You Say The Band Didn't Work

[Humming Bird 275]

I am so lucky/blessed that the band is a perfect fit for what I needed. It has worked so well for me. It has changed my life in the way I needed it to. It was $9995 well spent!

[schell75 1]

I have had people see me lose weight and now think they should do it, they think it is an easy fix. I was very dedicated to this and knew it would not be the easy road. I am so happy I have my band and am down 55lbs. in 1 year. If someone is unhappy with it and it is not working maybe they are just thinking of it as an easy fix, you still have to put in the work. Exercise and eating better, I have used it as a tool to not overeat and of course I can't eat fast.

So happy, feel bad for the negative nelly, hope she gets the help she needs.

[bandedehs 0]

@Joel--congrats to you! 92 lbs???? That is AWESOME! I have to say I'm a little jealous & need to know what you are doing. I had surgery on 10/21/11 & am only down 13lbs. You gotta share some tips w/ me!

[mafiamamy 2]

i guess its hard for some people to except they have not had the same great results as others have, as for me its been pretty slow but i have still lost some weight, even thou its very hard for me to eat healthy food because it comes right back out...i can eat all the junk food in the world with no problem at all...thats where self control comes in i have a long way to go but i am confident that i will reach my goal ONE DAY !! GOOD LUCK TO ALL.....LETS STAY POSSITIVE AND HAPPY

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Why not?

Ok, here is a question for everyone.

IF the band restricts HOW MUCH you can eat -stops you from overheating.

And

IF the band takes away your hunger, appetite to where you don't feel like eating most of the time.

(above is the definition of "Green Zone")

What else is there everyone says they must do to make it work?

I know the answer, (or think i do) but I'm curious what everyone else thinks they have to do to be successful.

What else is there everyone says they must do to make it work?

The work includes: making good food choices, resisting the urge to eat for comfort/stress relief/entertainment, exercising regularly, taking personal responsibility for your health, keeping on working even when nothing seems to be going right, tolerating the changes in your body and your interpersonal relationship....to name just a few.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I'm pretty sure I know who the band basher is that this thread discusses (and isn't it interesting that she hasn't joined the discussion so far?). For reasons known only to her (though I could speculate), she is an extremely angry person who thrives on attention, especially when it's negative, because negative feedback fulfills her negative expectations of the world. She has alienated people everywhere I've seen her operate (not just on LBT, but on other online WLS forums as well in other bariatric professional settings)- even people who were goodheartedly trying to understand and help her. I tell myself over and over again not to get into it with her again, but it's hard for me to tolerate the garbage she tries to pour into newcomers' brains. This thread reminds me of an old 12-step saying, which I will paraphrase for you here. THE BAND WORKS IF YOU WORK IT. So work it! Jean

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

It's absolutely true that the band doesn't work for everyone. "Doesn't work" may have a million meanings if you ask a million people, but some people can't tolerate the band (and all that comes with it) and some people, perhaps because the term "restriction" is so inadequate that even Allergan is moving away from using it, never feel they've achieved optimal "restriction" even after many fills. But does that mean that this "failure" of the band is as common as Fluffy and her ilk claim?

Probably not. It's kind of like how I felt when I bought a new car last year. I hadn't particularly noticed that make/model on the road before, even though I knew it was a popular one. But once I was in the driver's seat of my new vehicle, I saw that exact same car everywhere I went...often in the exact same color as mine!

So as Fluffy travels the bariatric world driving her "defective" band, everywhere she looks, she sees more defective bands. How can that be? Does it mean that out of (say) 100,000 band patients, 99,999 of them are suffering band failure? Do you honestly think that Allergan would be able to go on selling their product with that kind of track record? Not likely....but Fluffy belongs to the Conspiracy Club, so if you ask her, Allergan and the FDA have teamed up to perpetrate a terrible medical fraud on unwitting obese Americans.

And if you believe that, then you'll be interested to hear that this guy who used to work with my hairdresser's stepfather lives across the street from this other guy who saw a UFO land in his swimming pool last Sunday, and he watched with utter horror as Michelle Obama emerged from the UFO wearing a purple polka dot bikini. And after Mrs. Obama had finished a few laps in the pool, got back in the UFO and sped away, this guy's pool Water has been purple! And that very same day, his wife's poodle disappeared while wearing a Rolex watch and was last seen mud-wrestling with Mitt Romney down at Bubba's Bar & Grill...

[Humming Bird 275]

OMG, purple you say?

too funny. thanks for the uplift

[enjoylifediana 8]

I too have seen the Bandster haters on here. I really don't let their negative responses get to me. I am newly banded and still have alot to learn. Before i had my surgery I did a massive about of research. I was totally informed about what I could expect. i knew that it was not going to a miracle weight loss cure. I knew that I was going to be changing my life forever!!!!

So, with that said I must also say I think that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just think that if you have a negative opinion I want to hear exactly why it was a negative experience. I have not read why she is unhappy with it. Just that it didn't work for her. I know I have read other peoples negative experience with the band and can relate to why they had a bad experience. Example, surgery complications, slippages, and other complications.

I think that it is good to hear the good and the bad in this forum. It helped me when I was in the decision stage when I was just a lurker. I must say that all to good out weighed the bad for sure and I think it will be one of the top three decisions of my life!!!

I look forward to my 1 year anniversary December 16th of this year and seeing how for I have come.

[karewpah 173]

I too love my band! It hasn't been all laughs and giggles though. I did have a slip and had to have a second surgery. There was a lot of discomfort when it slipped, but it was short lived.

There have been more ups than downs for me...I'm so close to a "normal healthy weight - 24 bmi" and I love how great I feel. I can run around with my kids and I have just a ton of energy.

I regret nothing, slip and all it's THE best tools I've ever had for my weightloss journey.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

OMG, purple you say?

too funny. thanks for the uplift

Thanks. As I often say: my advice may be crap, but I'm always good for a laugh!

[jsea 3]

OMG Jean I can't believe you're on here. I read your books nightly and they ALWAYS help me get through my "tough times" when it comes to eating. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!! As it relates to this "negative nelly". I have blocked her because I'm not one to keep my mouth shut and she has spread so much garbage all over this site (specifically to the newbies) that it's best I don't even see what she has written. Best of luck to you all and much love!!!

[twi 40]

I knw this site is for us all but I use it for new info and support/ motivation. It does erk me when that person comments but now I just over look that name and go on. She maybe having problems. I read hers before surgery and it didn't change my mind. So since the comments aren't supportive/ helpful to me I just skim over them to something more motivate

[Shellyac 22]

One thing that we shouldn't lose sight off is that there are ways that the band can fail that aren't the fault of person who has it. There are things like leaks, slippage, and erosion, which although rare do happen. I found it useful to read those stories because it let me know that even though the rates are low it happens to people. Also those stories are important because it gives you examples of what to look out for as a sign of potential problems and that you need to be an advocate for yourself because unfortunately sometimes your sudden change in restriction can be put down to, "oh you need another fill"

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

OMG Jean I can't believe you're on here. I read your books nightly and they ALWAYS help me get through my "tough times" when it comes to eating. Thank you so much for sharing your journey!! As it relates to this "negative nelly". I have blocked her because I'm not one to keep my mouth shut and she has spread so much garbage all over this site (specifically to the newbies) that it's best I don't even see what she has written. Best of luck to you all and much love!!!

jsea,

Yup, I'm here. I've been a not-very-active member since 2008 and now am trying to get back up to speed. I'm sooo glad that Bandwagon is helping you! Stay in touch, OK?

Jean