I am patiently waiting for a call back from the program/hospital that will be doing the surgery. I have not even had a consult, but I have been to the informational seminar, and I read and research every day. I have the WLS for Dummies, and I am waiting for another book. I find myself getting so excited, and then feeling like I will let myself down in some way. One day, I cant wait. The next, I am scared to death and I dont know if I can hang in there and do what I need to do to become the person I know I really am...

So what I wanted to know is: How did you know it was the right time for you? Was there an event that just made it more clear than ever?

The thing is, I feel like it is now or never for me. I am still young, but my health is not great. I want to live. I want to live happy. So why am I having doubts? Why am I so scared.

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and opinions, I greatly appreciate it!!

Hi Arin!

What you're feeling is completely normal. I knew it was time for me because I was tired of missing out in life. I have a son that is 20 months old and it is not fair to him. I can't run around and play with him because I'm in terrible shape. He's getting older now and I want to be able to take him to an amusement park and ride roller coasters with him without being afraid that I won't fit on the ride. I knew lap band surgery was the way to go because everything else had failed. I want my life back. My advice is to do it now while you're still young. Don't miss out in life any longer than you have to. Good luck and I hope everything works out for you.

I did my informational meeting in October and I have my first three appointments next week. Than I have my last nutritional appointment on 12/3. And than I guess I wait to get my consultation with the surgeon. I am very excited to begin this new journey. Everyone's post have been very helpfull and encouraging. I am nervous about the actual surgery and what life is going to be like after surgery. How I will feel both physically and mentally. Part of me wishes I had gotten to this point years ago, but I think it is a path that I had to follow to get me to where I am today. At first I felt like I was a failure, but after they had me write down how long I had been dieting and all my attempts, I realized that I can lose the weight, but not by myself. I think what you are feeling is part of the process. Good Luck and keep me updated

Thanks so much for your kind words. I guess all of the waiting is what really makes it hard for me. My program is supposed to be completely patient driven, and yet I feel like I have done all that I can for now, and I have to just sit and wait...This is a very hard thing for me, I really struggle with patience in my life. Always have. I am so ready to begin. I dont want to call and bug the hospital everyday, but I feel like if I dont, then I will be the one that gets passed by. Ok, sorry to be rambling about that. It is just hard to wait. I have even been looking for a support group to start attending in my area, just so that I can get ahead of the game. The program requires that you attend their meetings as well, but if I can get going early, then maybe I will be that much more prepared when it is my time... Thanks again!! I just hope I can get going down the right path...

Arin, It took me almost 1 year to get all of the required stuff done and get a surgery date. Not long before that my cousin passed away from complications with sleep apnea, so it was a no brainer for me to get the band. I didnt find this site till after mine was done. Wish I would have because I went in not knowing much. Its worth the wait.....

I new it was time when my sister had her baby girl. I had been trying to get pregnant for a while too. I could get pregnant with medication if I wanted to, but the weight makes it an issue. Anyway, besides that my sister was addicted to heroin when she had her baby. I decided that having a baby when I am fat is so unhealthy that it comes close to being as bad as what my sister did. I called the doctor's office to set up an appointment the day after I held my niece in the drug addicted babies ward.

well im 16 adn i knew i wouldnt have the life i wanted for myself, adn i got to the point where i didnt care at all. i am on antidepressants up the yingyang and hell, i want a boyfriend for the first time in mylife!

I think the breaking point came for me after my miscarriage. DH and I have never used any kind of birth control since we've been together (5 years) and only got pregnant this one time this past July. I miscarried Sept 2nd. I'm so sick of wishing and hoping and praying that I can get pregnant and then once I did get pregnant, I was all worried about the complications they say are possible when the mother is obese. I felt like the worst person on earth. Then I miscarried at 10 weeks and knew I had to be skinny before we got pregnant again because I didn't want to feel like I was doing something wrong. I considered dieting again, but was tired of the roller coaster and not getting anywhere. I had been considering the Lap Band for a year, but seriously looked into it and here I am - just over a week out from being able to get banded!

I can hardly wait for the health benefits, too. I'm really tired of hurting when I walk, being out of breath, not participating in anything that's remotely physical because I'm embarrassed.