Hello everyone, my name is Hilda and I've just decided to begin this journey. I am attending a seminar this weekend and maybe setting an appointment with a Surgeon, I don't have a doctor yet. I have been overweight since middle school and hit 200 in high school. I graduated high school 5.5 years ago and have gained over 50 pounds since!!!

I've tried working out and eating right, but after months with no losses I give up and gain all of the weight back.

I am hopeful that with the Lap Band Surgery, my serious efforts to lose weight can be more effective!

I live in the San Fernando Valley and if there is anybody out there in my situation, I would love to hear from you so we can share our experiences and journey together.

Well, recognizing you have a problem, and most importantly wanting to do something about it is the most important first step.

My only fear is that lately, LapBand Surgery has become very popular, so much so I hope people do not choose it as they would some other new "Fad" way of loosing weight.

It is a "Surgical Procedure" that puts a foreign object inside your body with a tube running to a injection port where the Dr. sticks a large bore needle into to adjust the amount of Fluid in the band.

Once you have the surgery, it will alter your way of life forever! Change you eating habits including "Social" aspects like going out to dinner with friends/family, or holiday get togethers.

As with so many other people, you will have to say goodbye to some of your favorite foods.

I have read posts here from people concerned / worried that they will not be able to eat "ANYTHING They Want" Duh????

That is probably why most Insurance Co. and Surgeons require you to have a Psych Eval to be sure you have your priorities correct and you understand, maturely, what you are getting into.

You will also find here, Myself included, a majority of people who do not regret for one minute having the Surgery done.

It has changed, if not SAVED, our lives and would not hesitate if needed to do it again.

Also, keep in mind that when you read through all the info here on this website, almost all of it is coming from people who are just starting out with their weight loss journey, and are confused, scared, and are looking for advice and answers.

There are untold numbers who have been successful and moved on, not coming here all that much because there is not much support offered for them here.

Excellent post B-52. Thank you.

I'm also starting out on my journey. I started October 2011 and hope to get banded between May and July of this year. My insurance company requires me to see a nutritionist for 6 months. I have PCOS so at age 12 I went from 110 pounds to 289 pounds in a year. I NEVER changed how I was eating. I gained it due to my PCOS. I've tried many diets and I'd always lose 20 pounds then BAM I'd gain 30-40 pounds back. I've already cut out all soda and sugar drinks and I've drastically have changed how I eat. I am on a 1,500 calorie a day diet. I exercise 3-5 times a week for 30-90 minutes depending on what I'm doing and if I have a busy day. I ALWAYS do a minimum of 30 minutes tho even if I'm late for something. My Lap Band is just going to help me feel full. I personally don't look at it as a get skinny quick and I don't think that it's the latest fad. Where I live maybe 1 out of 1,000 people have it if that. I live in Vermont and the only ones that I know that have it are on my husband's side of the family and they live in New Hampshire and a lot of his family has it. He doesn't because he's average size and doesn't have their genes since he's adopted. I'm going for it also to help lose the weight to help me with my fertility. My doctor recommended it for me because of my BMI and they actually recommended it at age 18 but I wasn't ready and truthfully I still wanted to eat. I used to live to eat but now I eat to live. I've realized that I don't need as much food and mentally I'm finally ready. I can say no to my favorite foods and deserts. I hope you do great on your journey and I wish you the best of luck

start the process, you will know pretty quickly if it is for you. can you make the commitment, are you mentally able, and physically meeting requirements?

find the best doc you can. many do the surgery but not all are reputable.

you will eat after our surgery, it will be different. the trade off is soooo much better than food. there are so many good changes that you will be shocked!

Best of luck, keep in touch!

Thank you all for your input. I am looking forward to speaking with a surgeon this weekend and just getting more info. Thank you B52, I do realize that I'm going to need to make a lot of changes as far as food and stop eating "everything I want" since that's what got me here in the first place.