onelove756

Hello! I'm from Worcester, and yes they do make you lose weight before the surgery, usually like 5-10%. They do it to shrink your liver and make the operation easier. Good luck on your journey!!!

I look forward to getting really dressed up, going out for a night on the town, and having an awesome time knowing that I look great and feel confident and good about myself. Also, wearing a really cute bathing suit and looking amazing in it to the beach or water park.

Wow, nice to see all of you twenty somethings here from MA!! Good luck to all of you!!!

Worcester, Massachusetts :wink2:

Hi, I'm 24 and I started this process in December. Right now I am doing my required 6 week behavioral medicine class and I am well on my way to losing the required 5%-10% pre-op weight. I am very anxious about the surgery, I wish I were having it tomorrow. I have pretty much put my life on hold (what little life I do have) anticipating having surgery. I'm hoping against hope to have surgery by June 1st. That would make my summer!!

I'm currently going through the process at Worcester Medical Center myself. I have Fallon Direct Insurance. So far everything has been going pretty smothly and pretty quickly. I started the whole process in December with the info session. Actually, I am about to go to my second of the six required behavioral medicine group sessions tonight at 6pm. I have already had two appoinments with nutrition and am scheduled for another one in April. I have already lost 1/2 of the required 10% pre-op weight loss (they start considering patients for surgery once they have lost at least 5%). Once I am done with the behavioral medicine class in April we'll see how long it takes to be scheduled for surgery. I was wondering about that too, how long the approval process takes, and how liberal Fallon is with the approvals. I'm hoping to be banded no later that June 1. Hopefully it will happen by then. Good luck too you.

My weight loss program in Central Massachusetts requires everyone to complete a 6 week behavioral medicine class and a 1 month follow up after the class as one of the steps for qualifying for surgery. They really emphasize the comprehensive approach to weight loss so they want to make sure they get that piece in to help with the mental part of the surgery.

My doctor told me that I should not get the band becuase I was young and I should be able to do it throguh diet and exercise. I felt like telling her that every overweight person could do it through diet and exercise but it doesn't always work out. Some people need a little extra help. The funny thing is that she came to that conclusion after only seeing me in her office twice and knew nothing of my history of weight problem . When my family members try to deter me from getting the band because I am "too young" I always ask them if I have to wait another 24 years being overweight and unhappy so they can finally think that I am old enought to get the band. You have to do it for you. Don't let anyone discourage from making a decision that will change your life for the better especially when their reasoning is that you are "too young".

....wearing regular size shoes and not wide widths ....crossing my legs ....feeling comfortable enough to start dating ....playing basketball and tennis ....letting loose instead of always being self-conscious ....going to the beach or water park and looking great in my bathing suit ....getting really dressed up and going out for the 1st time at goal weight ....shopping at regular size clothing stores ....having guys that never gave me a second look all of a sudden pay attention to me ....felling better about myself and having more energy ....feeling attractive and not just "pretty, for a big girl"

That's their main concern, the risk involved with surgery. But, I think they will come around after the surgery is over. Thanks for your insight.

Thank you all for the warm welcomes! I will be sure to check out the age related forums.

Hello from Massachusetts! I am a couple months into the comprehensive process my healthcare provider requires for lap band surgery. I start with nutrition on Thursday and behavioral medicine on March 10th. I am so excited!, and I can't wait to get my surgery date. I am only 24 years old, but have been overweight most of my life. I have held myself back so much since about the 4th grade when I started to notice that I was a lot bigger than the other kids. I won't even allow myself to date or make friends because I feel so self-conscious about my weight. Right after my 24th birthday in August I decided that it was time to do what I have always wanted and shed these extra pounds. I have done my research and I know that the band is the right choice for me. My family is not too thrilled about my choice to have surgery. They think that because I am young I should be able to drop the excess weight with no problem, but they don't realize that I need help. Has anyone else had similar problems with their family or friends? Now that you have had the surgery, what do they think?