sassyfrass

You look great already. It's so motivating when the weight is coming off. I have not been banded yet, but I know how good it feels to lose the weight. I'm just having problems, along with others, keeping it off. I hope you have much more success. :0)

On the other hand, after the initial shock of learning that everybody in my life now knows my business .. I don't really care. Ok, I care sometimes, like when I see people watching what I eat. It makes me want to do things just to shock them. Like fill a plate like a volcano with desserts. Of course I wouldn't eat it and I've never done it, but I DO have that urge. LOL! DRASAN, this part of your post made me laugh out loud!! Love it!! So true too! Maybe that would break them of 'watching' like a hawk.

I haven't had the sugery, yet. But if and when I do, I will probably not tell a lot of people. My family will know, because I do fear the possible "mortality" part..and want them to know I love them and they can be praying for me also. And a few friend and a coworker or two. (only because one of them has had it already, a year or two ago. She likes it, but doesn't get fills due to no money to pay her deductible for them, so she has lost 40lbs and kept it off, but pretty much eats whatever she wants and doesn't really try to much to lose more). I am a bit of a private person, in some areas of my life, too. And this is one that I dont' WANT to be scrutinized for everything they see me eat/not eat. I already have to deal with some of them saying "you are not supposed to be eating that" because they know I have been following Weight Watchers. It's so frustrating! I tell them, I can have anything I want, in moderation. There are no foods off limits. Geez. I can do without that. I am hoping that if I do ever get it, that they will just assume I stuck to Weight Watchers (which I do intend to still do) and got it off with that alone. Nothing will change in that aspect. I will still do that, I will still go to the gym as I do now. They do NOT need to know all my business.

Congratulations! I am glad to read positive posts, because, just when I think I've made up my mind to get banded, I read several posts that scare the wits out of me. I follow Weight Watchers program (or at least, sometimes, when I'm not in over eating mode, like I have been lately) and last night I did a search on the boards there for Lap band topics and most people were negative about it, and most of them because of others they knew that had problems, etc..... It's so scary. but also so motivating (with all of the positive posts AND to see folks I know that had it done and they look fabulous, and love their band) to see that, as a tool, it would help me to get the weight off by not overeating and to stay off once I get it off, while not going too crazy with the "not so good for me" foods. Eating the 'right' foods, I get. I feel as if it would not be a HUGE change for me, once I would get past the first stages of eating liquids/soft foods. Once I reached normal food stage is where I am thinking I would be okay, as WW teaches smaller portions as well. It's also important to keep in mind, that WHAT we choose to eat does make a difference in our HUNGRINESS (is that a word? lol). I have truly found that out by following a good healthier diet some weeks, with fruits and vegetables, Proteins. Not too many carbs, but I did have some, like bagel thins, etc... I found that when I did that, I did NOT even think about junk food so much. And that is saying something for me because I am a self proclaimed SWEET TOOTH FANATIC. I am usually okay with just a snack size candy bar if I really want it. My problem is when I get on these mindless, crazy binges. That's why I want to be banded, to help me from going too overboard at times like this. I wish much success to everyone. I am still thinking I want the band, I'm just a bit terrified too.

Wow! You look awesome! Congrats on your great weight loss! These good positive posts, with pics, especially, make me want to have my lap band tomorrow! :-) But I must wait a few months still for my insurance change. Way to go. I wish you much success as you continue your loss.

I LOVE reading all the success stories! Congrats to all of you! I know this will be a big change but it will be a GOOD change that I have needed since I was a child. I look forward to it, but I stil have to wait a few months.

This is a great thread. I agree, that if we never do it for ouselves, we will never know if it would be a good experience or not. Right now I am in the frame of mind that I will do it. I don't want to go through life wondering "what if" as I'm gaining more weight that I lose and gain over and over again. I want to stop this unhealthy cycle with a great TOOL to do just that, while I'm getting back to the healthier eating.

I agree with the Weight Watchers plan! I have been a WW member for years. I will still try to follow this plan once I get banded because this really isn't a 'diet'. It is a lifestyle. It teaches you the correct way to eat. They ecnourage 5 fruits/veggies per day, etc...It's a healthy plan for daily living, so it really does not feel like a diet, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONE. I really do well on it once I get my focus on the right choices. I'm notorious for losing then getting on a crazy unhealthy food binge and start gaining, thus the reason for me looking into getting banded, so that it will aid me in eating less and not bingeing like that. I really think that the band, paired with WW will work well for me, because WW teaches smaller portions, etc..

