So, Ive decided to get banded... Choose the band for various reasons.
        1. I would like to feel satisfied eating a smaller portion of food... like the "skinny" women I've observed in past food consumption related situations
        2. I would love to maintain a more active and healthier lifestyle in terms of physical activity... like walking into the gym and not past it on my way home from work
        3. I want to still feel like I was an active participant in my weight loss and that my commitment to my decision actually paid off...

and the list goes on...

but, currently i am still in the pre-surgical process of seeing 50 million specialists and doing once monthly check-ups with my PCP. Now, is it just me or am i the only one who feels(felt) as if I am being prepped for some sort of top secret mission... this must be how they seperate the men from the boys! I even carry my paperwork around in a black binder cuz I feel it adds dramatic effect to my visits... but w/ every clearance I recieve I get just a litl more nervous/excited about my surgery and the way it will affect my life. Cant wait to join the "BandWagon"  
                                                                                                            

p.s - any tips or advice is appreciated and welcome!

Hello, looks like we are in the same boat. I just started too, and in the process of seeing all the specialist. I am 4 months from the deadline... so happy. I am so new at this and havn't figured this site out yet. You are only 2nd post I have made. Good Luck, glad to see someone else starting new like me.

How exciting!  I just want to respond to your first point re: feeling satisfied while eating a smaller portion of food.  It's stomach surgery, not brain surgery.  You still need to make good choices and snacking on a regular basis is counter-productive.  While it's true that you will feel satisfied when eating a smaller portion of food, the biggest challenge is to stop.  It does take some getting used to because you could continue to eat... albeit slowly, but you could make yourself quite full.  Especially, in the very beginning if your surgeon advocates for small fills at a time.  

It's taken me almost a year and a half to lose 85 pounds.  Weight loss with a lap band can be slower than other procedures and it's easy to lose sight of the end goal.  I am very happy with everything I've accomplished.  I am ramping things up to lose the last 20 or so pounds and it is tough going.  

Good luck and remember that attitude IS everything. 

I'm in the pre-surgery process too and right now my biggest trials (besides my own psychological hurdles with food) are decreasing my family memebers anxiety- namely my mother and my sister who keep insisting that "I can do this naturally if I just put my mind to it".  Are you having any issues with friends or family not approving?

I had MAJOR issues with family and friends not approving and thinking I could do it naturally.  In fact, when I told my best friend of 18 years, her response was rolling her eyes and saying, "well you have fun with that."  I tried to explain myself to her again and got the exact same response.  We're not friends anymore.  That is an extreme response.  Most people in my life said, "I don't really approve, but will love and support you regardless."  One of those people was my husband who wasn't 100% thrilled with the idea.  

Fast forward to today (a year and a half post-op) - I've lost 85 pounds and now know that the band was the best tool I have ever used.  It is just that, though, it's a tool.  It works slowly sometimes (I'm still in the process of losing) and you have to follow some basic rules.  You can do anything you want if you put your mind to it - the band just makes it a little bit easier.  It's still not a magic pill.

Hi, Im in the pre-surgical process. My band surgery is May 10th. Tomorrow I have to goto the hospital and do my pre-op labs. I will be there for 2.5 hours. I have already did my PAT class. Friday I have to see the pulmonary dr. for clearance. April 18th I see the cardiologist dr. for clearance. Its just VERY OVEWHELMING.. I really does feel like a secret mission. Im very nervous about the 14 day liquid diet I have to do. (no more than 800 cal.) I did it yesterday to see how it would be. I DAMN near went KRAZZYY!!! I know it was my mind playing with me. They said it would be very hard...
But as my date gets closer, I do get nervous and excited at the sametime. My anxiety is really off. (meds are helping that) LOL!!!

We will both be on the BANDWAGON soon...

I really don't have any advice, because Im going thru it as well, but all I can say is
(SAY GOODBYE TO THE OLD YOU AND HELLO TO THE NEW YOU SOON)

Lynn

I hear the word tool being used a lot... But i feel that i need to maintain some responsibility in losing weight, ive cheated & failed myself too many times in the past... Im sure it will b a journey for me!

Also in terms of support ive only told a few people close to me... And i think they are more excites than me! My bf already has our workout regimen mapped out, my mom is willing to cook me healthier meals and "diet" along w/ me, my stepdad keeps remindin 2 save $$$ since ill eventually b in need of a new wardrobe! As far as friends go they 4 people who do know simply replied w/ whatever makes u happy hannah, they seem thoroughly unphased... But i guess its because im always this ball of sunshine! But im happy w/ the support ive gotten thus far and i am OVERWHELMINGLY greatful for it

-- thanks ladies for sharing, everyone's stories are inspiring

Hi, I'm new to the forum and just beginning my journey.

After seeing my aunt lose 115 lbs with the lap band, I decided it was for me.  I have attended the seminar and had my first surgeon visit yesterday.  Now I'm at the point of scheduling a sleep study, psych evaluation, and my BCBS of Alabama is requiring 7 months of GP visits to "try" to lose the weight.  I'm actually on the cusp of what they will approve with a BMI of 36.6 (their cutoff is 35).   I also have high blood pressure and diabeties and plantar fascitis, all of which I know will improve if I can drop some weight.

It is very frustrating to me that BCBS is putting me through all this "BS" of 7 months of GP visits because they already have my medical records for the last 15 years that I've been covered and they KNOW how long I've been overweight.  They KNOW how many times I've tried Adipex, nutritionist support, doctor monitored diets, etc, etc.  

I have only told my husband, aunt and my daughter that I'm doing this.  Anyone else, it's not their business and I'm doing this for ME, not anyone else, so I am thinking why should I have to defend my decision?  They don't have to live in this body or look in the mirror and deal with what I see.
My husband is very supportive and willing to get an equity loan on our farm to finance the surgery, but I can be patient and wait out the 7 months for the amount of money we will save when BCBS gets off their check book.

Anyway, I'm sorry to sound bitter, I'm just VERY frustrated with the system of insurance approval.

Can't wait to read through the forum.

Rofl I thought I was just being dorky I too keep my papers in a binder and I take it evey time I go too. I am in the 6 mo supervised diet phase.