Twentysomething Bandsters

[nolagirl2 0]

Okay, so here's a thread for us. My story to start us off. Was overweight/obese my whole life. When I look back at pictures of myself as a young kid (7-8), I am surprised that I didn't look as fat as I thought back then. But by adolescence I definitely was. Had some hard life stuff (Mom got cancer when I was 8, friend in high shool died sophomore year, dad had stroke sophomore year of college, got diagnosed with PCOS, lost a few important friendships) - each contributed significantly to my weight gain. Then I just got so big, I felt like there was nothing I could do. I just ate worse and worse, because I felt so trapped.

I was banded about 5 weeks ago. I have lost a good part of my weight, still have a ways to go. I now find myself constantly looking at my body, trying to figure out what it is going to look like. Unlike lots of bandsters I see on boards who are 30+, I am not married. I worry about my body, about whether I will need plastic surgery, about if I will feel comfortable. About dating after losing weight but before PS. About doing this forever, even though I feel confident. About keeping this weight off forever. About what happens if I lose my band. About the fact that at 22, I'm really going to jump in and start my life, and whether or not I'm sorely behind.

So anyway, there's my story. Here's my stats:

9/28/05 (1st consult): 333

4/17/06 (2nd consult): 318

5/2/06 (Surgery day): 315

6/9/06 (today) : 278

Goal (I think) :170

[I(heart)Soccer 0]

I am new here! I am having the surgery done on July 18th. I am a little bit freaked out about it, but I know 2 people who have had the surgery (incl. my mother) and they have not had any problems. I am worried about the same kind of stuff as you...

[K@t 38]

I'm 25 and married, however I can related to the being overweight my whole life thing. I use to think i was huge too but looking back at the photos i don't think i was as big as people made me out to be, or as i made myself out to be. I'm not to worried about plastic surgery, but i do think i will need it eventually and im scared of having to have another surgery...(pain ouch!) but I'm still young and I want to look my best married or not...so i know what ya mean.

[EmileeKaye 1]

I'm in! I got the band two weeks after my high school graduation, when I was 18. I had been heavy my whole life, my heaviest was surgery day at 303. Now two years later, I'm down to 209 with a 94 pound loss. I am so happy with my band and couldn't be happier having it. I had spent 18 years being the fat girl, but told my self I'd have the rest of my life to be the normal girl. I also worry about the future, getting to goal, PS, getting married, and having kids, all with my band. But I know I will look GREAT on my wedding day, no plus size gown for me, and one day will be a healthy role model for my kids.

[Chickie 15]

Another bandster in her mid 20's here... I am married with a 9 year old son.

I am concerned about the way my body looks. And I will be having plastic surgery some time soon. I am just tryng to decide if I should try to lose the last 5kg (about 12lbs) to get down to my "ideal" weight before my Tummy Tuck. Part of me says I have come this far, it's silly to sit down at the finish line. And another is scared. I have never been this tiny in my adult life (the smallest I was was a AU12, or US 10, just after the birth of my son when I was 17)

So, you are not alone in worrying about your body. Not at all. And I think most people have a moment where they worry about losing their bands. I know I have had a few. I have just had to tell myself I will deal with it if it happens. That there is no point in stressing over something that has not happened yet, and may not ever happen.

I was a sturdy looking girl growing up. Never skinny, just really muscular. Not an ounce of fat on my little body (that I can see in photos,lol) And I thought I was fat. Boy. Was I ever a silly kid. I *wish* I could have that strong looking body back! I started gaining weight at about 14 or 15, when my PCOS started doing a number on my hormones. I had my son early. And that was lucky, because I have not been able to carry a child since (due to PCOS and male factor infertility) But after I had my son, and lost my milk when he was 6 months old, I gained 50lbs. It was crazy. Then every time I dieted, I would lose a few pounds, then gain what I lost, and a few more.

I ended up at 297lbs (135kg). I had know about banding for years. But was never ready to really do something about losing weight. So after a year of "one last diet" before I saw a surgeon, I lost and gained about 20lbs over an over.

