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One year ago today I was Banded!! So how was my year? Well, I was very very good for about 8-10 months and then I went back to my eating ice cream, too often. I almost always have soft serve but with jimmies(chocolate sprinkles, if you're not from Boston). I was going to the gym (since December, when my husband and I joined) about 4-6 times a week. As the nice weather came, that stopped. We are going today, we are in our workout clothes!! I need to get my s**t together and start over with my new life. My eating has been for the most part great. I love my morning protein shakes. I drink hot tea and iced tea all day and night. I brew my own iced tea, so it's decaf. I enjoy my large salad about 1 hour before my dinner. I have never used salad dressing, so I know I am great in that department. I do eat bread but only in restaurants with really great bread. I do have Chinese food with brown rice and where I usually eat you can get luncheon specials all day and I bring 1/2 of it home for another meal. Use to be I ate the whole plate full and then some more. I also never have fast food. I hate it. I know what you are thinking, a fat person who hates fast food! WOW! If I did any it was maybe french fries (no salt) (hate salt) or a shake and I gave them up and don't miss them at all. My grandsons are mad I won't go to McDonald's with them. Grampie will take them but never Grammie. So as far as my pounds lost, I started my weight loss March, 2012 with replacing breakfast with shakes and lost 26 pounds before my surgery. As of this morning I am down 74 big ones!!! Could it have been more-of course. I am not perfect. It was a few pounds more but the ice cream took care of that and the less moving of the body. I go to the doctor Friday for a fill. I have a 10 band with 3 fills for a total of 1.5 I guess my doctor goes slowly with the fills and I am fine with that. Everyone is different with your loss, eating and working out. Be you and not someone you're not. We do all compare ourselves to everyone, me included. Work towards who you want to be. Have a great day! I will try. Arlene aka "Eye Candy"

I for one am 63. I had never dreamed I could do this until I found a friend who had tried it. I bet their are many people who don't even know these exist. At least the older people.Maybe I am being naïve, but it is soooo new to me yet here I am set for banding on 8-23. I gave it a lot of thought. I have multiple diseases and chronic conditions, 33 pills a day and not feeling too hot anyway you put it. Anyway I am so happy to be here. I am finding out a lot of new things, to do and not to do. I have questions for my doctor. I found out about plication the other day. So I'm going to ask my doctor about that. Some have had it done and love it. So why I ask isn't there more of it heard about ? I see all these youngsters doing this procedure and I feel envious that I hadn't tried it way before now. But I still have a few good years and I want them to be my happiest ever. I have had many problems over the years as most of us have. Give me some feedback on those of you who have tried it and how you feel about it and those waiting to be banded. I am holding my breath hoping to get through the preop and worried about the procedure and after. Just genuine curiosity. Hope to hear from you soon. Donna

Ok, it might not seem like much, but I weight my protein out every night at dinner.Tonight we had steak(one of my favorite cuts!), and I didn't finish my alotted 2.5 oz. This is a minor miracle as I always finish. I probably could have eaten it, but didn't want to feel uncomfortable so I put it in the fridge. I am impressed with myself, I never would have done that before my sleeve! Also my sister gave me some clothes mostly 1X's which I thought that I might fit into in a month or so but I tried them on anyways and they fit!!! And they were cotton blouses with no stretch in them. I was amazed as I can't really see a lot of difference yet, except in my neck(I now have one). So I guess even though I haven't lost a huge amount of weight yet(I'm at 38 lbs gone!), it does make a difference. Can't wait to see what happens next even though I've been on a stall for the last week.

