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Linda - that is awsome, Way to go!

That is awsome. Nice to hear isn't it?

Thank you for clearing that up :clap2: . It had me worried. Hang in there.

That's what I was thinking. Odd way to break a plateau. Not to mention dangerous!

Confession is good for the soul - or so I have been told :speechles

Great question Alicia. I innitially went by my doctor's goal for me at 226. I guess that is based on average weight loss by lap-band patients. Then i thought to myself that I wanted to see the scales hit the one-hundreds, so I made my personal goal at 190. Then I lost so quickly that I lowered my goal to 170. My ideal weight is like 165 and I figure I have at least 10 pounds of extra saggy skin that I won't be able to lose without surgery. Thats how I came up with my goal.

Wow, I am shocked. I thought just like Wheetsin.

I think vanity plays a part. I did it for what I call "quality of life". Part of that being health. I was borderline diabetic and had high blood pressure. The doctor wanted to put me on meds for both. The other part of the quality of life thing for me was to not be seen as the jolly fat guy, or to be able to go to a sporting event and not worry if I would fit in the seat, or go to a concert and buy a concert T-Shirt like everyone else, or go to a reseraunt and not have to wait extra for a table because I couldn't fit in a booth, etc. I don't know if I consider that to be vanity or just being able to be "normal".

Welcome. I had surgery 5 weeks to the day after I had my innitial consultation. It went very smoot. But I read all the time about struggles with the insurance companies. Hope yours goes as smooth as mine. I am glad to see you are doing your research. The band, as well as RNY and the others types of WLS, are just tools. My biggest advise to anyone starting this journey would be to make sure you are willing to make the commitment to make this work. It most definately can. The band helps us with portions, but we still have to make good food choices. Studie sshow that after 5 years, Lap-band patients and RNY patients have vertually the same success rate. Lap band usually takes longer to make goal (though I have lost mine quickly, it isn't the norm). If you have any further questions, there are so many good people here that have invaluable advise and knowledge. Feel free to ask around.

What a great success! I hope my one year bandiversary finds as much success.

I have heard this quite often. I am not down on the length, but all my wide shoes are too loose. Come to find out I didin't have wide feet, I had fat feet! Imagine that

Neenagh - your loss is very noticable. Thanks for sharing. Glad to see your bruising has gone away. Looked painful.

I had/have UHC. I was approved and had surgery 5 weeks to the day after my innitial consultation. I think it was like 2 to 3 weeks for the approval to come in. It was a very seamless process for me. When I changed jobs, I was glad to find out that my new company also has UHC.

Gina, I get my fills from my surgeon - Dr. Cribbens. BooBoo Kitty - Thanks for the kind words.

I have lost 123 pounds so far and have lots of saggy skin. Mainly on my stomach and inner thighs. I have lost quite rapidly (just short of 7 months) so I think that palys a part in it also. Plus I have been overweight most of my life. 36 years of abusing the skin makes it hard to bounce back. But, I wouldn't trade the saggy skin for the extra weight for anything. I love what the band has done for me and if I have to have a TT, then so be it.

Drewslou - you look great yourself! :clap2: I am envious of the snow. We got just a dusting here in the Dallas area and people thought the world was ending. I love the snow.

Thanks Drewlou. I appreciate the encouragement. I have about 40 to go, but I think I would lose about 20 with a Tummy Tuck :confused: . I need to wait a while for that though.

Sherry, glad your doctor's are working to pinpoint your problem. I understand gallbladder problems are common with WLS. Please keep us updated and wish you the best.

Here are some from me. They were taken at Thanksgiving:

I have lost a lot of weight several times in my life too, the problem is keeping it off. I think I remember hearing the stat that like 80 or 90% (someone please correct me if I am wrong) of MO people who loose weight - gain it back. So the statistics show that this guy is very likely to gain his weight back. That is where I hope my band comes into play. I hope and expectation is that it will assist me in maintaining after I loose. And so what if it is the easy way out (though its not easy as we know). Everything else we do in life we always look for someway to make it easier - why do you think remote controls were invented ( to make it easier to change the channels). I can never remember my boss telling me not to find a more efficient way to do things. In fact, the goal of any business is to make things easier and more efficient. Just my 2 cents.

From a man's perspective, I feel normal again because I can shop at a regulare store. Rarely do stores have a "big/tall section. They make us go to specialty stores. I feels so good to be able to go to Wal-Mart and but a pair of jeans or t-shirt off the rack instead of going cross town to a big/tall store and paying 3 x's the price for the same quality colthes. Ain't the band grand! I am so happy for all the success us May Bandsters are having!

Thanks Drewslou for keeping this board going. Time since surgery has just flown by. Can't wait to see how we are at one year!

Another month down. Time flies! Before we know we will be having our one year bandiversary!

one word: Why?

When did you get the fill? My doctor always put me on liquids for a couple of days after a fill. Maybe your eating solids too soon.