Hi Jamie, I don't know how much help I can be at this point, as I am still in the process of getting everything done so I can get scheduled to have the surgery. I have my nutrition counseling appointment this afternoon, and psych eval next week. Hopefully I can get scheduled soon. I am 57. And my overweight condition started somewhat later than yours, but it ultimately caused me to contract Type 2 Diabetes and hypertension. If I had known, when I was your age, that this would be the result, I think I would have done some things differently. So my advice, from my perspective, is... if you have tried other things to lose weight (diet & exercise in whatever fashion) and it hasn't worked, then go for the Lap-band. I think it is better than the health risks of obesity. So, for what it is worth, there is my two cents.
Good luck, Gal!