The more I read about the difficulties that people go through, the preparations, the build up and the anticipation about their actual day of surgery, the more it seems to me that our actual lapband surgery day is very similar to a wedding day.

There is a huge amount of preparation and build up to both and then suddenly they have both passed and what do we have to show for it? A band of saline filled silicone around my stomach in one case and a band of gold around my finger on the other.

Either way, the actual surgery or wedding day is only the beginning of the rest of my life. Neither event will give me the outcomes I was dreaming of if I reach that day and think that it is the end of my journey. With that attitude, I would end up as a band failure or a divorcee.

My husband and I Celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary this month and we have never been happier as a couple, but we have had to work hard over the years and we know that we will have to continue to work hard over the coming years to maintain our marriage. It's worth it to be with my husband into our old age, to fulfil our dreams, to set new goals and dreams together.

This month I will celebrate my first bandiversary and I am already the healthiest I have ever been as an adult. I have worked hard since being banded and I know that I will have to work hard for the rest of my life to continue to lose weight and enjoy my healthier new body. I have to set short, medium and long term goals and then keep setting new goals as I reach those earlier ones.

Just as I have to talk with and listen to my husband, give and take, compromise at times for the health of our marriage, so do I have to listen to and work with my band and my body.

Our wedding day was a fantastic day, a wonderful celebration. My surgery day was also a very special day. But now I have to look to and work on both for the rest of my life.

and the first couple of years are like being on honeymoon, and then reality sets in and you just get on with it.

Sometimes you wish you and your band had never met.

Sometimes you love your band more than life itself

And sometimes you contemplate ditching your band for another form of WLS.

Such a great analogy and response ladies! As a newbie i am hopeful that the passion in this love affair endures all the tribulations that are sure to come:) my band and I are still honeymooning for now!

That was great! never thought of it that way, but you are definatelt right!