Fantasy

For me the surgery, and the whole lap band experience has been extremely easy. I have never been able to lose the weight like I did and keep it off as easily as this journey has been for me. Yes, for me it has been the easy way out and it has been wonderful.

I had my band surgery for strictly for medical reasons. I needed to lose about 80 lbs, mission accomplilshed. I never had a problem with being "fat". I love myself no matter what I look like.

I have no regrets about anything. A long time ago when I was around 13 or 14 years old I told myself I had "worth". I have always lived by that and have never degraded myself because I never felt I was less of anything or anyone. Why are you beating yourself up over something you had no control over? The brain of an obese person is similiar to an alcoholic and a drug user. Thank heaven we have the band to help us. You know when unkind or even bad things or decisions happen I think well, that is what help me be the person I am today. I am happy who I am banded or not.

There is nothing duller or more boring than "perfection". I push the limits with this band and food still, after 7 years. When I read about a person who's going on and on in this forum (and other forums)about all the cardio and weights and "perfect exercise" they do and all the "perfect food" they eat, and all the "perfect advice" they give, all I can think of is eventually they are going to crash and burn and most of them do sooner or later. I take no pleasure in watching this. You know when we go on this journey, it isn't to be "perfect" (we all want to be, but we are not) it is to use this tool to help us have a handle on the fact that we are imperfect. The most important lesson I have learned in my 7 years is that I am imperfect. That is what makes me unique. I really had to struggle to adjust this band journey to all of my imperfections with not wanting to exercise and of course loving chocolate, and cheesecake, etc. I'll shout it over and over again, I am imperfect, and that my friends is why I have kept my weight off for seven years.

I have had my band almost seven years and the only effects I have had is I lost all of my weight and then some. No problems. It has been a dream come true. You do have to make a committment to follow the rules as best as you can. It sounds like you are well disciplined so you should be very successful. It is so frustrating when you lose a lot of weight and then it comes back and more. I sure have walked in those shoes. I bet most of us on this sight have been there multiple times. Good luck.

Just want to give you a virtual hug (( )) try to take it one day at a time. Sounds like you are overwelmed. Take care.

Don't be so hard on yourself. It does get better and better and better. Until you get to your sweet spot, you will have some hunger. Before you know it you will know how much you can eat, and get full faster. I don't have a problem with drinking with my meals. I also can eat quite a bit more than most bandsters. Everyone is different. Just try and do the best that you can.

Every weight loss surgery has "foreign objects," hundreds of titanium staples that can come loose in the other surgeries. Think about it millions of people are walking (knee and hip replacements) and living (heart pacemakers) because of "foreign objects". Nothing is a silly question, so ask your surgeon and go the the Allergan web sight and check it out.

I told no one, not even my immediate family who lives with me. So no one to call me crazy or other wise. I have never regretted this decision. And as far as beiing the easy way out, you betcha, it has been the easiest weight loss I have ever had and also so easy to maintain. Going on seven years now.

All of the above advice is great. When the band is properly filled, losing and maintaining the weight is actually not that hard. You really have to make a committment until you get to this point.

What maintainance? When I read about possible monthly iron infusions because of anemia and malnutrition, beri beri, nerve damage (numbness)in your extremeties, reactive hypoglcemia, seizures, strictures, ulcers etc., etc. associated with the bypass surgery, all of the emergency room hostpital stays, doctor visits those problems entail, I will do my lap band maintainance, happily. You are going to have monthly check up anyway the first year. That is when you get your fills. I haven't had a fill in years. Please do your research then make an informed decision.

The support group I was going to had so many people who had gained 50 plus pounds a few years after bypass sugery that they actually formed a special group. It was getting so depressing watching them cry every month. It must be pure hell to go through WLS and then have it fail and destroy all of your hopes and dreams. This is why I like the band, the stoma size can be adjusted and it doesn't stretch. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I didn't tell anyone I got the band. I didn't need any "expert" advice. Yesterday on the Today show they had a segment on a fellow named David Smith. He was on a program a few years ago. It was titled the "650 lb. Virgin." He lost all of his weight, had plastic surgery, and looked teriffic. Now he has gained 250 lbs. back. It was heartbreaking to watch him crying about his weight gain. All I could think of was, it was too bad he didn't have weight loss surgery to maintain his loss. Research has shown that the brain of an alcoholic, drug user and obese person are the same. They have fewer dopamine receptors(Nature Neuroscience 2005). The failure rate is 95%. Do the math and come to your own conclusion.

I would definitely go back to your surgeon and have him do it right. I don't have a low profile port and I can hardly feel mine, much less see it. This just doesn't sound right. This is not funny.

Do you need a very, very small fill? Sometimes the smallest fill can make all the difference in the world. Just one tenth of a cc really helped me. Are you journaling your food? This really helps also. Good luck.

