I wish I had my life back. I wish I had more energy. I wish I had the self control to be a thin version of this stranger in the mirror. I remember when I was younger and told myself that I would never get any bigger (I have always had a weight problem), I wish I had been telling the truth. Here I am .... 46 years old, mother of 7 kids. Full time employee and full time student and more than full time mommy. I am a busy woman. The only thing I don't take such good care of is myself. I want to be me - the one on the other side of the mirror. The one I cannot see, but know she is there. I desire to be comfortable in my skin. I wish me success in this journey to obtain a lap band and walk to a "normal healthy' weight. I wish you would be along side me in this journey. I wish..... Deborah:redface:

That's a really beautiful first post Deborah. I'm sure that you speak for many of us with what you wish for. I wish you success too.

Katy, Where are you from - how did you get involved with bariatric surgery?

I know how you feel and I wish you the best of luck in your search for happiness. Just don't get too hung up on your weight as the only thing that you can do to make yourself happy. Everyone on this site is overweight, just getting banded, waiting to be banded and will hopefully find the strength to be happy within ourselves. The weight loss will be amazing - I am having surgery on the 21st of June, my birthday or should I say my re-birthday.

Eileen

Hi Deborah. I'm from just outside Chicago. My primary care doctor actually mentioned lap band to me as an option for weight loss about 3-4 years ago. My first reaction was to be pretty appalled actually, but overtime I thought more and more seriously about it and realized that my dieting attempts were not successful on my own. I finally made the decision to proceed with the approval process in mid-2009 and here I am now.

Katy, Where are you from - how did you get involved with bariatric surgery?

I am just at the "attend our free seminar" stage. I look forward to being where you are and waiting with bells on for the date. I know that surgery will not change my life, it will only be a tool to assist me in meeting just one of my many life goals. I want to be healthy and enjoy life with the kiddos and finally, maybe a significant other. I will reach it - it is just a matter of how and when. Tell me about yourself.

I am from central california. My doctor told me that I am lucky because since I have lowish bone density every time I walk across the room my body thinks its doing weight training. I wanted to cry. This was a long time and many diet attempts ago. How many people can say you are beautiful, but the one who says something like that is the one we remember???? Hmmmmm