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I know how you feel, it is great! Any weight loss and not gaining it back is awesome. And the sizes in clothing mean a lot too because you are also losing inches! I went to my 40th Class Reunion three months after surgery 38 lbs lighter and felt terrific! Congrats on 50! And keep it up, this site is such a help and motivator.

http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wQ1nHWv/"> >

I’ve decided that the band is the right thing for me in my life right now. I thought I could do the weight loss by myself, and I did, for 2 years but I gained it all back. I’m tired of the struggle, the ups and downs. I want to do things in my life and my weight is starting to get in the way. I want it gone forever and not have to worry if it’s going to come back with vengeance. January 20th @ 7:00 is my registered meeting at Dr. Feteiha’s office. I trust Dr. Feteiha because he has done surgery for me in the past and many of my family members. Unfortunately I am not gaining much support from my family in this department. They think it’s easy to just lose weight by eating right and exercise. I guess for 25 years they have been ignoring the results of my efforts and I have no choice but to press forward without their good graces. Afterall this is for me, not them! So here is to a slow start and many months ahead, I hope to track my progress in here and pictures when things get rolling.

I’ve decided that the band is the right thing for me in my life right now. I thought I could do the weight loss by myself, and I did, for 2 years but I gained it all back. I’m tired of the struggle, the ups and downs. I want to do things in my life and my weight is starting to get in the way. I want it gone forever and not have to worry if it’s going to come back with vengeance. January 20th @ 7:00 is my registered meeting at Dr. Feteiha’s office. I trust Dr. Feteiha because he has done surgery for me in the past and many of my family members. Unfortunately I am not gaining much support from my family in this department. They think it’s easy to just lose weight by eating right and exercise. I guess for 25 years they have been ignoring the results of my efforts and I have no choice but to press forward without their good graces. Afterall this is for me, not them! So here is to a slow start and many months ahead, I hope to track my progress in here and pictures when things get rolling.

I spent the better part of the weekend crying about the turn of events in my WLS saga. I talked to my DH about it (more than he wanted to hear I'm sure! ) He said that we could take a loan through one of his retirement savings accounts so I can still follow my dream :wub: I've always known that I'm a lucky girl to have trapped a good man like him! :tt2: I love him more & more every day. He knows the score with obesity. His dad has type 2. His mom had bypass surgery about 5 years ago. He saw her struggle for so many years, being beaten down by military doctors & the insurance company every step of the way. We've struggled together with our weight over the years. We're like that cartoon couple you see in the Slimquick commercials. :frown: I told him that I feel like being able to have WLS would be like a new beginning for our whole family (all 3 of us!) Y'know how the mom/wife is kind of like the glue of a family, well I know that if I could finally get my weight under control it would have a huge, positive impact on all of us. I could finally set a good example for my child - so that he can grow up with a healthier relationship with food than my DH and I did. We'll be able to "go" and "do" together. I know for sure that I've held them back from doing things recently. It wasn't with malice - I just don't want to go out walking in our neighborhood and risk more people seeing me & how huge I am. (Not to mention that I might make it one whole house away before I start huffing & puffing.) I've had people yell disparaging remarks at me when I was outdoors on more than one occasion. I know that I'm not the first & unfortunately won't be the last, but I didn't deserve it (nobody does) and I don't want to deal with it again. Today I had the pleasure of calling up Pacific Surgical to schedule a consultation. Yay! I spoke with Michelle. I remember her from the seminar I attended a while back. So much of what she said about her experience still rings in my ears. She was so nice! The way she treated me was the polar opposite of the way Karen did. Amazing how when you're a self-pay patient things can happen sooo quickly! I was able to get a consult scheduled for next Monday! Michelle said that it would be possible to have surgery as soon as May 11th! I think we're still going to shoot for a surgery date towards the end of July. My DH said that since we just paid off the last loan through his retirement plan, we need to wait 2 months to apply for another. He'll be back from his partial-deployment in time to help me with a summer surgery. I'll find out the nitty gritty when I go for my consult, but I believe that all I have to do for Dr. Neal is a nutrition consult, and I assume pre-op bloodwork. I'd imagine there's some sort of pre-op diet. Pre-op as in a week or two before surgery - not Dr. Oh's type of pre-op diet. Oy vey! He wanted a 10% weight loss in the months leading up to your procedure & two weeks of clear liquids prior to surgery. Not to mention that Dr. Oh had a huge list of other pre-op things that had to be done. Speaking of that, I need to call and cancel my endoscopy & follow-up. I really hate that we'll have to pay $ every month for the next few years, but... I have a feeling the return-on-investment will be priceless! :ohmy: I'm actually kind of relieved now. If I can have surgery w/ Dr. Neal, I don't have to make that arduous trip over to Federal Way, cow-tow to Dr. Oh & his excessive pre-op testing, and worry about coordinating all the babysitting I'll need to cover those appointments. When I tried to picture myself going through surgery & whatnot w/ Dr. Oh I couldn't quite "see" it; it didn't feel like that was the place I needed to be. I haven't had my consult w/ Dr. Neal yet (just the seminar), but already I feel that this is where I need to be. I'm feeling much better 'bout everything now!

Dr. Quebbemann in Newport Beach, CA was the first doctor to perform the vertical sleeve using the spider system. :tongue_smilie: http://inyourface.ocregister.com/2010/07/19/weight-loss-surgery-through-the-belly-button/18999/

I've got less than a week til my banding! I can't believe it's finally here. My doctor requires a strict liquid diet, nothing but low carb high protein shakes, and all the sugar free- non carbonated- decaffeinated drinks I want for 2 weeks preop. Boy am I dragging and drained.:devil: But oh so excited about my surgery!:glare: My journey has already began with a 17 pound weight loss from the liquid diet. Can't wait to see where it ends!!!

I have been poked and prodded and have suffered countless indignities in preparation for my lap-band surgery. I have watched bloody slideshows and You-Tube videos and heard horror stories galore about potential problems associated with the surgery itself; yet, what did I fear worse than death itself? HUNGER!!! I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that during my Pre-Surgery Liquid Diet I would be starving to death! I worked myself into a bit of a snit at the prospect. I had a “Food Funeral” for all my favorite foods I would never again be able to enjoy: I mourned the loss of the Southern Cheeseburgers at the Penguin Drive-In, said a fond farewell to ribs at Shane’s Rib Shack, shed a tear for my husband’s gourmet grilled Rib-Eyes. I did so much goodbye-ing, that I gained 5 extra pounds prior to the coming of the Grim Reaper, bringing with him the Liquid Diet of Death!!! I did my ground work, you betcha! I researched and researched the most palatable Protein Powder. I bought a shaker, a new blender, and stockpiled Campbells 98% fat free Cream of_________ (you fill in the blank) Soups until I had enough put by to see me through a nuclear holocaust! I sampled this Protein Powder, and that, until I came to the conclusion that none of them are too tasty, but with some doctorin’, they’re almost as good as a Chick-Fil-A shake (without the whipped cream, of course!) I was even able to go out to eat with my family without salivating all over their meals. Those protein shakes are pretty filling, and seem to give me heaps of energy! The first day of the much feared liquid diet came and went…and guess what? I didn’t starve to death! I didn’t even get hungry! Another day passed…still, not too bad! The morning of the third day of the Liquid Diet I hopped on the scales, and was surprised to find that five pounds I’d gained during my week long“Food Funeral” were all gone! Today began the 5th day of the Liquid Diet, and I was down another pound and a half…6.5 so far! If I can avoid the Papa John’s commercial featuring the close-up of the pizza with bubbling cheese, I might just make it through this next couple of weeks alive!