I weigh 185 pounds and have been yo-yo dieting for years and I am now contemplating on the possibility of the lap-band surgery. I only need to lose 40-45 pounds but I just can't seem to be able to do it on my own. I have been able to lose a lot of weight in the past but only to gain them back much faster in the end. Am I crazy to be thinking about surgery. Please advise!!!

I certainly don't think you're crazy. And I know that it can seem staggering when you are unhappy and find it hard to lose and keep it off, regardless of how much.

But if I may be honest: especially since many only lose about 50% of their excess weight (that's statistics...in fact many lose only 35%) would you have a 15-25K surgery just to lose 20 pounds? You STILL have to watch what you eat, and EXERCISE (that bane of many of us) after you have the band.

Lap band surgery is safe, but it IS surgery. A device IS implanted inside you and expected to remain there. There is aftercare that can be time consuming and costly.

If you were my friend, my sister, a loved one, I'd say this to you: Give weight watchers, (or Jenny, or Richard, or nutrisystem) another real try. Give it 6 months. Exercise at least 3-4 times a week, and really work the diet. Re-think it at 6 months. A short term gym membership and a few weight watcher meetings (or OA, if you prefer) won't cost you that much. At the worst you'll get in the exercise habit and lose some weight.

Lap Band recommends having a BMI of 35 with comorbidities, or 40 without. That's about 100 pounds over. You aren't even near there.

If I weighed 185, I'd diet my fanny off but I would not get surgery. You've made it to 40 and "only" weigh 185. If I were your friend, I'd tell you no, you aren't crazy, but don't do it. Change your lifestyle a little. A year from now you can weigh 140 and have a lot more money, and no scars on your abdomen.

Thank you so much for your quick reply, I really appreciate it. I will follow your advice and give it another 6 months of seriously trying.