Please know that you are doing something great for your health and your future. You have decided at an early age to put yourself first instead of thinking that anything that pertains to you could go on the back burner. You did not wait until the aches and pains of arthritis and other disorders have set in to limit your movement and ability to exercise.

Treasure this moment. As I tell my own young lapbander, this is not an easy journey but know you have changed your life forever. Don't let anyone make you feel bad, saying you took the easy way out but understand the strength it took to reach for something like this to better your life.

Just know you have a family here that supports you and are very proud of you for having taken such a big step. Reach out to us for strength if you need it. God bless!

I think you all are doing a great thing. It is for me the same as when I got her braces. I needed to help my daughter make certain physical corrections such as her teeth that needed help. She now needed help with losing weight. I can only assist her with obtaining these tools. She has to wear her retainer to keep her teeth straight and she has to exercise and follow her nutritional plan to lose the weight. It is just that we wanted her to have the best shot at being the best she could be. I tell you she looks great with 20 lbs off.

Again please feel proud of what you have done to change the health direction of your life. It is the best thing you could have done. I have diabetes and hypertension. Since lapband I have been off my diabetes medication and one of my 2 BP medications and hope to be off the remaining one and this is only with 27 lbs off. I am excited for my own life as well.

I am 29 and was told by a few people that I was to young and shouldn't get banded. I of course didn't listen to them. It was the best thing that I have ever done. Thank you for your uplifting message. It is always nice to hear some positive messages.

While I am a fellow lapbander I am also a mother. I want my child to live a long happy, healthy life. We on this site also hope the best for all of you. God bless!

While I am a fellow lapbander I am also a mother. I want my child to live a long happy, healthy life. We on this site also hope the best for all of you. God bless!

Well my 21 year old just was banded 11/14 and she has felt at times, that she is and has been judged by the decision she made. One of her friends was actually upset that she got the band. Not sure what that is about except that people are fine as long as you stay the fattest chick in the room but try to change that and people's attitudes change.

Heck I was banded in September and others are upset with me. I will never regret the band.

If you do not mind me asking how much have you lost?

People want to keep you down to feel better about themselves. I have 'friends' like that myself. The times in my life where i have successfully lost weight through dieting and started to look good they would say "we're worried about you... are you being healthy, losing all that weight?" Drives me CRAY CRAY. No one would say "we're worried about you with all that excess weight... are you being healthy?"

I am 29 and getting banded on the 17th of Dec. I wish i would have made the decision 10 years ago. You have done a great thing for your child. The pro's of living a healthy life filled with opportunity and without being self conscious, FAR outweighs the backlash from catty friends.

Best of luck to ya'll

You will be fine. Keep us all posted.