Hello,my name is Shannon Neel, I am married with 4 children,for most of my adult life I have been obese, and it wasn't until a few months ago, when my wife had bariatric surgery, that I had even considered my own health and the issues that I have due to my being overweight. My wife looks great and feels better (healthwise) and she has been worrying about me lately because I have high blood pressure,bad knees and also am diabetic, not to mention high cholesterol,shortness of breath and back problems...soooo she said,"Why don't you consider the lap-band if you don't want to go as invasive as I did?"...So I gave it some thought and out of sheer morbid curiosity, I have been looking into it and am having my insurance company send me all the literature for the steps I would need to take to get approved. I would like to lose at least 80 to 100lbs...I want to be active again...and participate in activities with my family as well as maybe eliminating SOME if not ALL the costly medications that I must take daily.I love my family and want to be around a long time for them.So wish me luck...this is the beginning of a long journey for me....

Good for you (and for her!) I think the lap band is a marvelous tool. YOU decide how much restriction you want, YOU decide what you eat...in other words, you're still in the driver's seat. It just makes it easier, is all! Welcome to lapbandtalk!