good for you!!! i did the exact same thing. me and a friend i work with went to a seminar and made up our minds and we signed right up, within a few weeks we were on our way to surgery, had it june 25 the same day, we work together and it helps to have someone to talk to about everything you are going through. good luck with it...i am in my last days of puree foods, going to see the doctor friday, and then i'll be on whole foods. i lost 23 lbs between my first visit and when i went to have the staples out, and it's been 2 wks since that visit and i thnk i'm down another 3-5lbs and the band hasn't been tightened yet...not sure when he will do it. i'll find out more friday. GOOD LUCK, the surgery was nothing!!! now the hard work comes!!!