I went to my first appointment and met my surgeon and team of assistants (RNs and Dietitian) and they were great! Really wonderful, reassuring, and helpful. I got a really good vibe from them.

However, I feel like I am giving up so much just to be skinny. Part of me is so ready for this and the other part of me thinks that it is not worth it.

Can we really keep a band in forever? I am 33 and I am supposed to have this thing in me forever? I don't get it. Anyone else gone through this?

I guess only time will tell if we'll be able to keep our bands forever. I try to read stories from people who have band problems as well as people who don't, and those who have problems seem to think it'd be impossible for someone's band to last their whole life. Right now, it's a waiting game for those who have been banded for years and years... but yes, according to the companies, we can keep and use our bands for the rest of our lives. It'll be interesting to look back in 20 years and see what we know then that we don't know now!

Lap Bands became legal in the US in 2001... Realize Bands in 2007.

I was a little worried before being banded. But after, really nothing has changed. I mean I've lost a bunch of weight and I only eat a very small amount of food. If you start exercising regularly like you should, and start seeing the pounds come off, you'll want to eat healthier. I used to drink two sodas a day and fast food mostly twice a day. Once you get past the mental part of it - which is huge - you more than likely won't crave those things anymore. It's also all about finding that sweet spot in your fills. Every once in a while if I'm eating bread or chicken and don't chew it up into small enough pieces, it will get stuck. Very uncomfortable, but it passes in like 20 seconds. That's the only reminder that there is a band in me and that I have to be careful.

What I'm getting at is, you won't be giving anything up. You'll make changes in your life for the better. Just think, these things you're afraid of giving up are the same things that got you to this point. Eating this or drinking that hasn't done you any favors.

I went to my first appointment and met my surgeon and team of assistants (RNs and Dietitian) and they were great! Really wonderful, reassuring, and helpful. I got a really good vibe from them.

However, I feel like I am giving up so much just to be skinny. Part of me is so ready for this and the other part of me thinks that it is not worth it.

Can we really keep a band in forever? I am 33 and I am supposed to have this thing in me forever? I don't get it. Anyone else gone through this?

Hang in there guys!!! Remember that the goal of the lap band is to be HEALTHY!!!!!!!! Whenever I feel like surgery will be too much or that the pain will be unbearable, I remember why I am doing this. To improve my health!!!!!!!!!

I believe there is a saying that anything worth having is worth working for. My health is all that I have. I want to know I did what I could to preserve it. I'm no spring chicken, but I want my last years to be enjoyable ones.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the helpful comments. I go back and forth so much. One day it is 125% sure and the next day it is only 50%. Maybe that is why I have a 6 month waiting period.

Most people who decide to have this surgery have thought about it for over a year before they make their first call. I don't know where u fall into that but hopefully during the next 6months u will know for surgery. Best wishes to u.