Hi, I'm brand new to the site and although I had thought about weight loss surgery I had never pursued the idea until about 1 month ago. This may be kind of lengthy so forgive me but anyone who is willing to listen and share are welcomed!

I'm 24 years old and cannot remember a time when I wasn't heavy. I am now 284lbs and wear a size 2x shirt and size 26 pant. And ironically enough, I'm ok with that.

I have always been very confident but I have decided that my health is the most important thing for my future. I am a full time student and full time employee at a busy hospital. I am not involved in any romantic relationships or have any children. I have a wonderful support system of family and close friends that all support my decision to get banded.

Here is a list of things getting banded would help:

I currently suffer from PCOS, my GYN said that a large reduction in my BMI will help relieve and possible eliminate my PCOS.

I have both IBS and a hiatal hernia. Both ailments could also be significantly reduced or eliminate with banding according to my GI doc.

Cosmetic purposes of course have come into my mind but I truly love the way I look right now but can't wait to love my body in a bathing suit!!!

My dream is to be able to play with my neices on the floor and run with them out in the yard, or for heaven's sake to be able to walk up 3 flights of stairs without feeling like I ran the NYC marathon!!! lol

I'm also a graphic design student and although I know that obesity isn't a plague, I also understand that my new career will be something completely visually based, so my image will matter. I want to show that to my clients.

Here are some of my worries:

I have some plus-size friends that I am afraid to tell about getting banded. I don't want them to be envious or think I'm taking the easy way out.

Honestly, I have a KILLER wardrobe that I really really really love and will be sad to part with but I know the trade off will be worth it.

And my last worry seams stupid to even type out on here. As previously stated I am a confident beautiful plus size woman. And to be honest I worry that when I lose all my weight and get to be thinner that I will become a vain witch! Is that stupid? It's honestly what I worry about most which I think will help me not become that person, I just worry about it.

If you stuck with me on this post, thanks so much, I would love to get feedback and advice! I have my first seminar on 7/24/10 and have already started the ball rolling with my insurance company. All in all I am very excited about all the new possibilities the band presents and the new life it would give me! Thanks again in advance!

hi , i am due to see my surgeon on aug. 2nd. do it!! I am 45 and wish had done it sooner since I have always strugled with being a large gal and wanting to be smaller. I put off doing since I too have a full wardrobe that I like and spent a lot of money on....well, I will get new stuff. If your friends love "YOU" they will support you. Just assure them you inside will always be the same. you may get more attention- but you will adjust to it. good luck.

I am jealous of you because I weighed 270 and wore a 4x or a 30-32 so you aren't as big as I was. My choice to have lapband was decided on because my mother had it done and lost 140 lbs in a year and a half. I'm 10 months out and have lost 45 lbs. I just wished I would have done this earlier in life (I'm 41 now). I haven't told anyone except immediate family because I didn't want anyone to say I took the easy way out or I should be losing faster than what I am and it's nobody's business if I don't want them to know. I had 3 closets full of clothes and have bought smaller ones on clearance and saved money that way. So getting rid of clothes was a blessing because it meant that I was getting smaller. You are right about your job being visually based and you should look at the downside of being a larger person to the upside of being a smaller person. Being vain comes with the territory because you will be getting looks, comments, the door held open, sales people waiting on you faster...it all comes with losing the weight, just don't let it go to your head in a negative way. You deserve to be vain for losing all the weight and bettering your self-image. I am still overweight but my self-esteem (which suffered) is getting better and I feel better about myself. I still have that fat person mentallity and wear too baggy of clothes trying to hide my body but it is getting better. Good luck on your journey and you deserve everything positive that comes out of this. You already have a good outlook on life. Let me know how it goes.

Thank you ladies! I actually had the urge to tell two of my closest plus size friends last night, one was VERY supportive and the other was a little snide at first but then lightened up and said she would support me in any way she could. It helps talking to people who have been banded.

@khunt719 Yeah, I was lucky to have my fat be pretty proportionate, lol, at least my inherited fat genes were kind in that way! I'm sorry that your self esteem has suffered, I grew up with the most amazing Mom and Dad who continually told me that I was beautiful. My Dad passed in 2005 and one of my last amazing memories of him was him telling me I was beautiful. Sorry, don't wanna get all sentimental and long winded!!! He's just also a big reason why I'm getting banded. He would be very proud.

Hi Goosapotomus,

I'm 25 years old, 5 "2 and weigh currently 224lbs.

I feel terrible about my body, I feel so uncomfortable in my skin, I feel so fat (as my name sais). I feel sooo terrible and ashamed the way I look, I'm embaressed to go between ppl., I dont find it atractive to be fat. Whats nice about having dimples in the thighs?

There is no nice clothing in the plus size section, and even if there is, it doesn't look at all like skinny clothes on skinny bodies.

Do you never catch yourself looking at the skinny girl that just passed you, how great she looks and that you want to be skinny?

I want to know how you'r happy with yourself. At least untill I reach my goal (which is 120) I need to feel comfortable being the "big me".

How do u possibly manage to be comfortable being fat?

Thanx for sharing. And good luck on your jurney!

A lot of emotions do run through your mind when considering lapband surgery as its a HUGE step. I am like you and have been heavy all of my life and I always joke and say if I am vain as a big girl, what will happen after a 100 pound lose..lol.

You should tell your plus size friends as they may secretly feel the same way. I had a plus size friend who was against surgery but now as I approach my date and she listens to my process has now decided to go to a seminar.

As for the killer wardrobe, I hear ya...my cousins already told me that she wants to be called first when I can't fit my clothes anymore but the good news is that its an excuse to SHOP!!!

good luck!