revolution

I was 300 lbs. I am now 156. Go me!

well, first of all, clubs aren't a place you want to meet men, trust me. They are there to get laid. You can be overweight and have tons of self confidence but most overweight people have none so they stay single and shy away from anyone who might be interested. I was like that 110 pounds ago and I'm still like that now, in a sense. It's odd cause I still feel fat, but people tell me how small I am now. There's a lot of mental issues you have to face and deal with because you're changing bodies, practically. Everything you are used to, such as the way people look and treat you, the way you feel in public, it changes, but the mind doesn't. You feel more self confident, especially when you pass and see a reflection to yourself, but the mind still feels like you're big and mentally, it just doesn't go away. Just remember that. It's always good to talk to people who have gone through it or some hospitals offer a therapist for people in the process of losing weight. it helps.

I have trouble with anything thick, like a smoothie or anything creamy. I have trouble drinking because I have a bad habit to actually drink and not sip. I get very thirsty. I can eat fish because it melts in your mouth and I can eat spaghetti for some reason. I do throw up quite a bit but its usually just regurgitation (sp) of something I've drank. Something must be working though cause I've lost a lot of weight in the past 6 months

my band anniversary was january 17th, and when I went in to get weighed and get my fill, I had lost 90 at that time. Now, I'm at 110. Im proud

hi! I'm 27 years old. My journey started a year ago, actually. Well, 13 months ago. I was operated on on January 17th, 2007. The funny part about the whole thing was that after reading up on it so much, I really didn't expect such great results, and I'm still in shock, I suppose. Pre-surgery, I was 300 lbs. A year later, I've lost 110 pounds "ish" and I am now 190 lbs. I still have about 40 pounds to lose and I have tons of loose skin, but I fit into size 12 jeans and its so worth it. When I first got the band, the weight loss was slow and I was starting to regret it, but after a couple of months of fills, it started falling off. I'm so glad I got it now. My moral is better, my self confidence is up, I don't feel like I'm stared at all the time in public, I don't feel like I'm taking up so much space (eg. bus/metro), and I feel....like a female again. Life changes so much. For anyone thinking about doing it, DO IT. I feel so good now. Imagine 40 pounds down the road? I wouldn't wish the way I felt when I was 300 on anyone.... Take care :]

ok i figured it out. I had my surgery January 17th, 2007. I'm down about 110 pounds. Before my surgery, I weighed 300. Now, I weigh about 190. Yay!

1.I can cross my legs 2.I can stand up for myself and not be scared someone will snap back with a weight comment. 3. I can eat in public and not be ashamed. 4.I have neck bones 5.I fit into friends clothes, meaning my wardrobe has extended. 6.I can fit into regular clothes and pay a decent amount for clothes 7.I have a nice curve now to my body, especially my butt, and not an ugly lumpy obese one.

i lost 70 pounds~! weeeeeehoo!

I've had about 5 fills and It really took until I was up to 4.5 cc's in a 10 cc band that I could feel restricted. You should feel a tiny restriction by just having the band but I think 4 months in, you should of had a lot more fills. When you hit that right amount of injection, thats when the weight starts pouring off. I'd get an appt asap.

I feel the same way. I've lost about 50lbs since my surgery and people are like "oh wow you've lost so much weight" but i don't see it. And god, I wish I did. I thought 50 pounds would make a huge difference and maybe it has....but i just don't see it. I hope when I reach at least 200, something will change cause psychologically, it's just much weirder than I thought.

Here we are trying to lose weight and most of us are at the point where we're so big that we've lost the will or don't have the ability to lose weight, so we get this tool to help us throughout the process. Then, here comes along someone who isn't that big but wants the surgery. To me, that's copping an easy way out. It's a tool, not an easy way to lose weight and I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean, but to me, someone who was 300 pounds, you're not using it as a tool or a last resort, you're just copping out and gaining weight just to get the surgery is just wrong. The doctors obviously know what they're talking about and if there isn't a single doctor out there who would do the surgery on you cause your bmi is too low, then that is because it isn't a last resort for you. This tool is supposed to be a final resort, not a cop out. Hate me for thinking this way, but come on.

Something just doesn't seem right about that.

