Lap band or continue WW after 1 year

[sandraf93 0]

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

[al0vely 24]

IF you are successful with WW then IMO you don't need the band.

IF you don't believe in WW even though you are losing maybe you need to get the band IF you think you can believe in it. From what I have read on this site you have to believe in your band or it will allow you to fail also.

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

[andrea0121 28]

IF you are successful with WW then IMO you don't need the band.

IF you don't believe in WW even though you are losing maybe you need to get the band IF you think you can believe in it. From what I have read on this site you have to believe in your band or it will allow you to fail also.

I wouldn't agree with this at all. I was VERY successful with WW. I lost over 100lbs. I kept it off for over 2 years. THATS the problem, people who get the band CAN lose weight, they usually can't keep the weight off.

Sandra, WW isn't going to make or break you. In fact I find it kind of lame your insurance makes you do a year of it to even be considered for bariatric surgery. If you believe that you will do fine on WW (which you've said you've done 2 times before) and not have to struggle to TAKE the weight off and then KEEP the weight off, then only do WW. If you know for yourself that that isn't going to happen, consider the band then.

If we all could lose weight with WW most of us wouldn't need the band....that's my opinion.

[melzie_99 22]

I think it's a majorly personal decision. I have been through WW officially 3 times and once on my own; always lose weight but then gain back even more. I think it's a good program, just takes a lot of dedication like the band will. I personally am hoping to qualify for the band because I have a hard time feeling full and I want to be able to maintain weight loss once and for all. I, unfortunately, share pretty much the same health issues as you, and those are my major motivators for losing the weight. Hey, some people on this site use both the band AND WW, so who knows? Either way, I wish you well on your journey...

[sandraf93 0]

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

[CheckYes 46]

Hi Sandra,

I have to agree with Andrea. Don't dismiss the idea of a lapband even if Weight Watchers works. She pointed out that you have been on Weight Watchers two times previously. My issue was never that a diet didn't work, it was always that the diets worked in the short term. Then over the following year, I would gain whatever I lost back with about 25% more.

Also, maybe consider talking to your psychiatrist about a different anti-depressant. I know Wellbutrin made me forget to eat and it is also sometimes prescribed to help quit smoking because of the mind-mouth disconnect (at least that's what I felt happened when I was on Wellbutrin - I quit eating and smoking but then it all came back).

Best wishes, Sandra. I think if you keep reading these forums, and talk to a surgeon, nutritionist and your psychiatrist about all of this, you will come to the decision that works best for you.

[amberakamom 13]

I've done WW more times than I can count. Still fat.

[Cocoabean 430]

WW is a fantastic program. I've done it. Maintained a 40 lb loss for 2 years. It was a LOT of work. The band is much less work than that for me.

The band has allowed me to lose weight and maintain the loss without the agony of severe hunger. Do I get hungry? Yes. Do I still want to over eat? Yes. But I don't have the raging battle with my appetite going on.

February will be 3 years since I was banded. I decided not to journal my foods. I eat until I am satisfied. I make healthy choices, and forgive myself if I make an occasional unhealthy choice. This is the longest I have ever gone losing and then maintaining my weight without agonizing over the scale and yo-yo-ing up and down.

If you feel you haven't given diet and exercise it's full effort, by all means, give it your best. Surgery should be your last resort.