Today is January 27th. I am very close to being finished with all of my prerequisites involved with getting the Lapband.

I only have remaining:

2 Nutritionist Meetings

1 Support Group Meeting

I have been reading these posts for awhile now. I am just as determined as I was before joining this website but I do have a better knowledge of the fact that this is not a "sure" thing.

When I first knew I was qualified for this surgery I began eating whatever I wanted and stopped exercising altogether. There was a large part of me who said, "you will have surgery soon, eat and do whatever you want". That attitude has lead me to more weight gain and left me feeling very down. Plus, none of my clothes are fitting.

But things have been different this week. I have begun to make some small changes.

I met a friend who needs to lose weight even more than I do. She refused to even walk as far as my house, which is only a block away from hers.

I have inspired her to start walking with me. We have begun to walk from here to there and even went to the gym together this week. I hope that helping her will help me to help myself as well.

I saw the same doctor earlier this week. He repeated what he had said before about bariatric surgeries, "I would guess that 50% of patients who received bariatric surgeries gain the weight back after 5 years".

I told them that his words have made me more determined to make lifestyle changes which are necessary to keep the weight off.

I pray I can do this.

Cynthia