Bezoldme: I am much older than you. When I was your age, I thought someone who was my age now, was really old. Well, mentally I am not. But this chronological age came faster than I could have ever imagined. In retrospect, I can tell you that being overweight during some of the best years of my life is the only real regret that I have. That's why I'm going to finally correct the situation with LB surgery. I wish I could have done it 15 years ago. I've wasted many good years dieting, losing weight, and then regaining the lost weight and even more. Dieting alone doesn't work. If it did, we sure wouldn't be considering surgery. My doctor recognizes that the medical profession has very little to offer people like us. His is probably the first realistic approach to obesity that I've heard from a doctor in my entire life. I am sure he isn't practicing medicine just for fun, but I believe that he really wants to HELP obese people regain their health and their self-esteem. I have no way of knowing if Lap Band is the right thing for you. But for me, I know that it is the tool I have been waiting for. When I was thin, my thoughts of food and eating were different. I didn't live to eat and look forward to every meal, every snack, every opportunity to have something that tastes good and is comforting. I finally realize that I want to feel that I'M in control. You mentioned giving up the ability to make decisions about what you can and can't eat. I understand what you are saying, but what you might consider is that you may not really be making those choices just on your own. Food is making them for me. The look, the taste and the good feelings that high calorie food provides is what allows food to control me. I don't want to emotionally surrender to delicious ice cream, steak, cookies and candy anymore. I want to see them and smell them and know that I can make a choice for myself to be healthy and pretty. I need to be a person that people want to be around, instead of gorging and feeling full and feeling disappointed in myself and having others look at me and wonder why I don't care more about myself. You have so many fabulous years ahead of you to be the best you can be. Why not help yourself really be in control? The LB won't be in control of what you eat (although perhaps how much per sitting), you will still be in control and you will still be able to eat all the things that you desperately love, just in healthier quantifies. But that said, I believe it is crucial that whoever has LB surgery should be totally sure that it is the right choice for them. I don't mean to sound preachy. I am sure I am reaffirming my own convictions as much as I am trying to support anyone else. I do hope that whatever you choose, that it is the right thing for you. I wish you many wonderful, healthy and happy years ahead!
