Hello Everyone,

I am new to the site and considering being banded. I have done a little research so far but wanted to talk to others who have exerienced it first hand.

I am a stay-at-home Mom who has finally hit her highest weight and have had enough. I have tried many different diets and have had no real success. I have many questions and concerns. Actually I am scared about the whole idea really (I hate surgery...period!!). I know it is a life changing experience and it will be my way of life forever. I want to make sure I am prepared for all that is involved. I know it is expensive which is a big concern for me. Is my life worth it? I think so.

Hopefully I can navigate myself around this site and make some friends, find the support that I need and get some answers!

~Dawn~:rolleyes

I had the surgery almost 16 months ago and have not regreted it for one second. I had to take out a 2nd mortgage on my house but my life is worth it. I can not tell you how my life has changed in so many ways, it's a completely different life. If you want to hear more, I'd be happy to tell you.

From many post that I have read, it seems that you are giving up alot of freedom in regards to what you eat. Does it get easier? I understand at first that you must start out slowly and find the things that you are able to eat, but eventually does it become second nature and you almost forget you are banded? Are there certain foods that you will never be able to eat again? Do you miss any foods?

I have always used food for comfort and I am afraid that I'd be giving up everything just to be thin. I want to be thin and I am willing to change but I am so scared that I may regret this and that being banded would be more of a hassle than anything. I am fed up with being fat and mostly what is holding me back is the cost and my fear of surgery. I have wanted to be thin my whole life and believe this would finally be the answer. Right now I am trying to find a way to pay for it.

~Dawn~:nervous

Everyone is a "work-in-progress". If you don't work on the reasons you eat and why you are at this place in your life, this "tool" (band) won't be a long-term success for you. You need to change your whole life and decide that you want to be the best you that you were meant to be. It's a journey. There will be "bumps" along the road and you may get "stuck" at times but look at the alternative...I struggle every day but it does get easier and more of a habit. I CHOOSE to be healthier, no one can do it for you. As for the surgery, for me, it was easy. I had surgery at 8:30 am and went home at 1 pm. I took 2 weeks off from work, not that I needed that much time to recover, but it takes a while to get the routine down. Good luck in finding the funds for surgery.