ITS BEEN TOO LONG LAPBAND TALK! After a year since joining, I'm finally saying hello! I feel like the creepy man at a xmas party that no one invited! lol....anywhoo. My name is Sierra, and I am a 22 year old graduate student in NC. I am 5'5'' and 253 pounds. I've always been "big boned" and in my family it was always great to get up for seconds! I graduated High School at about 200 and went to march in the famous BLUE AND GOLD MARCHING MACHING A&T! DRUMLINE ANYONE????....I worked my butt off in that band and got down to 175. When I came home that Christmas everyone was amazed at the weight I had lost. Since then, I got a boyfriend, stopped marching, and packed on the pounds! I now have high blood pressure! Its finally time to change my life.....Im ready to be healthy for the first time in my life! Since I am originally from Ohio, I will be going through my mother's insurance Medical Mutual Of Ohio. I FINALLY WENT TO AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical. They sent off my insurance verification form probably the day after the meeting so....probably September 9, 2009. I just got back the results form the other day September 28, 2009. It says that the surgery is covered....BUT...I HAVE TO HAVE A 6 MONTH MEDICALLY SUPERVISED DIET!:thumbup: I mentioned weight watchers to my PCP last feburary does THAT COUNT? The letter said I should be hearing from them in a few weeks about my status...what should I do until then? Get my records together? THIS IS ALL SOOO FRUSTRATING! Not to mentional all my family thinks im CRAZY for trying to do this....and that I should just exercise, but its more than that! I will exercise and eat healthy for about two weeks, get defeated about the reflection in the mirror...and just CONVINCE MYSELF that im cute thick, plump, volumptious, or WHATEVER PEOPLE CALL IT. I work at a plus-size clothing store so I found comfort in finding girls that were bigger than me. But when im with my friends....im the "big" one! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING THAT FAT, FUNNY FRIEND! WHOO...NOW THAT THATS OUTTA MY SYSTEM...HOW IS EVERYONE?