Hi all, my name is Holly and I've been lurking on this excellent site. What a relief to have this great online community to join! Tonight I'm going to my "educational seminar" at the local hospital. So many of my questions have already been answered by reading the posts here, everyone is so supportive and informative. I guess my main question/worry is this: having a Lap-Band requires a serious comittment to a lifestyle change, and so far I really suck at making a serious lifestyle change - if I was good at it I'd be THIN and healthy already! I'm sure I'm not alone, right? How do others who are banded finally make the "jump" (or is it more like CLIMB?) to a new lifestyle after all the past failures? I'm anxious to meet you all :-) thanks for any responses!

<p>Holly,</p> <p>Welcome I am rather new too. I have been posting for about 3 months. My surgery date is Aug. 15. I am starting to get nervous, but know I will never loose the weight without the help of lap band. To my understanding lap band is a serious life style change. If you do not eat properly you will regain the weight. Good luck on what ever you decide. The more seminar's and reading you do the better informed you will be. Keep posting.</p> <p>JP</p>

Congrats on the seminar! It definitly is one of the first steps to becoming a new you!! I've been banded now for 8 days and can already tell theres a life style change all in itself. I think the change is something that you choose though, the band is an instrument to help you STOP the bad habbits we've all acquired. (at least in my opinion) Those of us who say that you can never ever eat a peice of cake or ice again are lieing because you can, its a matter of self control. I know for myself, that's what I need help with, self control! When I do something it's full force! LOL Sometimes a lil too full...With time, support, and a lot of sweat and tears you will be able to do it (and me too!!) Good Luck Holly!!