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To have Lap Band Surgery or not to have Lap Band Surgery?

By: Jennifer Kaminski Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Making the decision to get a Lap Band or have weight loss surgery or even researching the possibility of getting a Lap Band or having weight loss surgery is a big step and there is no doubt that there will be some feelings of fear; it's human nature to be scared of the unfamiliar.

All fears can be broken down into 3 basic categories:

* Fear of not being loved;

* Fear of not being good enough and

* Fear of not belonging

For me, the decision was a long time coming. I had been contemplating getting Gastric Band surgery for at least 3 years before I even got the courage to go to an information night! I had booked in for the information nights before, but never had the courage to turn up. I finally decided to take the next step when I realised the fear of doing nothing and possibly dying from my obesity was now stronger than the fear of the actual operation, the pain afterwards or even the thought of whether people would find out about it.

It's probably fair to say that part of the fear for me of having Lap Band surgery was the changes that were going to take place in my life; of being 'skinny' and all the "what ifs"? "What if it didn't work?" "What if it did?!" "What if I haven't dealt with all the issues that kept me overweight in the first place?" "What if something goes wrong in surgery?" "What if I had no excuses and had to play at 100%?" I had so many questions I needed answers to!!

How did I get those answers? Ultimately the answer was research, research, research!

* Although this might seem obvious, the internet contains a myriad of information and may provide some answers to the questions you have.

* Internet forums can also be a good way to discuss issues with like minded people who are going through similar things to yourself.

* Finding your weight loss surgeon is one of the most important decisions you will make and you want to be more than 100% satisfied. You'll find that Gastric Band Surgery centres hold presentation nights; go to more than one centre so you can make an informed decision about who will do your gastric band surgery.

* Ask questions! Your surgeon will have most probably heard it all before and are the experts. Don't be afraid to ask, even if you think it's the most stupid question ever.

* Discuss your decision with people you trust and who know you well. They are the ones who love you for who you are, not what you look like and talking it over with them will also help you make the right decision.

Being informed, knowledgeable and also at ease about the decision will help the fear dissipate. Of course it's only natural to still experience some fear, but if you have answers to most of your questions, you can be confident you've done all you can to make the most informed decision you can make.

You need to make sure that whatever you decide, that you are comfortable with it and are satisfied you are making the best decision for you.

Even though it is normal to experience fear, it's important to be courageous and act in spite of it. What fears does losing weight bring out in you? Shine the light on your fears and see the shadows jump away.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Jenny Kaminski and Jodie Flynn are Directors of Lap Band for the Mind. If you have had weight loss surgery or are considering it, they can help you maximise your chances of success. If you enjoyed the tips in this article and want to learn more about how to increase your surgery success, claim Lap Band for the Mind's popular free ecourse, "Top 10 ways to fail with a Lap Band", available at: => www.lapbandforthemind.com