"Onederland" is the light at the end of the tunnel. It is when you mentally realize you might win this battle afterall. Just before I hit 199 lbs. I had an eight week stall. So onederland for me was really a celebration.

You probably won't like this answer, but you just have to "suck it up" and follow your doctors orders. You can't imagine how important it is at this stage of your journey. It's just beem five days. Try adding more powdered spices to the soups. Check with your nutritionist if you can have smoothies. At this point I wouldn't worry about calories. Healing is what is important right now. I didn't weigh myself for 6 weeks. I still lost weight. It seems like it almost took me 2 years to adjust myself mentally and physically to this band. It has been almost 7 years I am still learning. Again it is vital that you comit yourself to this program now. It will mean the difference between success and frustration. Yeah the first few weeks are sooo boring, but keep coming here. You can make it. It is sooooo well worth it. Good luck.

I'm sure that the people who have a heart pacemaker are glad they have that "device" in their systems. That being said, we are all lucky in this day and age we do have several choices for weight loss surgery. The band has done everything for me that it was supposed to do. That does not mean it works for everyone. The thought of cutting a major organ was not appealing to me either. The one thing that I like about the band is the band never stretches and the stoma (opening) where the band goes around stays small, which regulates the fullness you feel and the limited amount of food you can eat. The band can also be adjusted. No other surgery has this wonderful feature. The best advice I can give you is do your research. Everyone is different and we choose different surgeries for different reasons. Good luck.

I would document every thing and contact the county medical association. This is abuse and malpractice.

I was banded in August of 2005 and no one knows I had the surgery, My family that lives with me don't even know. Believe me when I tell you they will only find fault and then become the food police. Then you will hear about all the weight loss horror stories. This would be the scenerio in my family. You will get over the hurt when someone calls you a, skinny b***h, I thanked them. The best support you will get is on this forum. There must be a good reason why you chose not to tell them. Good luck.

I was banded almost 7 years ago. I remember when I got hungry and was on the liquid stage, warm clear broth really helped curb my appetite. It is really important to follow your doctors orders these first several months. Good luck.

I will be BANDED SEVEN YEARS in August. I have kept my weight off almost 6 years. It is getting the weight off eventually and keeping it off. I only lost 5 or 6 lbs a montth and also had an eight week stall. However I just kept up with the program, as best as I could (I cheated along the way). The weight came off. I never did push myself that hard, cause I knew if I did I would give up. So I kept at a pace that worked with who I am and how I am and all my imperfections in my relationship with overeating. I sure learned a lot about myself. Keep up as best as you can and instead of getting frustrated learn to "enjoy the journey"

My family has no clue. Even the ones that live with me. It has been almost 7 years and I told one good friend who has no connection with my family or other friends. It was the best decision I ever made. I don't like to be judged. I don't need validation on how good I look. My size six clothes tell me all I need for validation of my success. I don't need to be the topic of any conversation or get any "expert," dietary or medical advice. I also do not want to hear second hand horror stories about weight loss surgery. I wear a medical ID tag around my neck. So that takes care of any emergency. For me this works.

I have maintained my weight loss within 10 lbs.up or down, for about 6 years now (size 6). I keep asking myself why have I been so successful? I was never in a hurry to lose the weight. I only averaged 5 or 6 lbs per month. I never had a goal and got smaller then I ever thought I would, (nice surprise). I got very small fills. I took allmost a year to get to good restriction. I wasn't too hard on myself if I cheated. I cheated a lot, I still do and have learned this is part of who I am. Ha!, tomorrow is another day. I followed my doctors rules the first several months. It was hard, but I did it. I never compared myself to anyone elses success or failure. I exercised ( as little as possible) but I did it and still do (as little as possible). I learned what my food triggers are, this was a hard one to overcome. I learned to replace my craviings for sweet and chocolate and fat with low calorie, low fat recipes. (I can't live without chocolate). I learned to eat slowly and chew well, this took over a year to master. I learned when I go out to eat, about 2 or 3 times a month to totally enjoy my food, to eat whatever I want including dessert, and not count calories or worry about portions. To enjoy the atmosphere and the company I am with. I learned if I had a bad day, eating or otherwise, it will pass and tomorrow is a new beginning. Sometimes it was a bad week. I didn't need anyone to validate my success. No one knows I had this done. Not even my family. So no one to judge me good or bad. I learned I now have a great track record and most likely this will continue. For me losing the weight was not a body image issue, it was a health issue. However being thin has been a nice side effect. Hope this post will encourage some.

Let me guess, I bet you are trying to get under 200 lbs. That happened to me. It took me 8 weeks to go from 202 to 199. Soooo speaking from experience I would just relax for few days no exercise and don't worry about food. Your body will "get confused" and you all of a sudden drop 4 or 5 lbs, when you kick it back into shape. Good luck. This is a long journey not a quick trip. The main thing is you will get there eventually. (Banded 8/12/06)