I crossed the finish line. What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. The day of surgery I was up at four, showered again (my skin hated that soap) and did my skin prep (skin hated that as well) and dressed. I dressed in a sassy, long sleeveless maxi dress and high wedged sandals. I thought I looked cute lol. My friend came and off we went. The friend and I sat and talked for 30 minutes then I went into the hospital. They didn't start allowing folks into admissions until 5:45 so I had a 15 min wait. At the given time we go up and the steps of the journey begin. I was fine at first then I started praying that all goes well and I felt like crying. The tears were happy and sad, happy I was having the procedure and sad in thinking that if my mom had taken this chance she would still be here with me. I dried my eyes, I couldn't have folks think I was a chicken lol. And waited. All of the doctored, associated staff came by to introduce themselves etc., it was cool. I had the best nurses that setup my IV and checked my vitals. They assured me I would be fine and vouched for my surgeon big time. They said he did not play around and took his work very seriously. I felt all the stress leave me then. Then they said, it was time. Eight folks were in the room and all introduced themselves. I moved onto the table, they lined me up, strapped me in and put the gas on and I woke up in my room about noon. I need to be very clear on this point, I HATE MORPHINE! Ok, that's better. That stuff made me so sick. I worked too hard to it vomit. They made me walk in a morphine stupor, that my friends was ugly. I stopped using the morphine pump (PCA) at 10 pm that first night and felt tons better. My pain was minimal compared to the soreness I felt from trying to control muscles that have been operated on so I would not vomit. Day two was sooooo much better, 2am I buzzed the nurse and asked to walk. I did three laps around the long halls and felt good. Then I was told I could wash, that was like winning the lottery. At 6am I was up and walking again, two laps this time and once in my room I was allowed some peaceful time in the bathroom to wash and change my gown. The rest of the day was spent begging to have the foley removed and texting friends and family to let them know I was ok. Then cat napping. I was successful in getting the foley removed and having more quality time in the bathroom. I had a private room and wonderful nurses and CNAs to help me. My favorite nurse was named Karen. She was nice, friendly, and very helpful. About 2 pm I started making my arrangements for a ride home. My niece was staying a week with me so she had a friend come with her and they picked me up. I did not realize how scared she was for me, she burst in the room all wild eyed. I started laughing and asked what was wrong, she gave me a good looking over then said nothing, nothing just wanted to be sure you are ok. Later I found out why she was so worried. She visited some sites that told of horror or of things that went wrong for those having the sleeve. I assured her that I was fine and that if she had asked I would have shared the sites I used in my research. Today marks a week and one day since surgery and I have NO regrets! I feel good, I'm losing weight slow and easy. I can even administer my shots myself with ease. I am thankful and very blessed to have this opportunity. I'm glad I waited until this time in my life to have the procedure. A special thank you to all that read the posts and respond to them. They are life lines of insight into the WLS world, they help with issues, concerns, fears, successes, defeats, joy and pride. I would like to wish you all continued success on your journeys. Karen

OK so where to start.....I have been on the site since late november of 12 and here I am 9 months later ready to embark on the journey of the sleeve. I am on here just about everyday and have not done one of these yet. I guess I would like to have something to look back on during and after my transformation.(sounds like I am going to a sex change or something!!) Anyway, I completed my 6 month ins requirement, had to walk the fine line of not dropping below a 40 bmi and not gaining, I started at 5'7' 258(40 bmi) and bounced up to 262 then back down to 257. Ins took about a week which surprised me, thought I would get declined or have to wait a month. Must say that was the most anxiety of this whole process, the insurance. Now onto today I had a 4 hour pre-op appt, was given my pre-op post-op food, and all my paperwork as to the dos-donts of sleeve land....... My other stats are I'm a 33 yr gal married to wonderfully supportive hubby who is more than anxious about my doing this. No kids yet but after I have lost enough to be healthy then we will try. I have a gordon setter named Cooper who is a 75# lapdog and my baby. I also have a 11yr old akita who I feel has probably been with me in another life. She is an old soul who just "knows" me. And anyone who has ever experienced that with a dog/animal knows exactly what I'm saying. Shes beginning to fail and I find myself taking extra moments out of my day to appreciate her. Last but not least is Buddy, hes my african grey parrot and hes a trip. My fatness......well my fatness goes back to one of my first memories going to the doctor for shots and the doctor saying I was overweight, no more apple juice or graham crackers, my mom was a health nut there was never anything unhealthy around. My mom pushed me hard and before you knew it I was sneaking food and hiding to eat. I could think of nothing else but food. I stayed overweight till college when waitressing for 12 hrs and aerobics class took over. Oh yeah and that stuff called ephedrine that was miracle for me. I prob at that point got to my lowest in years around 170-180 and was never aware that I was thinner. I still had the monkey on my back, and I am worried that will be my biggest thing to overcome as the weight comes off. The Fat girl mentality., I must admit, I have the whole self loathing problem, can't make eye contact with people in certain settings, avoid having pics taken. My poor husband, has dealt with me withdrawing from the bedroom due to this as well. I am done hiding!!!! So here starts my new journey, I have butterflies but I am not too freaked out. Considering I am having most of a major organ removed. hhhmmm I am going to take some pics(gasp) and measurements. I have also tried to keep this secret from most everyone. Only my mother and husband know, afterwards I may come clean because at that point it won't matter if theres negativity, whats done is done. I work in a cardiology office and have many people around me who have no filter in there heads and say whatever comes to there tiny little brains......and if I hear "easy way out" again I may scream!! So my surg date is Aug 5 730am sharp!!! I am so ready to get a move on. Sorry for the lengthy post(or not) I will try to post the day of and after, because I know how much seeing those posts have helped educate me and prepare me for whats coming. Till next time

I'm so excited to be down 50 pounds!! I can see and feel a big difference in my clothes - I'm amazed how baggy my clothes are on me. I would love to buy new ones but financially it doesn't make a lot of sense. I've bought some here & there as I've needed them. Like this new dress in my picture. I had a cocktail party for my company sales meeting & yes, I bought it in the regular size section! Who was happier than me in that dressing room? No one!!

