I'm reading lots of blogs and getting lots of info here. Really a great site.

I'm being banded on July 27th. I notice that a lot of you are young women and with BMI's in the 30's. Good for you for not letting things get too out of control.

I'm wondering how many on here are extremely overweight, as I am. At 5ft 3in, I weigh between 280-285 depending on how much Water I'm retaining. My BMI, is 49. Yikes, yeah I know. I'm really hoping this will work for me. Is there any of you out there that have lost over 70lbs? and how long did it take? Does the band seem to help with emotional eating. You know, you're not really hungry, you just want that feeling that comes over you from mindless carb munching?

Also, I'm a self pay and since I had no insurance comp. to deal with, I've had no psychological evaluation. I'm not sure if this is a good thing. I'm sure I want to lose weight. I'm very worried that soon I'll be the person that needs a motorized cart to get out of my house. My knee are very bad. I so want this too work for me and I chose the lap band because I felt it was not too invasive or drastic.

What do you think? Am I being realitic thinking this will help me?

I am 5' 5" & started the first day I went in at 258. I was self pay but did have an eval. However, I've also been in therapy & on antidepressants for years so it wasn't surprising. I had surgery Sept 7, 2011 & have lost 91 lbs. I'm 33 from goal. BMI was 43.02. Now it's 27.85 & at goal it will be 22.35.

I have had a fabulous experience. I had a single incision & low profile port. Easy recovery & so far so good on all levels. I follow the directions most of the time & always get 70-100 g of Protein in + Vitamins daily. I had problems before with overeating & binge eating. Not really an option anymore, even with head hunger which, for me, happens maybe twice a month -- usually if I've been isolating or too much in my head.

It's a lot of money & I do not want it to be wasted. I would do it again in a minute BUT we all have to work to get it off & keep it off. It is a lifetime commitment. Best of luck!

P.S.: I did a lot of research & have a wonderful surgeon. I go back once a month for follow ups whether I need a fill or not. (It was included in my package). I will go every few months after one year & then as needed. A BIG part of my success has been logging everything, good & bad, into my fitness pal. And exercising (although not as much as I would like).

Something I've noticed thru the years my weight went down prior to gaining it back is I was an emotional eater. But working out or finding something (crafts) to do to take my mind off of it helped tremendously