Don't panic, the first fill doesn't really do much. Usually the 2nd or third fill is when you really feel restricted. Then you'll lose weight faster.

i always try to imagine myself thin, but i can't cause the last time i was a normal weight was when i was 7. i hope im hot haha.

Actually yeah! That happened to me. The first time i went in, they couldn't find my port, and they tried and tried and tried. finally they gave up and gave me xrays to make sure it hadn't moved and ends up it was south to where it originally was. it might of moved down or its so deep in you that they can't access the hole. either way, they will find it with xrays, if they haven't done that already good luck

another 3 pounds lost in 2 weeks. I personally think this is dead slow. the doctor says that i need a fill, so i'm getting one in 2 weeks but i find that even with fills, nothing changes. I've had 2 fills so far of 1 cc. i don't know how the measurements work. i honestly thought it would be faster than this. My doctor also told me that exercising doesn't make you lose weight. is that true??

Honestly, I only started losing weight after I got my 2nd fill. The first one did absolutely nothing for me. I was going at .6 pounds per week. I weighed myself at the gym and I seem to have lost 5 pounds in 10 days but I think that might be a lie cause maybe the scales are different at the gym. The gym helps a little. If I didn't go to the gym, I wouldn't lose at all. Do you go to the gym?

I'm not sure if I'm a slow loser or not, but everyone in the "January Bandsters" is losing a lot more than me, well it seems. I've lost 25 pounds since January first. 13 pounds before Surgery and 12 pounds after Surgery and its now been 2 months. I guess I am a slow loser...that sucks.

How are you guys losing weight so fast? I had mine done the 17th of January and since January, pre-op diet included, i've only lost 20 pounds. What do you guys do?? Let me in on the secrets!!

After you get your first fill, how much was everyone eating? were you full for a long time? did the eating consumption go down? I'm paranoid...again lol.

Sorry, it just really angers me when I see things like that. I myself went through hell to get where I am. Emotionally, physically, even financially and when I see people act like that, it really burns my butt.

I've read your posts and I think you feel sorry for yourself. I, and many many others here I'm sure, have figured out ways to get our surgerys. My surgery was covered by the government but I still had to pay 5000 dollars for the band itself. I'm a poor university student who only works 3 days a week, pays the rent and tuition, so that money was pretty non-existant. My best friend was nice enough to take out a loan for me. People WERE helpful and people did give you advice so I don't know what you're whining about. If you want to feel sorry for yourself, go do it elsewhere. Everyones in the same boat and everyone is working hard to fix a lifelong problem so don't act like everything was handed to us on a silver platter because it really wasn't. Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.

I'm 26. I got banded in January and I don't regret it one bit, although I do get paranoid a lot that I'm not losing weight fast enough. It's definately something you should do if need be and I agree, 15 thousand is a lot but you can find places that do it a lot cheaper. Mexico, I believe, is half that. I'm lucky because my province pays for the surgery and all you have to fork over is the money for the band itself, but if you do have to pay yourself, check out mexico, or even if you go on websites, they have specials in certain places. When I lose weight, I'm going on the HUGEST shopping spree. I can't wait. I think that's what I'm most excited about. As for alcohol, breaking up with Beer is painful but think about what you're gaining. A new life, a new body, a new plateau of self-respect and you'll just generally feel better about yourself. Plus - hard alcohol is still there. It's a little more expensive but if you pre-buy it in a liquor store, you are saving a lot of money. I can't wait to see my end results. It's worth everything I've had to give up.

That was the one of the most sincere things I have ever read, and I could totally relate. I wish you the best on your journey and I'm sure everything will be good for you because you seem like you really want this. TC

Well. I'm new to this. I didn't think it would happen, but it did. I've never been thin. Sometimes I think it's because I didn't try, but I did. I ate healthy and went to the gym and was in sports, but that didn't change anything. But I finally waited a long long time to get that call from the hospital setting up appointments and now, it's happened. My prep is on Monday and My surgery is January 17th. I'm scared, but excited. Right now I'm on a slim fast pre surgery diet to clean out the liver, or something. Not too sure what it is but i can only drink slim fast and eat raw veggies at night for supper , like a handfull. That's really hard, but I'm doing it. Long story short, it's a long journey but I'm glad it's happening.