Hello Everyone!

I'm Michelle but many of my friends call me Angel... Don't let the Dark Angel part scare you, I'm not satanic or anything like that, it's actually a nick name my father gave me when I was little and it just stuck...

I'm 39, widowed almost 3 years now and the mother of 2 wonderful young men, 15 and 8

My husband passed away from an accident while trying to learn how to skateboard to spend more time with our boys back in March 2008 and since then, the reality of me being all they have left really hit me hard when my youngest said, "Mommy, we don't want you to die too, please" and it was cause of my weight.

I've spent my whole life battling my weight, the roller coasters and emotions are too much and I just know that once I get banned, there will be no more battles, only a war that's been won once and for all.

I will be starting my preliminary doctor appointments the first week of Sept and just know that my husband will be on my side guiding me through this from above.

Thank you for making this forum available and allowing me to educate myself more before my actual banding comes.

Hi Angel - I'm new here, too. I mostly lurk but tend to *try* and post every now and then. I understand where you're coming from, concerning my 9 year old step-son, but also bc my husband and I plan on having more kids and there's no way I could see myself carrying this heavy. I wish you luck in your en devours, I'm still researching Mexico docs before making a decision!