I will be banded on March 12, 2010 during Spring Break, as I am currently in school for my RN. I have been an LPN since 2005 and decided to take the plunge and finish up my education and in the process suffered a herniated L4 disk on November 6, 2009. My doc told me that I had some major life style changes to make if I was going to be able to practice as an RN and #1 I need to drop 100 pounds.

I was not in shock, I knew what he was going to say before he ever opened his mouth and I immediately began talking to people about other options besides another fad diet. That is where my journey actually began, finally coming to grips with the idea that I was powerless over my weight and that no matter how many diets I have been on in my lifetime that I needed some help.

During the summer I took a nutrition class and actually dropped 40 pounds by eating healthy and exercising to only gain it back, plus some during the fall semester and let me tell you I am truly at wits end. I am very thankful to my physician for being honest and candid, but at the same time I wanted to scream at him for telling me to lose weight but also putting me on an activity restriction d/t my herniated disc. I finally have the feeling back in my left leg and have been cleared for walking only. I have been able to manage getting through college and only have one more semester left.

I just hope that everything goes well with my pre-op diet and the surgery. I am 10 weeks out from surgery, and it sure seems like a lifetime away, but I am sure it will be here sooner than I think. I am really glad to have found this online support group and forum, so far what I've read has been very encouraging and I hope to add to the discussion.

Hi Hawk, welcome to lapbandtalk (hmmmmm....poet and I don'tknowit?). Your 10 weeks will be here before you know it, so get ready! We always need folks willing to add to the discussions. Now, if we can get you to root for a good school (like, say, a certain institution located in Austin, Texas) you'd be all set, lol!! Good luck!

Sorry, but I really think that the Big Elephant will run over the Longhorn very, very soon