mims

I went scuba diving earlier this month with no issues. I believe since there is no air within the band there is no issue with expansion/compression.

You are correct. You can eat (and eat alot) around the band. I just dn't think that way since I try to eat my protiens first, etc, so the band definitely makes me full sooner and eat less than I normally would.

I agree with comments that the band is only a tool but I'm not sure I agree that the band cannot and will not make a person eat less. If that is not the purpose of this specific tool, then what is its purpose? The band cannot make a person eat the correct foods but it certainly can make a person eat less of it. Else, why get go through all the pain and trouble of getting a band if it doesn't make you eat less and stay satisfied longer with less food?

My BMI is 33 and I am self pay. My weight has been yo-yo'ing up and down now for about 20 years. Every time I gain weight I weigh more than the last starting weight. I'm just fed up with it all and need something that I will stick with. I figure once I get banded then I'm banded for life and I have to stick with it. I don't have a delusions of this being a magic bullet but I'm thinking of it as my own little enforcer...one that I can't get rid of! I am being banded by Dr. Curry in Cincinnati on Feb 1st. Good luck to you.

I have a BMI of 33 (with co-morbidities) and am getting banded February 1st. I am self-pay.

I hope that some of you can help me. I am having a hard time in making the “go” decision on getting banded. I have a low BMI (33) and I keep telling myself I don’t deserve a lap band. I also get a bit scared reading all the posts about how little people are eating after being banded. I’m not sure I can do it. Did anyone else go through this indecision? I’ve seen the surgeon, the psychologist, the nutritionist and I will be self pay.

I received a recommendation from my husband's co-worker to come here and I'm finding loads of useful information. I am in the early stages of researching lap-band surgery and have a question regarding if some one should have this surgery or not. As many of you have, I have struggled with my weight most of my life. The only way I've ever been able to control my weight is to be hyper,hyper active (exercising 6 days a week for a couple of hours a day) and really constrict my calorie intake(less than 1000 calories a day). While this kept the weight off, it was just too hard to keep up as I was always exhausted. I won't bore you with all my history because I'm sure you're familar with it. Anyhooo...to my question. I'm 5'5" and about 200lbs. I know I don't have as much to loose as many people do but after struggling with it for so many years I'm about to give up and just not care anymore. I really don't want to do it but I'm at my wits end. Most lapband sites I've looked at say I'm not eligible for the surgery and I'm assuming its because of my height/weight ratio. But does that make sense? Do I have to get out-of-control overweight before I do make use of a tool like the lap-band? I know I'm heading there. I'm 38 yrs old and been fighting this since I was 12. I'm so tired of the fight and I want something that will help me with the control issues I have. Are there any people out there who are like me and had a lapband that can provide any words of of advice?