Cynsayshun

I was a skinny person for years, however as I reached my late 30's & having 4 children, the weight started to increase annually.  I started my first (of several) Weight Watchers program in the early 90's and I was weighing 170  that year, I lost 27 lbs.  But when the pounds returned they doubled.  I went
through a very emotional year in 2003 with my now deceased husband and got up to 270 lbs.  He died that year from a hospital acquired staph infection. I did lose 25 pounds that year and my weight since then has fluctuated between 248 down to 217.  It seems with diet and exercise I was never able to get down to 200.
I''ve been following Lap Band stories on You Tube for a couple of years. This year I decided to pursue this avenue.  I have 5 sisters and we have all become "big girls" a couple of them already have diabetes and I wanted to make sure I take steps not to become diabetic .  To be forthright I'm a bit anxious about my upcoming surgery, but also excited.  I'm looking forward to the changes in my body and no longer looking in a mirror and hardly recognizing who the person looking back at me is, and how did she take over my body.
I have small fingers and a small wrists and it's obvious I'm not the size my body is suppose to be, I just want to get back to where I should be weight wise.  I want to walk into a room and not feel like I'm invisible because of my wieght.
I'm looking for support and guidance from others that have  started  this journey this year and can share light  on how they felt before and after they were banded. My drug of choice throughout most my life was "Pepsi"   I've significantly cut those out of my life, but I'm leary about will I get an "urge" for one after I'm banded.. I am also a 1 cup of coffee a day person, with extra cream and sugar, will that desire go away for me as well? 
Does/Will the Band help with cravings?  How does one change their eating patterns when they are a more mature person, with set habits? Is it a constant battle that has to be fought the rest of my life, or will the cravings eventually subside?  Over a year ago, I became obessed with the gym, however I got burned out and exhausted from not being able  to keep up with the smaller women in the gym.. I'm looking forward to the changes in my body where I don't have to be so exhausted when I'm exercising.
I thank you in advance for any words of advice, encouragement and overall support as I step into the future as a "banded" person.
 
Respectfully
 
"Synsayshun"