I would first like to say hello to everyone!

I am 23 yrs old from Northwest Indiana and extremely overweight. I have been told by several doctors that lap band maybe a good solution for me. I have thought about it over and over and one reason I dont want to have it done is because I enjoy eating an dlike being able to eat what I want. I am here on this site to get some advice on the procedure and what it is like going threw the testing, procedure, and what is life like afterwards? What kind of eatting lifestyle do you have after the procedure?

Any help is appreciated to so hopefully I can make a decision.

Thanks, Jamie

hi! i'm 24 from vermont! I understand where your coming from, but I believe that for best results the procedure is nessecary in order to dramatically lose weight. Losing weight will provide a better future for you. I mean certain things you may not be able to eat, but there a lot of things you will still be able to eat just with smaller portions.

It all depends on your dr but before i can have the surgery i must get my bmi down to a certain level and show that I can nutionally be healthy I also have to use the treadmil daily. Lap Band reduces the size of your stomach that way you will not be able to eat as much. They do procedures after surgery called "fills" where they can add or take away saline to affect the restriction you have in the amount of food your stomach can hold

I'd like to thank you for responding within a timely manner. :ohmy: How has your experience been so far? I am to lose the weight, but I love to cook and cant seem to get past on how different it will be to make such a small meal and/or something different for the rest of my family.

Hi Jamie, I too am from Indiana!

I have met all the requirements and am now playing the waiting game.

I am 36 and weigh 360 and can understand where your coming from because before I got serious about my health I thought the same, but here is what helped me decide that I had no choice.

I have always thought that food was my best friend, I mean come on it's there when I'm sad, it's there when I'm happy, if that's not a true friend that what is.

Well than I sat back and looked at everything my friend has held me back from, or put me through such as needing 2 seats on a plane, allowed people to stare,my food friend keeps me from riding a bike, going to an amusement park and fitting on a ride, sitting in a chair and hoping it does not break....my food friend is gearing me up for a lifetime of illness...

Then it hit me... this is not my friend, my true friend would not hold me back and would steer me from danger...and that's when I decided that I needed a new friend.

I cannot speak for you but I want to live and not just exist, and I am tired of limitations so that's what made me get serious about lap band.

Can I lose the weight on my own, maybe, but without the restriction that lap band offers I can't say that I will keep it off.

As far as food goes, from what I read from the experienced bandsters with the exception of bread,unless you are too tight you will probably see that you can still eat your favorites, just smaller portions.

I guess for some it's a lot to think about but for me I still have a lot of living to do and with my motivation and the bands assistance together we are going to win this battle.

Good luck and feel free to write anytime.

Julie