I am new to this site so I will introduce myself. I am 33 and have struggled with weight all of my life. I have two beautiful daughters. I want to get healthier so that i can see them grow up and be able to help them to be healthy. I have tried so many diets and programs but nothing seems to work. I decided in March to check out the lap band. I went through all the qualification steps and my insurance denied the surgery. After two appeals I have now been approved and i am so excited. I am scheduled to get my band on January 30th, 2012.

If you have any advice for what i should do in the next two months to prepare please share. I would be very appreciative for any advice.

Congratulations and welcome to the forums. You can use the time ahead to practice your new eating habits - slowly, slower, slower! And plenty of chewing. I have found those to be the two hardest things to master so if you can start creating those habits ahead of getting banded you will find it so much easier down the track.

Also, start living now as you will with the band - become very conscious of everything that you choose to eat, start to build up your exercise. That way you will be that little bit fitter and healther going into the surgery and will recover much better.

Best of luck

Start watching what you eat and how you eat it. Eat slowly. Chew completely. And put your fork down between bites. It isn't easy to do. Also, when you reach for something to eat between meals, stop and ask yourself if you're really hungry or just bored or head hungry. Then wait 10 minutes and see if you still want it. If you are not a regular Water drinker, start drinking water now. If you are addicted to soda, start weaning yourself off of it, replacing it with water instead.

Good luck on your journey.