out there are doing well, remember it really is a JOURNEY and our bands are helping us physically manage hunger while we learn to deal with the other habits and head issues that have made us obese. It is so much easier to understand old patterns, look at them for what they were and change them when I'm not constantly starving. I LOVE MY BAND!!! My best - D

3 weeks left omg it's going by fast. I am starting to get a little nervous about going to Mexico. I've done all my research and have chosen a great DR. but it's still scary. I'm trying to think only about the positive changes that are to come in my future. Start my preop diet in a week. 8/7/12 here I come!!!!!

Well it is Friday and I have been doing the liquid diet for almost 2 weeks. I have lost about 14 pounds which is great but I am tired of the protein shakes. I am wanting real food and it is rough drinking only sweet protein shakes. I wish I would have gotten some unflavored so I could hide them in soups, oatmeal etc. I have worked in a couple cans of soup over the couple of weeks but that is the only cheating I have done. I am very proud of myself for being able to stick to this since I really didn't think I would be able to do it. Nervous does not even explain how I feel about Monday. I just want everything to go well! Jumping in with both feet!