Hi, I have absolutely no regrets at all, I am now 15 mos post op and have lost 145 pounds to date. I can remember clearly after the surgery all I wanted was for the weight to start coming off, I remember that within the first week I had lost 10 pounds, I was shocked and so happy that I sat down and cried for a half hour. I do have problems with constipation but there are remedies for that, it's called sex (heheheh) coffee, collard greens ...etc... over the counter things don't seem to work. People I see always ask me if I feel different and I have to start smiling and tell them "Yes, I feel like I'm getting younger every day!", and to be honest that is exactly how I feel! I just turned 40 years old in May 2005 and I swear I have the energy I had when I was 20 years old. I weighed 338 pounds before my surgery and I felt like I was dying, I was tired all the time, my back was killing me when I walked a short distance and summers were murder. I didn't have any health issues at that point but it was going there. Ladies, also, if you haven't had the surgery yet and you are married or in a serious relationship prepare yourself because what they say is true in most cases, what they tell you about how your mates attitude may change is true, 50% of marriages do break up. There is something about a fat person in a relationship that makes one very comfortable, it's called your mate is safe because he/she feels that no one else would want you in the first place.... but I'll spare you all because that one is a looooong story. Just be prepared and talk to your mate about this (not that it will do any good) but just be aware of behavior changes in your mate and try to nip them in the bud. One other thing, what happens if you push yourself too much is you end up with a massive amount of excess skin. The key is to let your body lose at it's own rate, you will go through periods of rapid weigh loss for a few weeks at a time then you will lose nothing, what is going on during those weeks of no weight loss is your body is firming up, in other words you can step on the scale every day and you will weigh the same thing but you will notice that your clothes are looser. If you do not allow your body to go through this process you will end up with allot of skin and you will likely be looking at another surgery to get rid of it (which is not pretty, saw it on the Discovery Channel). I have been fortunate in that I don't have allot of excess skin but I do have areas that I need to work on like under the arms, stomach and thighs but it just firming up stuff. Funny thing is that I can wear shorts now comfortably that I was squeezing in when I weighed 30 pounds LESS, so I have lost weight in places where I couldn't before (I like that). I have 45 more pounds to get to my goal and frankly I have gotten to the point where I will go for weeks without weighing myself because it's too frustrating, what happens is you can weigh yourself one day and you are 3 pounds less then the next day... so after a while you just become happy with looking good in your clothes and feeling better. it's a process like anything else, it will happen in good time, until then you just enjoy your new life and you new found energy and be happy. Hope some of this info helped someone out, good luck to you all! Thanks, Michelle

Hi Darla, I am over three years post op now, and I wouldn't change a thing. I am healthier, I know I will be there for my children and I make good choices now. I tried everything before taking this drastic step and I could not be happier with the results. Don't get me wrong. The first three months post op there was a lot of crying and what was I thinking, but I worked through it (with the help of a counselor) and now I am very happy. I lost 150 lbs and I am now pregnant with my second child. This pregnancy has been much healthier and in some ways better. No gestational diabetes, no swelling, no high blood pressure. I have gained 12 lbs and I am now at 31 weeks. I don't know much about the lap band, but I decided the RNY was the best route for me. Good luck to you! Heather 320-172 (184 - 31 weeks pregnant)

Karen, I started my journey by going to a Dr. who would only do RNY. I researched and was not at peace. Through my research I heard of the LAP BAND. I found a surgeon who does the LAP BAND and have a surgery date set for Sept. I have been so at peace with this choice and know this is the route for me. Take your time, research, and pray. Jane

DeAnne, I was reading through some medical studies and I read that some people's bodies actually adjust more to the surgery than others. I mean that they actually adjust to the calorie malabsorption so that it gets hard and sometimes nearly impossible to lose weight without strict diet, behavior modification and alot of exercise. I guess our bodies have just become really, really efficient machines. I wish I burned calories like a big gas guzzling auto instead. I have not had any plastic surgery in fact that is what sent me into my gaining weight. I was at 180 or so ... thanks to exercise, ephedra and throwing up(not healthy but it was my life at that time). I went to the surgeon about having some plastics done and was denied several times and then I just got so bummed out because I hated the way my body looked even though I was finally thinner. I figured "what the heck" and my emotions where just really messed up and I stopped caring about my weight. DeAnne, I truly help that you find something that helps you become the size you want to be. You really have come so far and have so much to be proud of. I hate shopping in the plus size stores too because I really thought those days were over. The funny thing is before my surgery I couldn't decide if I wanted my goal weight to be 135, 140 or 150 ... hehehe... now I would love to see under 200!!! Take care of yourself and thanks for saying that I don't look like I need plastics, you made my day by writing that. Debbie

Hi FeeFee Ya know its weird! I sometimes can sometimes eat all my proteins and there are days that I can't or at a certain time of the day. I dont know why that happens. Take care my dear and thanks for the info!By the way did you have surgery? Rosie