Leaderboard

I have missed your check ins. WOW-your new weight. It's great when you love exercise. Good for you.

I've been thinking of you. Glad you are doing well.

Congratulations on your sleeve! Stay positive and think of your healthy future. Every week that passes you will thank yourself more and more for this wonderful gift. I am nearly 4 months out, down 60lbs and feeling over the moon! I have a wonderful, supportive and loving husband, too. So thankful <3

Congrats on your surgery, Hope the pain goes away as fast as it came in. thank God for family being there with you and bringing you chicken soup, what a sweet daughter and strong Hubby too.

Mazel Tov on losing 50 fat ass pounds! I always say I lost a small child.Your new picture looks great with your new and smaller sized clothes.

Can I say that I relate as well, but wanted to add that one thing I have learnt being 5 years post banding is that I never changed. On the outside? Yes. How people treated me? Definitely. But the fundamental part of me, who I was, who I am, remains the same. That doesn't change with the what you weigh. The difference though between me and someone who was always thin is that I recognise that someone's weight doesn't define them. And it doesn't define me. Nor should it define you. Fat, thin, you will still be you.

I enjoyed reading your story. When I met with my original surgeon, long story, I said I felt like a failure because I needed the Band! She said I was not a failure but I was helping myself with a tool. She was right. I love my tool. I love no more 'fat stores'. I can fit into booths in restaurants and no longer have to ask for table and chairs. I can keep up with my grandsons. Don't think that getting the band means you are a failure and need help. We all need help everyday. In other ways. By the way, did you ever model? good luck with your choice. Maybe go to the support meetings with your husband. I go every month and most of the time my husband comes with me for support.

Our stories are very similar! Like you, I have been "the fat girl" my entire life. I can remember being as young as 5th grade and obsessed with how huge my thighs were. I remember being teased for being big all through junior high. I remember going shopping with my girlfriends in high school and being so ashamed because I couldn't wear anything at the "normal sized" shops they went to. I did date as a teen but my self esteem was always awful. When I hit college, like you I decided to own being a fat girl. I had more self confidence and I decided I didn't give a rip if someone did like me for me- fat and all. ...but then I had my first child at 21 years old...and got bigger and bigger. Over the years I ballooned up to over 400 pounds. Any self esteem I ever had was long gone and my health was seriously tanking fast. My best advice is to let go of that "fat girl" mentality. Too often we wear it like a suit of armor not a badge of courage. We're teased and tormented so severely we try to muster up all this false bravado to shield ourselves from being hurt yet again. It is simply wonderful you're doing this for your health- but you have to be ok with the fact there's nothing wrong with doing this to look good, too. You're not letting society or anyone else "win" by getting the Lap Band and losing weight. YOU are winning for taking control of your health so you can live a long, happy, healthy life with your husband. Best wishes to you

I was diagnosed with severe apnea last September. I have been using a BiPap with a pressure of 20/16. Now it's one year later and and I have a surgery date of 9/5 for my gastric bypass. The test is a pain but worth it. Sleep apnea (severe) is life threatening. we'll overcome it and the weight. I give you credit for facing up to what you have to do at such a young age. I hope to hear good things from you in future posts:)

Sorry to hear about your friend's fire. As for your co-workers, they are co-workers, not friends. People are with their co-workers more than anyone else in their life yet they don't understand the bonding sometimes. Very sad for them. Meanwhile, raising money for the fire victim was great and must have made you feel wonderful. NSV!