I've been thinking about having this surgery for a very long time. I think I want to do it but part of me feels like I'll be disappointed in my self for doing it. I know it's silly to feel that way and that it's not the easy way out and it's just a tool that will help me with my weight but there's a nagging in the back of my head that says I'm giving up. I've tried almost everything. Is there anyone else that felt this way and still did it? If so how do u feel about it now, would u do it all over again. Thanks.

I am in a pre-op stage myself so welcome. I want to have a lap band to help me get healthy again and be able to (walk). It is not an easy fix (in my opinion) but a stepping stone and something to help me (you) with this task. Read all you can (here and elsewhere) ask questions and keep on asking. But do this for the right reasons.

This is a last resort step. If you think you can do it on your own, then please, attempt it one last time. The failure rate of traditional diet and exercise is 95%. So, even though the odds are against you, you might be in that 5% that succeeds.

Absolutely!! It wasn't until I found out our insurance was going to start to finally cover LB surgery and coming to this site and really reading tons of posts that I decided it wasn't a cop out....like I had been thinking for years. I knew I could lose the weight once I finally put my mind to it....BUT my problem is and always has been I keep seem to keep it off for very long. I sick of being on the YO-YO plan...I turned 60 this past summer and I decided I'm done with being fat, not doing some of things that otherwise I'd be doing if I wasn't embarrassed because of my weight....I've struggled my whole life with weight and now I can lose the weight and the band will help me keep it off. The key though is to follow religiously what your doctor tells you, stay away from the things he/she says to stay away from. It will be nice to have POWER over food rather than fooding having al the power over me for so long. I can't wait to get started!!! Wish I had been able to do this years ago! Deb

I feel exactly as you do. Exactly! But Im still going to go thru with it. I'm 57. I also decided Im sick and tired of yo-yoing. It's not healthy. It's messed up my metabolism. Im not giving up. Im just getting help...a little tool. I have no false hopes. Ive studied this for 12 months now and know full well that my success depends on my compliance. If I comply the band will do it's job and that will equal success!

I have a friend that was banded May, 2012. As of yesterday she has lost 88 lbs. Her doctor told her she is his lapband poster child. She's succeeding way beyond the average. She is 20 lbs from goal and I have no doubt she will make it. I asked for her secret. She said simply: i follow my doctor's protocol. I do exactly as he tells me. Failure is not an option for her.

I agree! You have to make your mind up that you are not going to fail this time, it's not an option. As long as you do as your doctor says you should be a success.

....another thing that convinced me to stop thinking I was "giving up"....my BMI is 40. That's morbidly obese. MORBIDLY. Scary word. To me, that means my great genes will take me so far and as I move closer to 60's I will undoubtedly begin to have serious medical issues related to obesity. Heck, who am I kidding. They have already begun. My A1C is just a few points below the diagnosis of diabetes...my feet hurt and my days of walking 3 miles/day have stopped...i wake up to numb hands...

I decided I needed to "give up" to something that will work so I can enjoy the last third of my life, 75 lbs lighter.

Thank you all, your words have truly helped! I'm glad to that people on here are really willing to help,

I'm one month away from my self funded surgery in the UK. I have told some family and limited friends. I too have previously thought of myself as a failure for considering surgery and worried that others might think that too. Recently I've taken a good hard look at myself and realised I do everything to hide my weight. I want a fulfilling life and it's only myself stopping that. A TV celebrity said after her lap band surgery that the band is there to moderate her food because she can't do it herself.

I feel I need this as my starting tool. With weight loss comes confidence and energy. I'm quite prepared not to be able to afford to socialise for quite a while but when I do, I'll be holding my head up high instead of hiding away at the back of a room!!

I had my doubts. I had fears that I wouldn't succeed and would look bad because I failed again I still have to work at this it's still a diet although I thing of it as change of life style like an alcoholic In a way I still get to part take in my drug but I cannt hang out at bar or in my case the fast food place. I still have to fight to push back fears. But wow. Is it easier!!! I'm sooo happy I did this. It gave me the confidence I needed.

hell yes, I didn't want to do it. I resisted my family dr's gentle persuasion to get it done for 18 months. I was not particularly unhappy being heavier either. I thought I looked good, I dressed well, and my husband loved me, so why would I do something so drastic as getting surgery?

Then my brother found out that if he didn't lose weight, his diabetes and heart problems (both hereditary) would likely kill him in 10 years. And he's younger than me. And he couldn't afford the surgery in the country where he lived because it wasn't covered by his health insurance.

But my health insurance covered mine. And I had a 2 year old son. And I thought, oh lord, I want to see him marry and give me grandkids.

So I got the surgery. Even though I never had wanted to before. I figured, I have to try this. And it will work, and I will make it work.

And now, running around with my son, playing soccer with him, going bike riding with him, I know it was the right choice.

For me, it was choosing to take control. Of my weight and of my mindset. And that is the opposite to giving up.

Before surgery, I felt bad that I was getting the lapband, and embarrassed that I was unable to successfully lose weight using diet and exercise. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat - in fact, I'd go back in time and do it earlier!