sandraf93

Hi, everyone I am considering lap band surgery after having been overweight since I was 12 (I am now 40). I have a BMI of 41 with high bp, sleep apnea and some back pain. Here is what I have tried. I have done one year with exercise only, going 3 days a week and working out for an 1 hour with no weight loss. During that time I did not increase the amount of food or number of calories consumed, don't think I decreased them either. I have tried Weight Watcher's twice. Once by myself with no weight loss and once with meetings and lost 7 Lbs over 4 months. As part of my insurance coverage for surgery I have to go through 1 year of WW, which I am fine with. However, as I have not tried very often to lose weight through other means, does that mean I should continue with WW and exercise after the year is over or go ahead with the lap band if I am approved? If I am successful with WW (meaning that I lose about 1-2 lbs per week), I don't plan to go on with the surgery, but if I don't lose weight or only a small fraction, then I would proceed with the surgery. I have tried to avoid dieting as I didn't want to experience the yo-yo effect, which I understand to be worse than being overweight. I hope this makes sense. Basically, as someone who hasn't been on diet after diet, should I get the lap band, if I qualify or continue with WW after the obligatory year and try some more on my own even if I don't lose weight. I am just looking for opinions. I understand that each persons view will be different. Thanks for your input. Sandra

Thanks for the feedback. I know that either way, I will have to make some major changes. I don't know how well I will do on WW, feeling hungry is one of the problems I have had while on it and I hate the tracking. I don't mind the 1 year on WW as it will give me plenty of time to think about whether I am ready to change my eating habits for the rest of my life. An additional factor that makes it difficult for me, is that I am on Cymbalta for depression (not weight related, although if I keep gaining weight it might start to be). I am not currently depressed, but since I have already had 3 major episodes, my psychiatrist does not want me to go off it. Some anti-depressants are known to make weight loss difficult. Thanks again, Sandra