I have not yet been banded, either. This topic is my very thoughts and fears too. I get hyped up and excited about getting banded, then I read some horrible experiences and get frightened, but from what I've read of the good experiences, and those few people that I know personally who have had it, it seems like I would be missing out if I did not give it a try, at least. I can't keep living my life, unhappily regaining lost weight wondering 'WHAT IF'. Thanks for all the posts. It is a scary and exciting thing all at once.

Hi, I have a question about comments where posters say they are 'too tight' to eat, etc... And it seems as though it's usually mornings for most? Where is that feeling coming from? Can you actually feel the band around your stomach or is it when you swallow you can tell you don't have a lot of space for anything? I'm really curious because I want to know how this will feel when I do finally get it. And if it is mornings, is there a reason why? or does it just depend on the person? Thank you for any answers you can give.

Thank you for the replies. I think I understand it more now. That doctor's morning theory makes sense to me. That may actually be a good thing for me since mornings are sometimes hard for me because my vehicle has a thing for fast food drive thrus. Ha ha! That problem would be a blessing in my case, for the most part.

I love this post!! The thought of NOT ever being able to have a diet coke ever again, is one of the main things that took me so very long to even decide that I want to be banded. It's good to know that so many of you tolerate it okay. I know a lady that was banded over a year ago and she has been drinking diet Mt. Dew the whole time. I do want to watch how many I drink, because I do worry about the chemicals in that not being good for us, but for the most part, I don't usually drink too many a day, anyhow.....unless I hit the McDonald's drive thru and get a large one for $1. They really got me when they made all sizes the same price! lol!! But, at least it's diet.

Thank you for the replies.

I am so glad I came on this forum because it has really helped me reading the comments, to deicde that I want to be banded. I was just really afraid because one lady I know can't seem to eat anything hardly anymore. I think, after reading all of the posts, that she still has her band too tight. I feel much better after reading the comments here. Thanks all.

This topic really caught my attention because I've been thinking about the same thing. I have not had the surgery yet, but am looking into having it in a few months. I have been on a rollercoaster of weights all my life, so people are pretty much used to seeing me up and down, so I plan on telling my family and my close friends and maybe a few others who have had it, but I'm not advertising it to ALL ears because I don't want to be on platform to be watched by all. There are a few gals in my church that had it and they have done so well on it and lost a lot of weight. People are always asking them about it and I guess they don't mind. I still plan to follow Weight Watchers after I get it, so anyone who really knows me, knows that I've been doing Weight Watchers on and off for years, so it's possible they will think it's just from WW only. If they ask, I won't lie. I will say the lapband is a tool to help me KEEP it off this time around with WW. That truly is how I am looking at it. I still have to do the work of eating the right things so none of that will change. I cannot lie about it. But I just don't choose to advertise it. I'm tired of being judged about my weight and having others say "you can't have that" as if they know. I agree with other posters that if those very people have never had to fight this battle, they really do not understand. I wish everyone well with their choices. Here's to slimmer days ahead!

That was a crappy thing for him to say, but as I always say "men are VARMINTS'. lol! Sorry, all you great guys out there. lol! Just keep doing what you are doing. I have not had Lap Band, yet, but plan to in a few months if all goes well. HOWEVER, I have dealt with those kind of comments from my dad over the years. I lose weight all the time, just to gain most of it back so he feels he has to comment on it. It's very frustrating because unless someone has been in our shoes to know what it's like, they Just DO NOT know. I always feel like this is a type of addiction just like an alcoholic in an ABC store. That's the only way I can describe it best. That's why I don't do well at buffets, no matter how good my intentions are. Something in my brain just goes haywire with all of that good food around. Many blessings to you as you continue your journey. Don't allow his comment to bring you down.

I agree with you. I think that has been one of my biggest hold backs about getting the Lap Band. I get hung up on all the things I may NEVER have again, but as I've been told and as we have read, everyone is different. I don't mind the lesser amounts. That's the part I want. I just didn't want to feel like I am actually on a 'diet' where I CAN'T have something sometimes if I want it. That deprived feeling is what got me whrere I am today. Losing and gaining. Never ending cycle. I agree that these posts are encouraging. I am looking into getting this in a few months. :0) Thanks everyone.

I love reading all of the NEW surgery comments. I am looking into doing this after so much fright about it. I may have to wait until September when my insurance changes so I can pick a better insurance option so I won't have as much out of pocket expense. Right now it's just more than I can afford, especially with all of the pre visits required before the surgery is even approved. I wish you well in your weight loss journey. AND....I totally agree with you that the head surgeon is GOD first and the others are just extra hands he is guiding. That alone makes it better. :0)