I went in to see my Doc in Jan 2005. By Feb 2005 I was banded. Best thing I have ever done for myself. Ever. I am now down to 152lbs (about 69.5 kg) Getting ready to have my plastic surgery done (as soon as I can convince Doc to do it, lol.. My banding surgeon is doing my TT for me, he feels I can get down to 145/140lbs without too much effort, but I am getting frustrated waiting for my tummy tuck, lol)

So that is my story. Long winded as it is, lmao. And here are my stats;

Before 135 kg / 297 lbs

Now 69.5 kg / 152 lbs

Surgeons goal 63 - 65 kg / 140 - 145 lbs

My goal? I have no idea anymore.

[mini_me 3]

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Love, the thirtysomethings...

[MsButterKup23 1]

I'm 28 and have been overweight for as long as I can remember.

I was of average weight in early elementary school, started gaining weight rapidly in 3-5th grade. Middle school was horrible, I graduated high school in 1996 weighing 220. I promised myself I would never get over 250, in 1998 I was at 240-250. I eventually got up over 300 (304ish) before my surgery last August.

My weight loss has been very rapid, but I work a very active and stressful job. I'm not sure where I want to stop as far as weight goes. At the moment I am down 108lbs and in a size 10 pants.

I still have many emotional issues I feel as if I am still 300lbs. I still go for the size 24's in the back of the rack in the women's section. Nobody seems to understand how I feel. After being morbidly obese for 10 yrs it's hard to realize I am just overweight, not obese.

I wish every one the best of luck with weight loss and happiness.

[nolagirl2 0]

DBurlap - A certain amount of anxiety is inevitable. The nice thing is, you're not the only one. You can basically find someone to answer any question you have - someone has been through it.

K@t - Yeah I just am unsure, I hate the idea of more surgeries, but I know I will probably do PS, because I am not going to spend the rest of my life being unhappy with my body.

EmileeKaye & MsButterKup23 - Yeah I've been trying to really mentally prepare myself for dealing with all the good things/normal things that I will have post-weight loss. I know I will have moments where I don't realize I'm not fat. I already still think of myself as being around 315-330, and I'm at 276. I started this journey with tight 28s (skirt @ LB - not stretch). yesterday I had to go to a funeral, and I was amazed that I easily slipped on a size 22.

Sammee - I imagine the PS would take off at least a good chunk of that last 12 lbs. And I wouldn't worry about more skin issues from losing 5-10 lbs., unless there's something I don't understand.

[Chickie 15]

Sammee - I imagine the PS would take off at least a good chunk of that last 12 lbs. And I wouldn't worry about more skin issues from losing 5-10 lbs., unless there's something I don't understand.

My band surgeon will be doing my TT, and he would like me to get down to 140-145 lbs before he does the work.

And after being almost 300lbs (It could have been more, I stopped weighing myself at 297), my skin, while it is not overly streched in places other than my stomach, I still have bingo wings happening, and my thighs are not pretty. So logic tells me, the more weight I lose, the worse it will be, and the more likely it will be that I will need other PS.

And as much as I want to be thin and sexy, it is scary as hell. It is not something I have been in my adult life. I am getting attention from men, and I do not know how to deal with it. It is foreign, and scary. And I know, it will get worse when I become more attractive. Its silly.

More over, I am so lost when it comes to fashion, and clothing! I was always supah stylish, and cute looking when I was bigger. Now? Humm. I went shopping on Friday. I was really intimidated by all the clothes, shop, sales assistants... The whole thing was a nightmare! I live in fitted t shirts, and slacks. I have no idea what to wear, and how to wear it. So I stick with that. I think I have to start buying fashion magazines.

