New, nervous, and ready to begin

Like everyone else said -- the best place to start is your PCP.  Given your young age, she might suggest other weight loss strategies first, and that's okay.  Many insurance companies want to see documented, supervised weight loss tries before they will approve any weight loss surgery.  Just make sure that you see her (or her office staff) monthly and have her document all the visits.  Be sure she knows about things you have tried in the past -- weigh****chers, jenny craig, atkins --- whatever you have tried.   While you are doing that,  continue to do your "homework."  Call your insurance company and speak to a customer service rep.  Ask for them to send you the clinical bulletin that defines their requirements for weight loss surgery.  Ask them which surgeries they will pay for.  Depending upon your policy, some options may or may not be covered.  Go to the seminars.  I know the program at Sinai (where I had my surgery) has a monthly seminar that is VERY informative.  Check out their web site at lifebridgehealth.com.  WLS is NOT a simple cure for obesity.  There is still work to be done afterward -- you must continue to diet and exercise and take supplemental vitiamins, calcium and iron for the rest of your life.  But I know that I would eagerly do it again.  I am envious of you because this surgery was NOT available when I was 23.  Good luck on your journey.

I want to thank EVERYBODY for thier wonderful advice and words of encouragement.  I am going to call my doctor's office first thing on Monday to make an appointment.  I have a feeling that she will not be super thrilled with the idea of me having WLS, but I guess I won't know until I speak with her. I know I'm only 23, but I have been heavy since I was about six. I have a BMI of 57!  I realize that WLS is no easy fix, but I know that I'm ready to commit. I am glad to have found this website and to be able to meet all you guys who have been through it all, or are going through it now, and understand what I'm going through as well.  I look forward to making some new friends. Thanks, Sara