I had my band done on June 21st. The worst part was the gas afterwards in the left shoulder and neck. It only lasted a couple of day, but I walked so much that it left me rather quickly.

If you are a couch potato, you have to be prepared to get up and start moving. I go to the gym 3 days a week and use weights at home on days I dont "gym".

I hate soup and protein shakes, but for about a month - 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after that is it. No bread, potatoes, pasta for a least a year, so that could be hard.

But the benefits certainly outweigh the bad things. Do it and enjoy the rest of your life in better health.

I echo what Bklynike has said. Overall, no complaints. My primary doctor did tell me of one of his patients who had the band surgery, but did not follow the guidelines. He was in the emergency room 5 times because he kept over eating and then it felt like he was having a heart attack. He is now having the band removed. It doesn't have to be that way though . .. the band is a tool, use it to help you and you can succeed. Good luck on your decision.

read my blogs... It had been 10 months for me and my fustration has been with not having much restriction, feeling hungry between meals and the scale not moving. I still dont regret it and i know that it may take me longer but i WILL get to my Goal.

10 months = 40lbs loss

everyone is different and everyone has had different experiences with the band. For some the weight loss is fast and others it is slow. In the end, it is a personal decision. As my doctor told me, the band is ONLY a TOOL. It is not the magic cure all. The benefits you get from it and how you use it are up to you. It may only help you stick to weight watchers or Jenny Craig better or it could help you make a major overhaul in your eating habits. It is simply a tool and nothing more. I had my surgery May 12th. I have lost around 45 lbs or so. I have had some bad eating episodes but overall I am very pleased and wish I had done this years ago. I didn't have any surgical problems. My health is improved and I believe my quality of life. Just remember, everything you read on here is our personal experiences and our opinions. You can definitely gain weight with the band because there are ways to get around it. Again the whole it's a tool thing. Good Luck!

I had a little bit of a rough start but am ok now. I am having really slow weight loss but that was to be expected with my PCOS. However I am with Gorda123...it is very very frustrating. It has definately been harder for me mentally than physically. I think this is because I have always been an emotional eater and now I am having to deal with those emotions instead of eat for them.

I am trying to be postitive though and approach it with the mentality of when was the last time I have been able to lose 37 lbs and keep it off.

You will have to make this decision yourself. It is something you have to do for you and nobody else but I do think the band is a great tool but it still requires you to do the work.

Good luck and keep us posted!