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average loss with the band is 1-2 lbs a week it will be slow but if you follow the rules you will be successful....

Your band must be properly adjusted to work it's magic. You may need more than one fill to reach that zone.

I hope you are so pleased with your progress! Keep up the good work!

Don't you just love it when our children, grown or not, leave us speechless in an "I'm so proud of you" way!!! Sometimes we need to stop and listen...the scale...well, I don't like it, so I only weigh once a week now instead of driving myself crazy once a day! You've got this and you are doing great! I just absolutely love reading your posts!!! So insightful!! Listen to you your son, as I have listened to mine!( 3 of them to be exact...21,20 & 7!)

I don't really trust my scale anymore. I'll probably poke the doctor's office monthly and ask them if I can use their scale real quick. I hope they won't mind...

You look absolutely amazing!!! You're just glowing in the after photos. Congrats on your accomplishments and best of luck!!

Happy Sleeve-Versary & congrats...you've come a long way and look great. I am a newbie who just had my surgery 8/28/13. Thanks for sharing, it does help reading all the success stories. Louann

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