Hello everyone! I just thought it would be nice if we could all share our reasons why we got banded. I think it would give everyone motivation and also give confidence to those who need it.

My reason why I got the lap band is because I wanted to be healthy. I was tired of being the fat kid. I want to be able to see my great grand children....many years from now. I want to be able to go up the stairs without being out of breath. I want to play volleyball again.

Merry Christmas to you all, and thank you for sharing why you got your lap band!

I got banded because I had had enough. I've been dieting since I was 8 years old. I have lost (and gained back!) enough weight to create another family of 4. I knew that one more trip to Weight Watchers was not going to do it. I've always been a good dieter, for a time. Then it all comes flying back on. I wanted something adjustable that would not let me go back to my old habits. So far, I don't have one regret. The true test will be, if I'm still this happy 5 years from now. I pretty convinced that I will be.....

I got the band because I was having heart palpatations, sweats, headache and to get off my blood pressure medicine. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure 2 year ago and put on medication. After I started on this medication, I started having these symtoms. Watched my diet, exercise but could not get rid of my symtoms. Decided to have lapband surgery to get rid of the high blood pressure. Long story short, During the lapband surgery my pressure went really high. Lapro became open. Woke up in ICU 8 hours later. I was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. This is a tumor on my adrenal gland on my kidney. This is suppose to be some rare thing? I will be having surgery soon to get rid of this tumor. Just think, I almost did not have lapband because I was going to try one more diet. Left in the body this can become a stroke, heart attack. My sister suffer a stroke at 35. My lapband is a true blessing.

I lost my 13 year old son to cancer (leukemia) on 01/10/2007. That's not quite two years ago. He was sick for about 18 months prior to his death. I saw a vital, healthy, beautiful young man get sucked up and murdered by his disease. He would have loved to have a healthy body and a long, healthy life. He was not ready to die.

Watching him do so changed what I am willing to put up with in terms of my own behavior and health. I researched the lap band many times over the last four years. I got counseling for my grief, got a fantastic surgeon, rallied my supporters and decided it was time. It is part of honoring my Joseph. I am in a place in my grief now that I am ready to move forward with life and for it to be as healthy as I can make it. There are enough things on earth that can steal our vitality away, at any time, at any age. I won't court them purposefully. They have had enough impact on and power over my life already. So I decided to control what I can.

I lost 80 lbs on my own prior to Joseph being diagnosed. I gained 40 back at the end of his illness. The lap band will help me get that off and get the rest of the way to goal.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/josephmorrison

Best of luck to everyone.

I have not had the band yet, waiting for durgery date, but have seen my doctor. I put it this way, you know when you are on a plane and they are explaining the mask to you? Well they tell you that if you have a child you need to put your mask on first so you can help the child. Well, it is time for me to take care of myself so I can be there to take care of my children and grandchildren. It is time to take care of me. I can not wait till I can be on the same road with all of my new friends here.

for me. It was my health. I was borderline diabetic, high blood pressure, major edema in my legs, totally out of shape, could barely walk.. joint pain. I feared if i didnt do something I would of been dead in 5 years because the strain on my body was so bad. I wanted to be able to see my kids grow up and raise them. granted you never know when your time is , but if i can eliminate any risk to that im all for it. I want to become the me I know i am on the inside. the one who plays sports and is competitive and kicks butt and to have my body be capable of what i ask it to do. To be able to go to outings with my kids and not get tired but mostly for me. I just want to be healthy.. I havent been skinny since i was 18 and im 33 now and what a liberating feeling that will be to be able to do things I havent done in so long.

I chose Lap band because I hated being fat and all the unhealthy side effects that go along with being fat. I have had success in the past with self-dieting, but they were only short-term successes with a feeling of failure that goes along with it that almost suffocates you. Being fat made me miserable and made everyone around me miserable due to my attitude. I want to feel good about myself again and live a long and healthy life.

I got the band because I was sick and tired of being fat. And tired of failing at every "diet" coming and going. I just needed an extra "tool" to help me and after much investigation, felt that LapBand was the best option for me.

When I found out that my insurance would pay, that settled it for me!

I'm so glad I had it done!:laugh:

I look forward to my yearly "girl's week" at the beach next summer when I'll look HOT in my bathing suit. I'm ready to feel good about the way I look!

I want to live a long life in health.:laugh: