Hi everyone...I am being banded tomorrow. I am 55 and have had weight issues for the past 20 years. My husband is supportive but thinks this whole thing is pretty expensive and still wonders why I can't just do this on my own. I will be alone this holiday except for my son. My husband had planned on visiting his mom (prior to my decision to have surgery and she is in her 90s) which is 1000 miles away. I did not really tell anyone about my surgery except for one close friend. I have really enjoyed reading all of the posts. I am a little nervous but did have gall bladder surgery a year ago and did not have any trouble so I hope this will go ok as well. I have spent so many years on so many diets and then failed that during the past few years..I have not even been able to start a new one. I want so much to wear jeans that do not have an elastic waist band, I want to ride a horse, I want to ride a bike again, and I want weight to just not be an issue anymore. Best to everyone...

Welcome and good luck tomorrow! I've read that this surgery is considered comparable to gall bladder surgery. It seems to me that it would be even simpler because the surgeon doesn't cut anything out of you. Anyway, I hope you recuperate as well as you did last year.

If my husband agrees with your husband, he's kept it to himself. But people who haven't had weight issues just don't understand. Even some who DO have weight issues don't understand because we've been conditioned to believe that it's our fault. More and more research and studies are demonstrating that there is more to this than self-control.

I lost 70 pounds four years ago and I fought every pound that I regained. I kept dieting and I exercised like crazy. I didn't pig out. I counted my calories. I don't know what else I could have done except stay on a liquid diet the rest of my life. But I thought that I could eat a normal amount of calories and maintain. Now I know that once you've lost weight, "normal" isn't normal any more. If I'm going to have to stay on a diet for the rest of my life, I need the band to help me.

I read in "Fat: What No One Is Telling You" that claiming that losing weight and keeping it off is a matter of self-control is like claiming that you can use self-control not to sleep. Sure, it will work for awhile but eventually your body says, Enough of this!, and you will fall asleep. Apparently, it does the same thing with lack of food. It has certainly been my experience!

They made a PBS special of the book, too: FAT: What No One Is Telling You . PBS You can watch it online. Maybe you can get your husband to watch it.

Let us know how you're doing!

Hi, Good luck tomorrow. My surgery is a week from tomorrow (27th). I'm a little nervous, but VERY anxious. I was wanting to cheat on my liquid diet, but I went to another website, obesityhelp.com and looked at the before and after pictures. They were very encouraging, and kept me on task. I have fought with my weight for 20 years now. My husband and I are separated, not because of my weight but because of lack of communication. So, my support group is my 20 year old daugther, who seems to think that I can do it myself without surgery, but I can't. Have tried. Ready for the NEW ME!

Good luck with your surgery. I was in hospital for 2 days after my op. Was sore for a few days but nothing I couldn't manage by myself if I had to. I'm sure you'll be fine without hubby there but I would make sure I had someone I could call on just in case.

Good luck with yours as well Candy.

Congratulations on your surgery date and good luck tomorrow.

Good luck with your surgery!

Congrats on your decision. Let us know how you do. I am so....glad i did it. Donna

Good Luck Today and Congratulations for your Decision!!!

As has already been said here, this is no easy decision to make and the life stayle adjustment are forever. Just keep remembering you are doing this for YOU and no one else!!

You will do just fine and I am sure you will recover just fine as well. I was really sore the first few days and even I wondered what did I just do voluntarily to myself....LOL

I am so happy that I have done it though and I am on to a new me and one who won't ever let food control me again.

Hugz