Hello from Middlesex, NJ where I have lived for about a year, and 5 in the New Jersey area. For all of that time I have been a large guy but I finally went ahead and started reading in on lap band technology. I have a few friends that have had Gastric bypass, two good and one not so good from that.

I am 6'2" football/wrestling build and topping the scale at 330. Diets, gyms, fads have not seemed to work for me due to knee surgery x 2 and not being able to really push myself. The main culprit was working the overnight 12 hour shift 7 days a week. I was almost putting on 1 pound a week, but that is over now. I am a Paralegal and it keeps me very busy, and on top of that I am a part time actor at renaissance faires and movies in the area. I sing as a hobby in a barbershop quartet and chorus in Manhattan, come out and see us singing at the South Street Seaport Christmas tree!

My goal is 190 - 200 over a 2 year period, and I am thinking of getting sponsors for over the 2012 season. For each pound I lose they can sponsor me starting January 1 and ending December 1. This money will be given to the American Diabetes Foundation and the Youth Harmony Foundation.

I hope to meet others that have done this and am always good as a motivator once I put my mind to it.

Hello from Middlesex, NJ where I have lived for about a year, and 5 in the New Jersey area. For all of that time I have been a large guy but I finally went ahead and started reading in on lap band technology. I have a few friends that have had Gastric bypass, two good and one not so good from that.

I am 6'2" football/wrestling build and topping the scale at 330. Diets, gyms, fads have not seemed to work for me due to knee surgery x 2 and not being able to really push myself. The main culprit was working the overnight 12 hour shift 7 days a week. I was almost putting on 1 pound a week, but that is over now. I am a Paralegal and it keeps me very busy, and on top of that I am a part time actor at renaissance faires and movies in the area. I sing as a hobby in a barbershop quartet and chorus in Manhattan, come out and see us singing at the South Street Seaport Christmas tree!

My goal is 190 - 200 over a 2 year period, and I am thinking of getting sponsors for over the 2012 season. For each pound I lose they can sponsor me starting January 1 and ending December 1. This money will be given to the American Diabetes Foundation and the Youth Harmony Foundation.

I hope to meet others that have done this and am always good as a motivator once I put my mind to it.

Hi and welcome to LBT! You're absolutely in the right place. Your goals are very achievable, if you're willing to make the commitment to eating right, working out properly, and managing your band. There is no substitute for knowledge about how the band works, and those who have the most success are the ones who have that knowledge, and who work their band properly. Your numbers aren't all that different than my own, and I started this last December at 320 pounds. Today I am below 200, and just a few pounds away from my goal weight. So yes, it's QUITE "doable."

One thing to know, is that the band will not stop you from overeating, or from making bad food choices. It's a helper for common sense and willpower, by reducing your appetite to manageable levels. So if you have food issues, get them resolved before you have surgery. Your chances of successful weight loss are much better if you aren't fighting personal demons that sabotage you.

Good luck!

Dave