I am 38 years old and the mother of three children... they are 17, 12, and 9. Two boys and a girl...

I am ready to get this weight off. I am ready to get off this blood pressure medicine. I have been overweight my entire life. I never remember 'fitting' in body-size wise with other people my age. My family has a history of obesity and of course all the goodies that go along with obesity. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many other wonderful things when 'get' when we are overweight.

I already have the high blood pressure (and am on medication), I have borderline sugars (so I know the diabetes is on the way) and have been in the hospital this year with chest pains. No heart damage though (Thank God!)

My mother died from complications of diabetes after she had suffered from congestive heart failure, angina, a triple bypass, and stroke before she passed away.

I am ready to feel GOOD again! I am ready to laugh and play with my children again without feeling winded... I'm ready for my knees to stop aching, ready for my ankles to stop hurting, ready for my back to stop aching!

And so, my LAP-BAND® journey is about to begin. After 20 months of fighting it out with the insurance company... I have approval!!! And most importantly, I have a surgery date! December 30, 2009.

FIVE MORE DAYS!!!

I am just so ready to get started on something that will actually WORK for me.

I've looked here on the boards for protein advice, for diet advice and for just moral support from someone who has been there.

I am hoping that I can find answers here and hopefully as my journey continues I'll be able to help someone else out!

I am excited for you. I myself have much the same story as you, my kids are 16, 10, and 8. I have struggled my whole life with my weight. I am excited that your opportunity for life change is fast approaching. I just went to my first seminar and have my first dr appt on 1/13. Can I ask who your insurance is with, why were you denied, etc. I am worried about the insurance end of it. I can afford it on my own and I feel I need this to save an recover my life. I would love to hear your whole story and be here along the way to support you and cheer your success.

and oh yeah, i forgot to answer you about the insurance. I am covered CURRENTLY by BCBS of Texas.

I'd love to have someone who is going through what I'm going through to talk. It would be awesome!