Am I Crazy For Wanting Lap Band Surgery?

[lrhodes46 55]

Thanks for all the positive thoughts! I think I'll just tell everyone that doesn't like my decision they can kiss it. Besides the money I save on meds and junk food can surely be saved for things like a vacation. Now I can't wait to attend my seminar on Saturday! This forum is the best for support!

[AXA 19]

Weight-loss surgery is as controversial as abortion. Lots of people have lots of different opinions. You should read the forum a week back or so when we were all writing why we had lapband surgery over gastric bypass. Gastic bypass people would be so offended at what we wrote with us choosing not to get THAT surgery because of it's severity, non-reversibility, and side effects. So the same goes for people who would choose a less invasive way to losing weight than the lapband. People are just thinking of themselves and what they would do when they say negative things. The way I handle it is just not to tell anyone. Everyone seems to support me eating less, cutting carbs, etc. I think people like to support others in getting healthy . . . people just don't all agree on how that's best done. I think social acceptance of the Lapband and other WLS will happen some day, but we aren't there yet.

[Dacoop 84]

I don't think it is crazy at all. I am going to let you know this is not the easy way out. This is a journey and a tricky one sometimes. I tried many other diets and none of them worked because they were diets to me not a life style change. This is a life style change weither your ready or not. With other diets I could sneak and eat but with this it won't let me. There are foods I will almost never eat again. But for the most part they are foods I don't need. Make sure you research and make sure lapband is for you. I am telling you it's the best thing I ever did for myself! I am almost 6 months out and 65 lbs down.

[Frenchy77 1]

I have my seminar Saturday as well! Super excited, nervous and emotional and it's just the seminar.... Lol I think I'm just so pleased that I have actually decided to put ME first for once. I take care of everyone in my life but myself, it's time to take care of me' so I can be around later. Good luck at your seminar and your future Journey.

[tanieya 10]

I have gone back and forth thinking if i should get the band, and feeling i dont need to at times. But boy when i tell you i look at some of my pics before surgery it just made it all worth it.I have received a lot of comments some negative yes, because if people aren't in your shoes how can they possibly understand. It is so easy to judge. You know what's funny is that whether your big or skinny their still gonna talk about you. I've told some of my co- workers and their like why? And don't do it. But I did it! It doesn't really bother me it's more of an annoyance than anything.

Banded may 7th 2012

Start weight 282

Now 260

Goal: 180

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

[AlleyKat 26]

I'm really glad you posted this because I feel a lot less alone. I have been obese since I was a child and started WW at 12 years old by request of my doctor. I have since done WW FOUR times, Slimfast, gone completly vegitarian, Jenny Craig, Herbal Magic and god knows what else. WW worked for me but everytime I topped going or stopped tracking every little thing I ate it went right back on again plus some. I would get so discouraged when I would eat so well and excercise and not lose weight and other weeks I wouldn't eat well at all and I'd lose!

My Mum and best friend are both obese as well and they support me 110% on my journey. They are both excited for me. My husband and my father on the other hand are not. My Dad thinks its extreme and unnecessary (But excellent for my friend who was banded, just not me...). My husband thinks I should just eat less and excercise more. I lack will power. I should be ashamed and should expect to fail because I've failed at it every other time I've tried. It hurts - A LOT. I haven't told anyone else because I am absolutly confident that this is the right decision for me and I don't need anyone else to judge me and monitor my success/failure. My doctors support me and think it's a good thing for me, so that is all I need. My experience seems to be that people who have had experience being obese know how hard it can be, people who can drop weight when they want and seemingly eat whatever they want will never understand. I got the, "If I can quit smoking you can quit eatting" lecture. That person has NO idea (not that quitting smoking is easy, I've done that too - I took up smkoing to try and eat less!! Stupid....)

I have enough health concerns and I don't need anymore because of my weight. Some of these things might get better as I lose weight but more important for me, I want to help myself but controlling what I can and minimizing the effect of what I can't.

I love these boards because they are a great place for support. We are all going through this together and even though we are all in different stages of our journies, we can still help eachother when we have rough days.

[Lilbelly 31]

I was told by my neighbor and girlfriend, "just exercise" "you will lose weight"! lol

They are both dense to it! My girlfriend was over lastnight, she was like the food police! I made homemade guacamole, did my treadmill for 40 min. yesterday so I could eat munchies with her, she was like "don't over eat "! If she only knew I can't over eat! I ate very little lastnight! She said to me again "If you would have skipped your surgery you would be fine"! It shocks me at how judgemental she can be, but if I was losing weight without my lapband she'd say nothing. I don't get it!! What gives people the right to be rude? I would never butt into someones life decisions. I let it blow in one ear and out the other. I am thrilled to pieces I did my LB surgery, I did what was right for "me"! My husband is proud of me! Its a life time choice. Like all of you I lost & gained weight forever, I can't put my body through that anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tanieya 10]

Weight-loss surgery is as controversial as abortion. Lots of people have lots of different opinions. You should read the forum a week back or so when we were all writing why we had lapband surgery over gastric bypass. Gastic bypass people would be so offended at what we wrote with us choosing not to get THAT surgery because of it's severity' date=' non-reversibility, and side effects. So the same goes for people who would choose a less invasive way to losing weight than the lapband. People are just thinking of themselves and what they would do when they say negative things. The way I handle it is just not to tell anyone. Everyone seems to support me eating less, cutting carbs, etc. I think people like to support others in getting healthy . . . people just don't all agree on how that's best done. I think social acceptance of the Lapband and other WLS will happen some day, but we aren't there yet.[/quote']

Omg yess, u said this so well!

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

[Fantasy 104]

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.

[electronicart 120]

Getting banded is one of the best things I have ever done for myself . Its a personal decision if you ask me. I got a little static from a few people, but, most of my family and friends have been very supportive. The band is a tool that works for me. The more I lose, the more committed I get to the journey. For me, the difference between dieting and having a lap band that gives me restriction is that I don't lose and gain, lose and gain.....I lose and maintain, lose a little more and maintain.

I love my band :wub:

[Fantasy 104]

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.