Let's get this Party started!

Every new journey has to start somewhere, right?

I have been researching and reading blogs for months about the Lapband. Frankly, I have been overwhelmed with emotions from shock to happiness to find a community of people who seem to truly relate to my own personal struggle with food and the ride on the weightloss rollercoaster. My story seems to be the typical - I've tried every diet under the sun and while I can lose the weight, it always comes back plus a few extra pounds. Actually, I think my problem lies in an all or nothing approach to weightloss. This attitude has let me be gung ho on so many diets, only to find out later that I couldn't sustain the obsessive approach. The thing I truly love most about the Lapband is that in reading about others' real life experiences with it, it seems the Lapband is a tool to make a lifestyle change that lasts well after the gung ho phase of any other diet fades and disappears. I think the Lapband will work wonders for me, mainly because it will be a tool that doesn't go away. Good days, bad days, stressful days, sad days, happy days, etc. The Lapband will be there to control my urge to reward any emotion with comfort food (usually sweets and carbs). I know this will not be easy and I know that there will be days when I struggle. But, I'm up for the challenge...because I want to be a healthy woman when I grow up!

Now, for a little more about me. I'm 26 years old and I live in Northeast, US. I'm married to my wonderful husband and best friend. We've been together for 10 years (as of 7/22/2010) and happily married for a little over 2 1/2 years. My husband and I have practically grown up together and he has seen the good, the bad and the ugly sides of me. AND he still Loves me! :) I also have a very good relationship with my family, especially my Mom. She's more like a sister or best friend, and she is always ready to go to bat for me.

It was my Mom who first suggested the Lapband to me. I remember thinking, "no way, Mom." I thought it was an invasive surgery, and actually I had it confused with gastric bypass. Basically, I was freaked out by the unknown. Fast forward a gain of 30 lbs and she suggested it again. This time, I googled it. From there, I read and read and read. I read the sales pitchy company websites, I read discussion forums and I started reading blogs from real-life Bandsters. In fact, I became addicted to the blogs. The more I read, the more I realized that this is an option for me and may be the best thing I ever do for myself. I am still reading and still learning, but the difference is that now I am counting down the days until I can become a Bandit myself.

I don't want this first entry to be a book, so I'll end with a final thought. I have been reading some blogs for months now, never commenting because I thought that I first needed to create my own blog to truly be welcomed into the "club." However, I have learned and grown so much from reading others' stories that I just want to say Thank you. I'm ready to put my story out there and hopefully inspire someone else the way I've been inspired myself.

- Brie