First off welcome to the group. You will find this to be a great place for
answers to all your questions. I am in exactly the same shoes as you and I do
mean literally. I am also 27, weighing 321 and I am 5′4. I have been going
through the process for the surgery since April and its been a hella of a ride.
I also thought at first that I was taking the "easy way out" but after I did
research on this surgery and what I am going to have to do myself to make it
successful, I realized it was no easy way at all. My suggestion if you are
still thinking this way, you have not done enough research on this surgery to
know what you will be dealing with. Let me give you a little idea.

1) You will have to change your eating habits. I don’t mean just eating the
right thing but there are somethings you may never eat again or should never eat
again. You will have to cut out soda, smoking (if you smoke) and sugars. Those

are three that are very important. These tend to not do well with your new
stomach and as you do research you will see why.
2) You will need to start an exercise routine, if you don’t do one already.
Some people don’t work out and thats okay for them but my cousin who is younger
then me and weighed the same, has not worked out at all. She has lost 170lbs
but her skin is flabby and lose. I don’t want that and I know that if I work
out after it will help prevent a lot of that from happening. It will also help
me maitain my weight.
3)You are going to need to get in touch with how you deal with your emotions
when it comes to food. Some people are emotional eaters, why we can get obese,
but if we don’t deal with those issues or realize that we are going to need to
deal with those issues, this surgery will be difficult. You body will not let
you eat whatever you want because if you eat to much or eat something that your
body can’t handle, you WILL throw up.

Those are some of the things that I have had to deal with during this process.
I don’t want to tell you these things to scare you off or to talk you into it.
This decision is yours and yours alone and only you can decide what is going to
be best for you.

I have had a lot of support from my family and friends but I have also has some
negativity talked to me from family. Sometimes it was because they worried or
wondered why I couldn’t just eat right and exercise. The part I have come to
terms with is yes I will hear them and take what they have to say in to
consideration, but they don’t know what its like to be me in this body. They
can’t understand that I am doing this because I have tried to eat right and
exercise and it hasn’t worked for me. I need something more. I need this tool
to use to help me in losing and keeping off my weight for the rest of my life.

I hope that I have helped give you some insight into this surgery but i would
still recommend researching it yourself to get the facts. If you would ever
like to chat or ask me anything please feel free. I love sharing my experience
and since we have a lot in common it would be beneficial to both of us. Good
Luck.

Bahia
Pre-Op
321/?/150
Dr Rumsey PB San Deigo

Now, I just received my datge today (YEAH) for Oct 21 for the Lap-Band surgery.
Most here have had the other surgery, but this one, I think and hope, is better
for me.
I eat when I am not hungry, so with the lap-band I will literally throw up if I
do this after Oct 21!!

Decision? No. Not at all. I am so tired of being fat. I look at myself and
say "what happened?" When I was in my 20’s, I weighed around 120-125 and now I
am double that. I think once you make up your mind, and know you will feel
better and you can move without feeling like a whale - well, that is me, you
will love it and can’t wait for your date.

I wish you all the success and do it! Hey, what can you lose? Weight! Yes,
ma’am and when you are ready, the doctors will not move fast enough.

My name is Malea, and i’m 27 years old, i weight around 320 pounds and am
5′5"-ish… i basically weigh about double what i should (in my opinion)…
other people would probably say that i should weigh less than around 150-160,
but i’m pretty muscular… anyway, that would be my goal… i try not to weigh
myself, nor do i wear "old" clothes, so i try not to notice when i’m getting
bigger, but i know that i am… i’ve been considering having a weight loss
surgery, but am concerned that i’m trying to take "the easy way out" so to
speak… did any of you have this concern when considering your surgery? did you
have problems with friends or family supporting you?

i’m just so tired of being tired all the time, and my weight has caused several
physical problems, sleep apnea, asthma, tachocardia, joint problems, etc…

i guess i’m just kind of looking for an opinion from people that have been in
"my shoes" so to speak… anything you would be willing to share would be HUGELY
appreciated…
Be Well,
Malea…

How is it the easy way out to ask for help? Because that’s exactly what the
surgery is, help. And for those who think it is the easy way out, do what I
do and tell ‘em to ‘*#&A@^$ off’.
I know at 344.5 pounds that I needed help, I took that help and wouldn’t go
back.

-Michelle
Lap RNY 1/2/03
345/220/I plan on going until I’m comfortable.