So I am doing very well. I was 155 this morning, which was my original goal (that I always thought in the back of my mind was unattainable). I am now in a size 10/12, M tops. Did I just write that? Was I talking about ME? YES, I was. This whole thing has been such a blessing, so miraculous. I never thought that this was possible. I was thinking this morning about this time last year. It was last January when I first started looking into the lap band. I went to a seminar at our local hospital and found out it was $15,500, which we could not afford. I started looking at Mexico but was very leary about that. I just knew this was supposed to happen and asked God to find me a way. A couple of days later I was searching people on  OH and ran across a lady who said that she had gotten her band in a clinical trial. I immediately started searching the internet to find this trial and lo and behold it really did exist. The only available sites were Phoenix and New Jersey. I was on a plane to Phoenix the next week and my band was placed by May. You are probably thinking "Good for you, what about me?" I'm glad you asked. There is a new clinical trial starting this year. Go to clinicaltrials.gov and search easy band GOAL trial. This is public information, so I don't feel bad sharing it. Don't get your hopes up, there are a very limited amount of participants. If I can help one person like I was helped, that would be great! Good luck, B

 Wow, I am really bad about keeping up with this blog! I can't begin to tell you how much this band has changed my life in just over three short months. As of this morning I am down 45lbs since surgery, and 63 since my highest weight. It is blowing my mind to even write that down! This thing really does change your life. The biggest thing for me food wise is that it takes all the fun out of eating. You are never able to achieve that distended belly full feeling, so what's the point? I just eat my little tuna and asparagus and call it a day. The biggest change overall is what a little dose of self esteem has done for my attitude. I really do feel like a different person. I will update with new pics soon. I really want my update pics to be in a cute little outfit from Express. I have gone from a 22 to a 16, so I am almost there. I will be shouting from the rooftops the day I can shop in a normal store again! 

I was banded on tuesday and I am now home recovering. Everything went really well and I am not in much pain, just tired. I will post more later.

I have a date and it's tuesday! I went to all of the informational seminars and for testing yesterday. I am so excited!

Okay, so I am back. We had a good flight but the time change messed me up a little. I kept thinking they are mtn and we are central so I will be one hr behind. Wrong! AZ doesn't do daylight savings time so it was 2 hrs. I didn't know that was something you could just not do if you didn't want. Maybe I should personally opt out of daylight savings time. "mrs Jirka, you're an hour early! Not in my world buddy, I decided not to do that whole time change thing." Anywho, I went and filled out paperwork, met everyone, talked to the doc, who I love! I got there really early and the sweetheart Greg at the desk worked me in. So it is not a definite yes because I still have to do some testing, but the nurse said everything looked good. I am really excited and nervous......still. I will soon see when I can go back out and get my tests done. Hopefully i can do some classes while I'm there too.