Kate rules

Have two checklists (I LOVE checklists): 1) drivers license, insurance card, pillow! 2) toothbrush, toothpaste,deodorant, incentive spirometer, fuzzy socks, robe I am hoping not to need checklist 2 because I want to sleep at home!

You are not the first person to rethink this. It is a big decision. My moment of truth was hearing about statins, baby aspirin and heart disease one month after my 30th birthday. Your moment, if it meant to be, will be enough for you to overcome your fear.

Here's the thing: you have a cute face but you're chubby.

I started process at 36.28 BMI and at 32 now. Banding on July 6! Yea!

I'm back on the good pre-op diet after my last three days of last suppers. I was BAD. I haven't lost or gained any weight so I guess that it was a neutral experience from that perspective. I'm sure my liver hates me. I bought muscle milk last night and my unjury samples arrived yesterday. So since I've lost the weight my doctor wanted me to, I'm going to do a lower carb diet with 2 protein shakes per day. That should work.

Then you must post what you want to do! Dream (small?)! I want to kill my glucose monitor with a hammer! And wear non-stretch jeans without a muffin top! And get a bra-line back lift! Have to come up with 10K for that, but I'm dreaming big (or is it small?)! LOL. Let's all do what we haven't done before or what we never thought we would do again. Kate

If you want to make a scene, buzz a design into it! LOL. Maybe I will do! Give them something to talk about.

For those of us who are keeping surgery quiet, do you plan to tell people if they ask you directly? Or tell people once you feel you are successful? I don't think I should lie if asked... What do you think?

Freshen up highlights. Nails done, of course. Maybe a massage at Elizabeth Arden.

Sleep study, psych exam, clearance from primary care, EKG, endoscopy, ultrasound, blood work, urinalysis, upper GI and chest x-ray. Luckily ultrasound and endoscopy were already done within last 30 days.

I'm doing My Lap Band Journey through lapband.com. it is pretty cool because it tracks your weight, inches, allows you to upload photos of yourself for each date you enter weight and shows it on a graph. Also creates a ticker for your page with goal weight, bmi, pounds lost, pounds until goal, etc. You can write yourself letters for the future. I have one for Sept of 2011 and May 2012. Lots of recipes and videos too. http://lowbmilapbandjourney.blogspot.com/?m=1 My blog on this whole journey.

I'm gonna trim the hedges but don't shave because you don't want to introduce staph just in case. Makes me wish I followed through on laser hair removal.

I totally bombed my diet today when I took my kids out for lunch. Probably consumed entire day's calories, two days of fat, and a week of carbs. Guess it is grilled chicken for next two days. I think I got cocky when I saw my weight on scale this morning. Bad Kate!

My size 10 ultra comfy abercrombie and fitch jeans. That's a start. I'm about 20 pounds. away from that. My gorgeous evening gown I only wore once. Then size 8 bathing suit (bottom) and 14 for my luscious top. I'm about 40 pounds away from that.

Congrats! You said you still want your daddy? I'm the same too. I still call him daddy and love him to bits! Looks like it all came together for you.

I said 120-125 pounds because I would like to be around a 21-22 bmi (hence the screen name). realistically, I work in public safety where it isn't always necessarily good to be skin and bones. The size 10 jeans are goal #1 because I know that at 163 pounds (bmi of 29) I fit into them. That means I'm no longer obese. I want that by September 1. That's 16 pounds in 7 weeks from surgery. I think I can do that! Then I have to go shopping for cruise wear for my caribbean cruise (Disney!) this December. I want to be around a 6-8 at that time. I want to get a short dress to wear to the adult club on a night when my parents have the kids and have my hubby wondering how such a hot chick picked him for life. Mainly, if I can achieve and maintain a weight of no more than 140 pounds, I will be happy. If I go below, that's awesome but I am not going to beat myself up if I don't break 130. Oh, but if I break 130, guess what? I'm getting a bra line back lift. Yeah, that's right. I'M BRINGING SEXY BACK!

