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Tomorrow marks 1 year since I started my journey. Oct 12, 2011 was the day I walked into my Surgeon's office and introduced myself and told him I was ready to make a change and a life long commitment to myself. I had at this point been researching the band for about 6 months off and on and had attended an informational seminar a month earlier. That day I was weighed in at 488lbs and they took all sorts of measurements and pictures along with a thorough physical. They sent me on my way with no promises of surgery until I met all the requirements and criteria. One of those requirements was to lose minimum 5% of my weight. They explained the need to shrink the liver for a safe surgery. I hit that 5% goal which was 24lbs in less then two months. Weight Center was surprised and impressed but I told them that losing is not hard. Keeping it off is hard. I was also given a laundry list of testing that had to be done along with meeting a 3rd party Doctor who had to clear me for the surgery. Also on that day I met with the in-house Nutritionist and was given a pre-op diet to follow along with a schedule for Nutrition classes. It was at that appointment they confirmed I needed to complete a 6 month mandatory monitored diet due to insurance policy. November 28, 2011 the first Monday after Thanksgiving I spent a good chunk of the day at the hospital for the following tests Upper GI Abdominal ultrasound Cardiac Echo Chest X-ray EKG Blood work On December 1, 2011 I returned to the office for a Psychological Evaluation and another follow up with the Nutritionist. Between January 9, 2012 and February 13 I attended a 6 session (we met once a week) class called the Hungry Head. Hungry Head program is to help one distinguish the differences between head hunger and real hunger and to develop skills to manage urges to over-eat. This class also allowed me to meet my mandatory requirement of attending 6 pro-op Support Meetings. I found this class to be an eye opening experience and it really allowed me to take a long honest look at myself. I was a binge eater. I would plan binges. I would go to the store on the way home from work and buy soda, cheese its and ice cream. I would finish a meal and wonder when and what my next meal would be. Eating in front of t.v. was just plain bad for me. I am the one in the Patriots shirt standing with my Dad. We were just wrapping up a fishing trip. This picture was taken in August of 2011. I have no real idea how much I weighed in this picture but it was taken two months before my consult appointment in October. So if I wasn't 488 here I was darn close. This is a more recent picture. Weighing 364lbs down 124lbs. I seems like it took forever to get to Surgery day but wow what a fast year it has been. It was well worth it..wait strike that! I am worth it and I would do this again in heartbeat. Even at 364lbs I have a new lease on life and it can only get better from here. If you read this far I thank you i know I tend to ramble. I will close with a quote posted by Chris Powell from ABC's Extreme Makeover: Weight loss Edition "You will never change your life until you change something you do daily". - John Maxwell Words to live by and I'm still trying....

I am one of these planner folks and numbers people. It annoys the crap out of some, but that is how I am wired and work the best. These days I plan my day out each morning. M-F I eat my Special K breakfast at 5:30 am, I get ready for work - pack my lunch and snack. Once I get to work and get settled in, I normally have a few min that I can get on MyFitnessPal and log breakfast, snack, lunch and what I plan to fix for dinner. This way I know exactly how many calories I am PLANNING to take in that day. If we are going to have something like pizza that night I PLAN that in and also PLAN in a workout. If I plan out my day like this I am much more likely to stick to it than if I just take it as it comes. I am like this in everything. At work I have a color coordinated calendar and my box of color highlighters- People think I'm nuts but it works for me. I believe that we all must have some sort of a plan in order to be succesful, if we "fly by the seat of our pants" we often end up somewhere we don't want to be. Just like when going to the market. I sit down before going to the grocery and write out everything I need (I preplan meals for the coming week). When I go to the store I don't allow myself to browse, I get what is on the list and keep truckin. This prevents me from buy those little extras that will derail me and it also saves time so when I get home I can work out. We plan vacations, meetings, appointments, ect to make sure we get in what we need, with the band it's no different. I you make a plan and post it- for me it's in my handy dandy smart phone (the hubs and I are total tech geeks), but some may stick it on the fridge; either way if you have a plan in place you are more likely to stick to it and be succesful because we hopefully don't plan for failure. So today I encourage to make a plan and stick to it.

How long after you eat did you have them? Could be dumping syndrome. Slow down your eating, make sure you are waiting a full minute to two minutes between bites.

I am so happy you're here and your date is coming up so quickly! I was sleeved 9/14 and already feel like it's the best decision I could have made for me (down 30 lbs.). I feel like I can look forward to being an active grandma now (in 10-20 years lol, my oldest is only 15) instead of watching from the sidelines like my mom with her bad knees, ruined feet, and terrible arthritis.

you were one of the first people who friended me and calmly answered my zillion questions. for that i am forever grateful. YOU Jim, are not only my hero but an inspiration for me to carry on and hang in there, no matter what. you are exceptional you are special you are my friend.

Thank you for your story. It is bittersweet, to lose your Mother is so sad but like slimagainsoon said it may have been God's way because now you are doing well and looking ahead to your healthy future. Sorry for your Loss.

You're doing awesome, Jim. I love that John Maxwell quote. I think attitude is half the battle.

I know what you mean about feeling full and hungry at the same time. I have my surgery tomorrow and I've been on the pre op diet for the last week. Soup and yoghurt. The soup made me feel full but my belly really wanted meat so it was still giving me the hungry signals. I've sort of got used to it so hopefully it won't be too bad on the other side!

I did go this morning for my final consult. Although, I wasn't told that I would be there 4 hours so my husband was pretty angry. Anyway, my surgery is now scheduled for October 22. I came home with the meal replacment powder and all the vitamins that my doctor requires. I can see that it is going to be a struggle to drink 5 shakes a day. I have been drinking on my first one for over an hour. : (

I'm game!