prosebud

After a while, you really get to understand what this band will or will not do. It is only a tool - not a miracle cure. After two years of losing a paltry amount of weight, and feeling like the whole surgery was a failure, the scale has finally begun to move with 8.8 cc in the VG band. I am attending Weight Watchers meetings every week to keep accountability. The band makes following the Weight Watchers diet doable, whereas before it was impossible. But I could gain the weight back in a flash if I decided to resume the crackers and chocolate, etc. The band does not cure the cravings for those foods. So, its up to us to do with it as we wish. Bye for now.

I also have the VG band and almost gave up on it. It took me about 9 or 10 fills to reach 8.8 cc, where I finally have restriction. I only wish I would have been told this before I began this journey almost 2 years ago. I wish I would have been more aggressive in getting fills, instead of thinking of myself as a failure. I think obese people have been preconditioned into thinking that they will never succeed no matter what they try. Can anyone blame us? Between the diet clubs, the pills, the programs, the doctor lectures, etc. etc. But deep down I think that this is the only way to succeed, so I feel much better about the upcoming new year. Hope you do too.

Hi everyone, Although I'm new to this site, I have had a lapband for almost two years, with very little success. Mainly, this was due to the lack of restriction in my large VG band, and my belief that this was something else I had failed in. Thankfully, I decided to recommit myself and get an additional fill, which brings me to 8.8 cc. Finally, I feel like a real bandster. I also joined WW to give me the discipline to get weighed in weekly, even if I do not (and cannot) follow the program (which I never could anyway). I am looking for support because I have to lose about 60 more pounds (I've already lost 30) to fit into a dress for my daughter's wedding in the fall. I feel for the first time, after all this time, that I am really serious. I look forward to being here.

Sometimes, when I browse these sites, it seems that everyone is losing oodles of weight in practically no time. That is not my story. So, I'm really grateful for your words of encouragement, even if I have not been the model bandster! I am very happy that I lost 30 lbs., but I really had expected to do better than that after all this time. But I did not know how long it would take to finally reach an acceptable level of restriction. And I felt like this surgery was just another one of my failures. As a result, I was too embarassed to reach out for help. However, as you mention, I am proud of myself for not gaining and I still have the chance for a "do over." Thanks again for the support.