I am trying to figure out if I really want to have theLap-Band surgery. I had a breast reduction 4 years ago and did not have anegative thought while waiting for my surgery. Best decision!!!! However, I cannotsay the same for the Lap-Band surgery. I have meet with my doctor who answeredall of my questions at the time, have friends who have had the surgery and aredoing well but I am not sure if I can do this. I have been overweight most ofmy life and I have a wonderful husband who loves me no matter how I look. Myfamily supports me in whatever I do but I still am hitting a brick wall. I havestarted the 6-month process, diet, and plan to meet with the dietitian as wellas the Psych evaluation.

I just turned 50 and am thinking about the long term with aband. Will it last or what will happen to the band, as I get older. No, I didnot discuss this with my doctor but will. The diet that the doctor put me onwas 1,400 low fat calories and I have lost about 5 lbs so far. A part of methinks that if I continue on this diet that I could lose the weight on my ownand the other part is telling no, you should have the surgery. I know that Iwill have be happy with whatever decision that I make but I am still trying tofigure this out.

Thank you for listening…

One thing people who are contemplating any WLS have to ask themselves is whether or not they have the discipline to

eat according to their surgeon and dietitian's instructions. If not, there is a good chance their surgery may not be a

complete success. There are some that can lose weight on their own without surgery, but for most of us, the problem

is, although we can lose, we are also good at gaining our weight back. As we all know, this yo yo dieting puts a lot

of strain on our bodies, particularly our hearts. The band allows us to lose and helps us keep it off. I've been banded

for 9 weeks and have lost over 50 lbs and almost completely conquered my diabetes, etc. For some reason I haven't

needed any fills and don't have an undue amount of hunger, and I'm not alone. A number of people haven't had

fills and are still losing. Everyone is different. The one thing that the band has going for it, is that it's reversible. If

years down the line. You need to have it removed. that's possible. You just have to decide whether your weight is

enough of a health risk to do something about.