I started with one. Donna Valdes, a 34 year old mother of two, was considerably overweight. After two children, and years of failed diets, she came to realize she needed medical help. She learned of the newest weight loss procedure, generally referred to the LapBand. She heard that such celebrities like Sharon Osbourne and Ann Wilson had the procedure and were very satisified with it.

After researching doctors in the Tampa Bay Area, she learned that not too many people even knew about the procedure, including her primary care doctor. She did find one doctor, 2 hours away, who was just as excited as Donna, and in fact had the lapband put on himself. Dr. Lee Grossbard, of Florida Obesity Surgical Associates, (www.floridaobesitysurgical.com) later performed the procedure on Donna. In three months, she lost 40 pounds, and is still losing. Donna later realized that if she didn't know about the lapband, most likely others didn't either. She started a local online support group that has since grown to over 150 members, and they are now hosting the first ever 2003 Florida Bandster Bash this fall. This event is geared to share with those considering the band, information from those that have the band and is opent to the public.

For more information about the 2003 Florida Bandster Bash, visit them online at http://www.floridabandsterbash.com. For more information about Dr. Lee Grossbard, visit them online at http://www.lap-bandsurgery.info.