Yet another part of the equation, is I think I am afraid that once I get to "goal", I will have nothing to work for. I am scared of success. I keep pushing the goal back. My first goal was 75kg (165lbs) and just before I got there, I pushed it back to 70kg (154lbs) and now, I am thinking I will push it further back to 65kg (143lbs). Its not that I want to fail, but I am the type of person who needs to work toward something. I do understand that maintaining my weight will be as much work as losing it, but it is not goal orientated like losing (although I am sure I could make it goal orientated, lmao)

So it is emotional as much as it is physical. It's the stuff few people who have lost a lot of weight will admit to, if they have gone through it. So there it is.

[TrishS 3]

I am 29, will be 30 in 8 days.. AHHHHH I wanted to be down 100 pounds by my 30th birthday but that doesnt look like it will happen. I am married with no children. I just borrow everyone elses..... I am down 50pounds since my surgery in April 2005. I know I have a leak in my band right now. But I an still fighting to get it replaced and for me to start over!

[Marimaru 7]

I'm 24, and was banded almost 2 years ago (July 2nd).

I've been on and off of diets since I was about 8, maybe younger. The first few diets weren't too bad (healthier food, no seconds, only healthy snacks), but when my parents divorced and my dad had custody for a while, he put me on slimfast and weighed me every day. It's really humiliating to take a slimfast for lunch at school.

I'm down 65 lbs, which is pretty slow, but downward is downward. I'm getting married in a year, and if I can lose another 65 lbs by then, I'll be ecstatic.

If nothing else, I know I am going to have a breast lift. I will probably have any plastic surgery done in the next couple of years, even though I haven't had kids yet. I don't want to be in my 30's by the time I have the body I want, and if things sag a little bit after having kids, it still wont be as bad as it is now, lol.

I've gone from a size 24 to a size 16. I would LOVE to be an 8, if only to say I'm in single digit sizing, lol.

[Iulizbug 0]

I am 25 and have been banded for 3 months. So far so good, I am down 42 lbs and have 49 more to go. I am shooting for the 1 yr mark for that goal--we are going on a cruise in March '07 and I would LOVE to be at 150 by then. So far I am ahead of schedule but I expect my WL to slow down when I get closer to goal. We will see..

I have been overweight since I was a small child. Started gaining weight heavily in kindergarten and didn't gain any control of my weight problem till high school. Starved myself thru high school and developed bulimia in college to keep my weight down. Once I got healthy after college I was back to my old fat self again. :faint: I am sooo happy to be going in the right direction on the scale again. Even if I don't get to 150 and find that I look and feel good at 160 that will be ok for me. I know that I will need plastic surgery, Tummy Tuck and breast lift but I will wait till I am done having children. No kids yet as I wanted to get my weight under control before I embark on that. But I know my boobs will need a lift after breast feeding (they are DD/E) and I will want them perkier. And who doesn't want a flat tummy for once in their life, right?? But that is a WAYS away, after I am at goal and have had kids.

~Liz~

banded 03/10/06

Dr.Ortiz

241/199/150

5'7''

[EmileeKaye 1]

Its so good seeing all the 20 somethings! We all do have something in common, being around the same age and dealing with the band.

I wonder if anyone knows if someone were to get a tt before having kids, how that effects birth and what not. I do want my boobs done before I get married, which means before babies, but I dont think getting the tt would be a good idea.

And I see we had a 30something come in an TP us, we should not allow this to happen! :-) We need to seek revenge on the old folks, hahaha

[Marimaru 7]

Both the TT and the boob lift should have no effect on birthing and pregnancy, the only reason (that I have found) why it is not recommended to get these before having kids, is that the pregnancy and the breast feeding can kind of undo the effects.

But like I said before, the effects of pregnancy and breast feeding on a flat stomach and perky boobs is still a better turnout than what I've got goin' on now.

[EmileeKaye 1]

I've wondered if you couold give natural child birth if you've had a Tummy Tuck. Anyone know? For some reeason I have always thought it would have to be C-section after a tummy tuck.

I'm going to do my boobs before babies, I agree, I want nice ones for any amount of time, then if the babies ruin them, maybe I will have them redone after all baby having is done, whatever.

What if any breast surgeries affect breast feeding? I've heard reduction/lifts dont, but what about implants with a lift?