I am debating on whether to get the surgery or not. I've been reading many success stories and it's uplifting to hear that, but i guess i'm just scared. Can anyone give me words of encouragement?

To be perfectly honest I'm still not sure and I'm getting banded tomorrow! I just keep thinking about how great it will be afterward when the pounds start melting off and actually STAY off :cool: It was a tough decision for me because I absolutely LOVE food and I will miss being able to eat anything and everything I want but in the long run I'm young, I'm engaged and I have my whole life ahead of me and I dont want it to end early because I didn't get healthy and fit when I had the chance. It's definately a personal decision and I don't know how overweight you are but if you think it could improve your life I say DO IT, you will always wonder "what if" if you don't! Keep us posted as to what you decide!

I am debating on whether to get the surgery or not. I've been reading many success stories and it's uplifting to hear that, but i guess i'm just scared. Can anyone give me words of encouragement?

What are you scared of exactly? The idea of having surgery, or something else?

Couple of things I did 1)make a list of all the things I've tried to lose weight over the years that didn't work long-term. That helped me to see that I have really tried other methods, which was important to me. 2)I did a pro/con list for having surgery.

I remember feeling the same way. I have had my band since January and can not imagine being without it now. I will just tell you some of my ups and downs. I feel soooo much better about myself now and I am healthier and can do so much more then I could before. My relationship with my husband is better then ever because I am not miserable with myself anymore. I can also play on the play ground with my two little ones now and they love it. I got to go down the slide this weekend. I have not done that since I was a kid and it was such an awesome feeling. I feel like I have a whole new life. The down side is that I still love sweets but with the band I can control myself easier and I never could have lost this much weight without my band. So the down side is that I cant eat all the crap that I could before. But that is what got me into this mess in the first place so I guess thats also good. I guess I dont have anything negative to say about it. But I do still occasionally struggle. But it is possible to lose now. Good luck to you on your decision.

When I starting researching WLS, I was frustrated with my weight (again), and was contemplating calling my Dr. to start back on phentermine(again). I finally decided that taking weight loss drugs for another couple years has to be doing more harm to my body then surgery would do. Although using meds has been the only way I have ever lost weight in the past, it has always come back on. The constant yo-yo dieting is not good for my health. I am the mirror image of my mother, who at 65 (and overweight her entire adult life) has had 2 knee replacements, breast cancer, and now is an insulin dependant diabetic. Watching her have to test her blood sugar 4 times/day, and take insulin injections 5 times/day has sent me over the edge. If I don't fix this now, I know where I am headed. This is my chance to alter my path.

I know it is a scary choice. Dig deep and write down why you want it, what other options you have, what you haven't tried, and what you are afraid of. Hopefully that will help you make your decision.