I am so nervous about getting the lap band. I just had my 1st appointment with the surgeon and he wants me to loose about 15 pounds or more before he decides when my surgery date will be. I have been over weight my whole life and I really don't see another way but to do this. I know once I start loosing weight I will get more excited but right now I guess I am unsure.

How many of you feel like you made the right decison? Does anyone regret doing it?

Ask me this time next week, when I'll be 2 days post op!

Just kidding. I am in my early 50s. I've always been "overweight," but, looking back, not really. I didn't get "obese" until my early 40s. After menopause, or rather, during early menopause, it just seemed to ramp up.

So I can appreciate the life-long struggle to be "thin."

In the end, I dieted myself into obesity.

This lap-band procedure is the most important step I can take to stop that obesity trainwreck, which, now that I'm morbidly obese, will only result in a much shortened lifespan, and a miserable existence, at that.

I just regret that I didn't mentally accept the idea of something like this 10 years ago. But, no point crying over something one can't change.

I can change the future, though. And starting next Weds., I will take the most monumental step towards that change.

There will be a point in your own mindset where you will know what road you want to take and what you need to do to reach the end of it.

Do all the research you can, and, most of all, search your own heart. It was only when I made some painful and brutally honest assessments about myself that I knew what to do.

Best of luck!

Dawn, I'm about 16 months out from my surgery date now and I have never regretted it one minute. I think your doctor is testing you "mentally" to see if you really are committed to losing and I'd definitely step up to the challenge, join WW or use an online tracking thing, do Slim-fast shakes plus lean meat and veg meals and you will get that 15 lbs off. Good luck!