Omg... So this is a big week for me... full of anxiety... and self doubt. first... today is a suck ass day.... i hate birthdays and today is a big one... 45. I woke up this morning thinking... OMG... In 5 years i will be 50... I tell you just typing that put a lump in my chest... I'm getting old... second... Going to biloxi ms with my Best Friends... Gina's birthday was Saturday , mine today and Tracy's next Saturday. So this is what's keeping me up.... the dreaded SWIMSUIT.... This year will be my first time on the beach in a bikini in over 20 years. This is what's playing over and over in my head...... Walking on the beach, people looking and thinking...Who told her she could wear that... She must not have mirrors at her house... Or what if what i see in the mirror is only a refection from a fun-house mirror.... and im really disgusting and ..... omg... i'm driving my self crazy. and i didn't get to tan like i wanted .... so now i got white fat on top of all that..... CG.. send me some of your fabulous tan... Ok, Chris... Take a deep breath and remember.... this is as good as it get for now...

Hi Everyone, I am watching Dr. Oz right now and the show's subject is Toxic Love. Very interesting about what loved ones do to each other when they have health issues. Dieting together, a mother telling her daughter, you're fat etc. and cooking the wrong foods. Right now is a couple and the wife wears an insulin pump and the husband cooks all the wrong foods. The therapist is trying to help all the people. Great show. I know of people like that, that make and feed the wrong foods to the diabetic, the WLS person, like all of us etc. Who is the the toxic person in your life? Mine is ME!!!!!!

After lots of hard, hard work, some worrying, some tears (mostly happy ones), lots and lots of happiness, lots of new discoveries about the new me, lots of wonderful changes, I can finally say I have (almost) reached my weight loss goal. Only 2 more pounds to go! Wow, what an amazing journey this has been. I am so happy to be able to do things that ordinary, thin folks do all the time and take for granted: walk around a store without sweating and breathing hard, walk up a small flight of stairs without wanting to pass out, take a walking tour of an historic town on vacation and not have to stop and rest and wipe sweat, shop and try on clothes without being flustered, sweaty, and agrivated, etc. My energy level is out the roof and I have been able to get back into doing my favorite things: DIY projects and furniture refurbishing. My health had gotten so bad because of the weight, that I just didn't feel like or have the energy to tackle DIY projects, which I absolutely adore doing. It feels so good to have the energy and drive that I had lost because of the weight. I don't ever want to be robbed of another moment, for the rest of my life, by weight and health issues. Before I lost the weight, I always hid my hurt and uncomfortableness about my weight with humor---even if I was dying inside and hurt by other people's rude and hurtful comments, I would laugh and be self depracating. One of the things I always joked about, when it was windy and stormy outside, is that I almost didn't make it into the building because I almost got blown away (when you weight 285 pounds, that is funny, cause it would take one heck of a storm to blow away a 285 pound woman) Now, I literally have that exact thing said to me: "You are going to dry up and blow away if you lose any more weight". WOW! How ironic, huh? But, this journey has never been about being skinny. It has been ALL about being healthy, and Praise God, I am healthy!!!!! I am alive, I am still here, and I am better than ever!!! I must go now--a storm is coming and I've got to find something heavy to hold on to, should the wind actually blow me away....... Heheheeeeeheeeee Signed, Skinny Minny

I'm a closet sleever whose doing this alone. Today was my last day at work because my procedure is scheduled for Tuesday. While updating my out of office for work email & updating my voice mail, it hit me. As I would tell my girlfriends......"This *ish is REAL!!" The waiting is over! From 1/2013 to 7/2013, I'm finally here. I've been to the required support groups, the consultations, the psych evals, the 3 months with the Nut, the EGD, the H Pylori meds, (ugh) the tears from being denied the 1st time around, the excitement of being approved from the appeal, the scheduled date FINALLY!! (the longest holiday weekend of my LIFE!) the PreOp class, My RX & "how to" on how to administer the blood thinner injections, once I get home. (and I'm TERRIFIED of needles) Telling my coworkers I'm going out for gall bladder surgery to this very moment. I don't know how I should feel. I've read many books & I've scanned many blogs. I'm stocked up on food & prayers!! I have enough chicken broth, beef broth, vegetable broth, seafood broth, jello, pudding, protien powders, syntrax nectar powders, isopure RTD, liquid whey protein tubes, chewable vitamins, chewable iron, applesauce, sugar free drink packets & bottled water to last me through to December!! lol.....No...seriously! Thank you all for your support, your guidance & for emails I've received. We are all in this together & I'm looking forward to crossing over into my new beginning very shortly.