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Happy to add my prayers to all the rest you will be recieving! Its a big decision, but one I certainly do not regret and am very happy I did! I am down 112# from my heaviest and although I can lose weight fairly well, I can't seem to keep it off. I am thankful for the band as a tool to use with this step! Good luck, and let us know what you decide! tammy

I think most everyone with a weight problem can relate to what you just said. I will pray for a speedy answer from insurance-positive of course! Keep up with the excercise. I will tell you my surgeon feels it is the key to being successful with this band. And I agree. I think its two fold, one everyone needs to excercise to build muscle and do cardio for the heart, lower cholesterol, etc. but two, it motivates to be more faithful to better eating habits. When I first got my band I excercised 7 days a week, twice a day for an hour. Mainly I walked or rode my stationary bike. Around Christmas time I found it harder and harder to keep up that routine, time got harder to find! So now I am committed to 5 days a week, at least an hour a day. I bike, walk/jog, do my elliptical, I started a zumba class last week and am looking forward to doing water aerobics in our pool again this summer! Its so much easier if you find some friends to excercise with. It keeps you accountable and its more fun! Don't give up! Keep plugging away. The more you do the "good habits", the more likely that they will start to stick and be THE habits! And don't live in the guilt, you fall, brush yourself off, and get up and move on. Guilt creates its own force for overeating! I recognized a while ago that I create my own cycles with my guilt. So now I am working on not setting myself up, which happens alot at the holidays-and not allowing guilt to rule if I do fall. Remember, we are saved-washed clean by the blood of Jesus! Clean slate, remorse for a wrong is one thing, guilt is a whole different story! I hope you had a blessed Easter and I will continue to lift you in prayer-for success in life changes and for a surgery date! tammy

Amen to your comments Steve! Great support from all angles here. I am just getting on and am anxious to know how the fill went too!! I could use some prayers about a fill as well! I have an appointment scheduled for tuesday afternoon but my husband changed jobs and we are without insurance until may 1. I do have some restriction but still can consume a lot of food. I know I need a tweak but am afraid of being too tight and needing to unfill or worse yet, wind up in the ER! I am so excited to find you all and have some serious chrisitan support with this battle and the band! I'll be waiting to see what the fill turned out to be!

My prayers are with you! I remember how hard the wait was for me and my whole process from start to surgery was less than a month! I will pray for the time to pass quickly for you and that Gods' timing be when your surgery happens. I am 9 months out and still not at good restriction yet. I have lost 73 # with 20 to go. I am thankful everyday for the opportunity God blessed me with in having this band. I have been "dieting" these past 9 months and it is so comforting to know that I have a tool to help me here shortly! The motto from another band board was-Nothing tastes as good as thin feels! And that is so true! Are there any bandsters from the sioux falls area looking to get together for coffee? Let me know! I could use some christian bandsters support!

Hi. I had my first visit on May 22 and was banded on June 26th. From May til now i have lost 27#. Its been an interesting journey! My doubt about my lack of faith was taken care of quite quickly-only a month from start of the process to surgery! But I too had those doubts. I actually had people ask me if I thought this was the easy way out, and would God really chose for me to go under the knife. I believe God gives us lots of choices for help, and we need to take them when we feel He is telling us to do so. The band is a tool, and far from easy for me so far!! Liquids for 2 weeks before surgery and for 2 weeks afterwards-NOT EASY!! I am struggling this week and anxious to go for my first fill on Aug. 5th. I have lost since surgery but am able to eat everything now. I have been careful to watch my portions but its getting harder. Hopefully he will fill, some people who are losing he doesn't add anything. Pray for some guidance for both he and I as the appointment approaches next week. Thanks