My name is Amanda. I am 28 soon to be 29 this month. I started this journey two years ago. I had heard about the gastric lap band and I wanted to look into it. I went to a seminar and the intake day and decided to hold off, I just wasn't sure it was the right decision for me. Meanwhile a friend at work had the gastric bypass and as I watched her become a much happier smaller person I began to become jealous and I wanted that to. I once again visited the idea of gastric surgery. This time I was more intreasted in the gastric sleeve becasue there would be no foreign body in me and I wouldn't need to have the port replaced. Gastric bypass didn't appeal to me as I get lots of headaches and I didn't want to be prescribed pain meds just to deal with a headache. I began my six month diet (required by my insurance) in January of this year with a starting weight of 306lbs and I am about 5' 9' ish. I am currently down to about 279. I did good on the diet I lost weight every month and never missed an appointment. Finally submitted all the paperwork to insurance on Aug. 23th. I was getting nervous and called yeaterday and was told I was approved on the 31st! The poor insurance lady I made her tell me like three times and she was so sweet she just kept telling me and was like Happy Friday! I still can't believe it it just doesn't seem real yet I guess it won't until the big day, and I can't wait!