Couple of things from finally reading more of the threads: 1) I got my psych clearance 4 weeks ago and I am continuing to see him weekly and plan to continue after the surgery. I have found it very helpful in dealing with my unhealthy relationship with food. I am also dealing with the self-esteem issues that stem from before I ever was heavy. I got his name from an attorney who said he was reputable. 2) I have a ton of skinny clothes. My #1 goal is my size 10 abercrombie and fitch jeans - no stretch, no muffin top allowed. They are in my dresser drawer, next to my size 18 and 20 pants with the elastic waist bands.

Please add Kate to July 5.

I'm Kate, I live in Northern Virginia too (Hi Lisa). I'm 30 years old, married, 2 kids, and work in public safety. I'm using Bluepoint Surgical Group. My insurance is covering the procedure. My starting BMI at insurance submission (although they don't do pre-approvals for outpatient procedures) was 36.87 with a weight of 205. My current weight (OM Goodness!) is 179, BMI of roughly 32. I have Type 2 Diabetes that is a little better now that I've been losing weight but my fasting sugars are still too high. I've been living the past 4 weeks of my life like I already have the band, but it sucks big time without the help! I am starving all the time but have become accustomed to the smaller portions. I still drink with my meals - probably the biggest hurdle I will have to overcome. I don't have to do the pre-op diet because I have lost more than the 5-10 pounds recommended by my surgeon. I do have an all-clear liquid diet for the day before surgery. July 5, 12:15 PM is the start of a new phase of my life. I'm so excited. Like many of you, I have lost and gained back (more!) the same 10-20-30-40-50 pounds over the past 13 years. I have some beautiful, yes, sexy, sophisticated clothes I can't wait to model for my beloved husband. His birthday is September 27 and I intend to be in my size 14 cocktail dress and strappy heels. And I don't want to lay down on the bed to get it zipped. Good luck to all and thanks for being here. It is comforting to read your posts and know I'm not alone. Kate

Sounds like we may have some keepers!

You go girl. Have you read this hilarious thread in the forum called skinny b***h? I hoping to be called one by Christmas! Here's hoping for us all! Happy 40th and many happy returns. Just in case we lose touch before Jan!

It can be hard at times to stay positive, especially when there are so many emotional aspects to the journey we are sharing. Long before we decided to get banded we struggled with being overweight and the self-esteem issues that accompanied it. For me now, I have fears that I will fail at the lap band. BUT on the other hand, I'm so freakin stoked about getting banded I don't know what to do! I even have a countdown timer on my droid so I know how many days I have until my new start. I took my size 10 abercrombie & fitch jeans out of storage and put them in the bureau. I even tried them on and learned I have around 19 pounds to get them buttoned, 30 for no muffin top. I'm also going on a cruise in December and I mean to wear a bathing suit with pride. Ladies and gents, we are all on our way to achieving and maintaining our goals! 14 days, 12 hours, 45 mins until my new start! Go July bandsters! Ut

I'm a police officer so I work with a bunch of in-shape people. I have struggled with my weight and during our basic training I was verbally and physically abused because of my weight. I don't have the energy to work out right now because of "the backpack" that's my nickname for the extra 55 pounds (formerly 79 pounds) I carry everywhere. I have recent memories of being thin and energetic so I know what is waiting for me. I just can't drop 55 pounds. And, more importantly, I can't keep these 79 pounds off of me. I really worry about dying young because of all the health problems associated with obesity.

I'm not telling people at work because I work with some nasty, petty juvenile people. My family and friends know but they are all supportive.they also know when I make a decision that it is usually well thought out and that I didn't come to this one lightly. I've lost, according to the scale this morning, 24 pounds in 4 weeks so it will not be a shock when I continue to lose weight after the band is in. I won't deny it, but will be evasive. "Wow, that's a really personal question. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or insulted, so I will assume you are giving me a compliment." I think that should do it.

My lowest adult weight was 149 pounds. I can't quite capture how it felt - kind of like I had springs in my feet and I got hit with a shot of hotness. You guys know what I'm talking about. I had energy out the yin yang and it was a positive energy that attracted people in a different way. My face stopped being chubby and my reflection matched what I felt on inside. Then I got pregnant with second child. Haven't seen below 171 in 5 years. Have a ton of skinny clothes I plan to wear! Hubby won't know what to do with himself! But, I have def lost same 10-20-30-40-50 pounds over the last 13 years. But now I have a new motivation to lose and soon will have a new tool to help!