So this is what they mean by restriction! This is what I hoped for when I got the band. Yee Haw! Now I feel like I can do this!! I sure hope this lasts. I saw Dr. Cagle yesterday and she was saying that they hadn't seen much success with bandsters. It is coming off very slowly. They have only been doing bands since April, 2007 so maybe with good restriction I'll lose more. One thing she has noticed is that the bandsters don't gain back anything. She said that dieting all these yesrs makes weight loss really slow, but she also said if you lose a few lbs a month and don't gain it back it will accumulate. I am really looking forward to good weight loss this month.

I can't wait to have my surgery!! But, I'll tell you what my doctor told me. My doctor is Dr. Glen Forney from Scottsbluff, NE. Their group has been using Lapband for more than 5 years, along with Gastric Bypass and other bariatric surgeries. He said that in his experience he has found that you will be in the same spot in 2 years that Gastric Bypass patients are in 1 year, but healthier. The weight may come off slower, but you are not losing healthy nutrients and your body isn't going through the shock it would go through in a Gastric Bypass. He highly recommends lapband most of the time. However, there are cases where Gastric Bypass is literally the only option.

I went to the consult hell-bent on Gastric Bypass with or without the consequences. I left feeling good about the choice to go with the lapband.

I have read more positive material than negative on lapbands as well. They are safer and it is easier to keep the weight off as they are adjustable and are more of a "tool" than a quick fix.

Good luck and keep us posted. Make sure you get your before and after pics... I find those so inspirational!!

Godspeed! xoxo

Carleen