I have worked on my weight for the last thirty years. I probably have lost and gain the same fifty pounds at least ten times. That is five hundred pounds I have lost! Of course, I never kept it off. I started taking diet pills when I was twenty two years old. The first time they worked really good! I got to by ultimate low, and was so proud. After I moved and lost my connection with a doctor who would give me just about anything, I could not get a doctors' help. I put every pound back on plus the extra ten that always followed. I finally found another doctor to help, and again I was was able to lose and feel good about myself. But it didn't last as long this time. My husband was transferred, and again I was on my own. My husband started making comments about my weight, but I didn't do much about it. I would occasionally try a fad diet and loose ten or fifteen, but the pounds came back twice as fast. What a frustration. Well, we ended up divorced, and I moved again. This time metabolife was out. I again lost the weight, of course we all know what happen to metabolife. Not to mention how bad it was for us - not to say the diet pills were any better. About four years ago, I decided enough is enough, and again went to the doctor and got my artifical will power (diet pills). I wa loosing it all again until my Dad got sick and I was traveling every weekend to Houston to be with him. I could take the pills and eat, and eat, and eat. I gave up on the pills after my Dad died and gave up on dieting. A year ago, I tried twice more to lose with the diet pills, but they just didn't work anymore. I hated the way I felt on them, could not sleep, and knew I could be very irritable at times. I then saw a billboard about lap band. When I reviewed the information on the web page, I thought I would not be able to get it because I didn't fit the profile. I have always been able to get a quick fix to keep my weight under 200 pounds. A lady a work was talking about her doctor having had the lap band, and I mentioned I would love to get it, but didn't "weigh enough". When she said, sure I could, it really hit home. I started researching it more and starting reading these forums. I went to a seminar on the band. I knew insurance would not pay, so I looked into getting a loan. It was almost instant. I setup an appointment, with Dr J. He was so nice! He did not come across as judgemental only wanting to help. I now have a surgery date of August 31, 2007. I know I do not deserve the band the way people who have legit health issues, but I am sure glad I will soon be a "bandster". I expect my weight to come off slower than someone with more weight to lose, so my time to lose weight will be about the same as someone who needs to lose much more than me, but my weight problem is just as real. Oh, my the way, my Dad died of conjestive heart failure and diebetites...at the rate I am going I might be following in is foot steps. IT IS TIME TO LOSE THIS ADDICTION TO FOOD!

Good luck to you. I am on day 4 of my preop liquid diet. My surgery date is Aug.20th. Glad to start this journery with you. Keep me posted on your progress. Weather you have 10# or 100# to loose, we are all here for one thing and one thing only..... TO LOOSE THIS WEIGHT AND BE AS HEALTHY AS WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. With that being said, good luck and keep in touch. You can do this and keep it off.....