Hello Everyone! I am a 45 year old mother of 2 teenage daughters who has been married now for 19 years. I have been overweight the majority of my life but back in the day they just called it 'Big Boned'. I started my first serious attempt to lose weight at the age of 18 by attending Weight Watchers meetings. When I started I must have weighed around 195 lbs and I managed to lose 40 lbs but even at that weight I was just shy of what they considered to be the HIGH end of my ideal, Lifetime Goal weight. I never could get off the last 5 lbs so I ended up quitting without making "Lifetime" status.

Since then I have been on a roller coaster of ups and downs with regard to weight loss and maintenance. I have tried the Grapefruit Diet, the Atkins Diet (lost 50 lbs and kept it off for almost 2 years), the South Beach Diet, the DASH Diet, the Fast Metabolism Diet, Weight Watchers and various other Low-Fat diets and Low-Calorie diets (as well as many others I'm sure I have long since forgotten about).

My highest weight was 250 in 2006. In 2007 I joined Weight Watchers again and over the course of a year I managed to lose 75 lbs and reach my "Lifetime Goal' weight of 160 lbs. I had never felt better but I was always hungry. The only way I was not thinking about being hungry was when I was working out. I also had to work out at least 6-7 days per week for more than 1 hour per day in order to maintain that weight. I spent thousands of dollars on Personal Trainers and fitness classes. In addition, I was running 5Ks, 7Ks & 10ks but always still pre-occupied with the feeling of being hungry.

At some point I became depressed at how hard I was having to work to keep the weight off and about how much time I was missing with my girls during their pre-teen years that I cut back on exercising. Needless to say the more I cut back, the more my weight creeped back up. I managed to keep that weight off for the better part of 2 years but eventually gained it all back. Now I am in my 40s and I can't lose weight no matter what I seem to do.

I have had enough with the struggling and the hunger and now I am having knee and back pain and also found out I am pre-diabetic. I began my research on surgical solutions about a year ago and have decided to go with the Lap Band. While my insurance company does cover bariatric surgeries, my employers specifically excluded the benefit from our policy so I am having to pay for the surgery all on my own. I am having the procedure performed by Dr. Darin Minkin of True Results in St. Louis.

I am currently back up to 230 lbs. I just completed all of my pre-op medical tests (EKG, bloodwork, chest x-rays, etc) and just scheduled my Pre-Op appointment for next Friday, June 13, 2014. My surgery date is scheduled for Friday, June 20, 2014. I know the Lap Band is not the END ALL, BE ALL cure but I believe it is just the 'Tool' I need in order to get me where I want to go. I am nervous but excited. Dr Minkin has very good reviews by members of this site which helps to put me more at ease. Next Friday cannot get here quick enough. I am so ready to move forward.

I am so happy to have found this site as I know from personal experience with Weight Watchers, support is a must. I will be looking for all the support I can get and when I reach my goal weight of 150-155 I will be eager to offer all the support I can based on my experience. I can't wait to meet new people and find out what works for you and what doesn't. Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey.

Welcome and congrats on your surgery date…it is an exciting time!

I, too, was a Weight Watcher veteran since about the age of 16 and it took me until 44 to realize it wasn't working for me….guess Im a slow learner….lol… Fast forward almost 9 months after surgery and I love that I AM NO LONGER DIETING….NO LONGER DEPRIVED…and feeling so much better about myself both physically and emotionally!!

This is a great site with lots of wonderful people providing their experiences and support!!

For me, my lap band w/plication has been a wonderful experience….not all peaches and cream….but I take one day at a time and am still learning so much from this whole process.

I am now able to keep up with my 4 and 7 year old and actually went out bike riding with my 7 year old last weekend. Im not sure who was happier…me or my son….it felt so great being on that bike after so many decades…..

Wishing you lots of luck….follow all your docs orders to a T….believe in yourself….give yourself the time you need to heal and learn….and just take one day at a time!

Good luck! My surgery is the 20th as well.

Y'all my surgery is tomorrow. Omg

I'm excited. !!