RN.Violet

I have been overweight the majority of my life.  My friends were supportive of my "over-eating" habits as they participated in over eating as well.  One of my closest friends had a Lap-Band two years ago and I have had "band envy" since.  She looks fabulous and feels so much better.  We wore the same size, had similar eating habits, and were both emotional eaters. I know I shouldn't compare myself to a friend but she has been my inspiration.I have been on every diet since about middle school age - low fat, low carb, low taste, Jenny Craig, Slim-Fast, Weight Watchers.  I could lose weight, but then would fall off the wagon because I was SOOO hungry.  I'm an emotional eater.  My father passed away my last year of nursing school - where the night shift job and my grieving sabotaged my weight.  Since then I have steadily gained, little by little, through graduate school to my current weight.  I also recently was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which is common in the women in my family.My mother was recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.  Heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes run on both sides of my family.  As a nurse, I started to think about where I was headed.  I couldn't/cannot continue to gain weight, year after year.  So, I decided April of 2009 I would change my insurance to apply for the lap band.  I actually missed the deadline for open enrollment at my employer, which really turned out to be a good thing because I have spent the last year and half really thinking about my choice.  In October 2009, I started my 6 month supervised diet. In November, I attended an informational seminar about bariatric procedures. In April 2010, I changed my insurance at open enrollment.  In June 2010, I sent my paperwork in to the bariatric center.  At the end of July 2010, I had my intake appointment. On August 16th I had an EGD to check for a Hiatal Hernia, which I did not have...thank goodness.  My surgeon's appointment was August 31st where I scheduled my surgery for September 13th.I'm nervous, but excited too.  I am looking at this as a new lease on life...a new beginning.  A "do-over" to do it right this time. this is not about acheiving a number, but a healthy lifestyle.  I'd like to be within a normal BMI, more active, to do things that I haven't because my weight has limited me.