Hi NurseHeidi. The things you mention in your post hits very close to home for me. I too have dieted all my life, joined gyms, taken numerous diet pills. The list goes on and on. I'm a nurse as well and I packed on a lot of weight just from the stress of being a nurse. I've always found solace with food. My most recent venture was joining LA Weight Loss last April, 2008. Spent over $2,000.00 on that one just for them to shut down one year later. I had lost 25 lbs on that program. Well, after that happened, I threw my hands up and claimed defeat. I have finally put a stop to the madness and have had lapband surgery April of this year. I know it's expensive. My insurance wouldn't pay for it, so I financed it myself. I figured, heck, I will finance a car, a home, my education. Why wouldn't I finance something that would benefit my health and allow me a better quality of life. Don't listen to dimwits like the one you mentioned. They haven't a clue what you've been through. Girl, you have my vote. The lapband is the way to go. Best wishes. :wub: