My name is Bri and i've been going through the process to get the band since june 2011. Yesterday I recieved approval and my surgery is on January 20th. I'm excited, nervous, scared... you name it. I'm only 25 years old and I never thought I would be in this position... but I'm ready to change my life. I am the heaviest I've ever been.... 285. WOW that number makes me so sad. This has been such a painful journey for me... I've been tormented by myself and others my entire life for being overweight. I have gone through depression... physical pain... I am ready for some positive changes. In June I will be finishing my masters degree in social work and I am looking forward to having confidence for my career search. I joined this site because I really need the help and support!

I just want to be healthy and have some confidence. I will need all the support I can get!

I start my pre op liquid diet tomorrow!

wish me luck...

Hi Bri! I am starting my pre-op liquid diet tomorrow too! My surgery date is the 19th! If you'd like to go through it together let me know how you're doing and maybe we can support each other! I know it's going to be a challenge for me could use all the help I can get! Take care Cathy

HI Bri, my journey began in March of 2011. I went for my first approval in July but had an insurance requirement delay however I did received my approval in December and I get banded on January 17th. I'm on day 4 of my pre-op diet. The plan designed by the nutritionist isn't too bad I only get hungry if I go more than 4 hours without either drinking a Protein shake or eating my small meal. I get 3 Protein shakes a day and 2 small meals lots and lots of water/sugar free liquid.

Hopefully we can support each other through our challenging life changing journey..

Good luck to you! I am waiting for my sugery date.all of my pre-op testing is complete

Congrats ladies on the life changing decision that you made. I started this process September 2011 and was banded on 12/22/11. This website is wonderful and has helped me so far. I'm here for you if you need me ladies.

Hello Bri,

Im happy for you for being brave enough to realize that you want to be a healthier you and not wasting another moment of your life questioning your self-worth. You deserve to feel great about yourself inside and out and this surgery is the gateway to getting there. Im curious about how strongly you feel the connection is between finishing your Masters and making the decision to get banded? Because Im just finishing a masters too (final stages of thesis) and i definitely felt it motivated me to re-evaluate my life. Wish you all the best!

Thankyou all so much! I am so excited to change my life. Cathy i would love to be your diet buddy

Good luck Bri! You are making a wonderful decision! I'm 30 and I wish i would have done this years ago

Congratulations and courage to all who are on the verge. I got my band on Dec. 6, 2011 and just had my first fill three days ago. i'm still working on getting comfortable with the new way of eating. The dietary rules that I've followed for a long time - vegetarian, planning veg and fruit before protein, eating lots of fiber and having frequent small meals - are all turned upside down. It's been a journey already and I look forward to settling into eating less and seeing a steady drop on the scales. I'm 61, and wish I could have done this much, much earlier, but in a way I feel like I'm in a similar place to Bri, preparing to start a new stage of life now that my kids are grown and settled, my parents are gone and I've had to give up on my previous career. What next? Something really good!

Bri I am 25 as well. It's difficult to come to terms with the fact that I am in this position as well. I got in for surgery in 6 days. Glad I found this forum to read about things. I am nervous!!