Giving the band the credit

[lellow 1,713]

In the last 7 months I've been a part of this board, I constantly have read about how new people who are looking into the band worry that getting a lapband will mean that they won't lose weight fast enough or that they'll have to work out all the time to lose, and they're scared off by that. They often talk about RNY instead, thinking that it will mean quicker weight loss and won't require as much 'work' on their part.

Today I even read someone say 'if I wanted to work hard to lose weight, I wouldn't need the band, I could just do it on my own' or something to that effect.

And I think part of the problem is that the band doesn't get enough credit. And there aren't enough realistic expectations about what WLS can achieve, NOT just in the short term, but in the long term as well.

So I'm here to share what I've personally learnt in the last few months, thanks to this forum:

Yes, the band is only a tool. But it's very effective tool to control your physcial hunger and control your portions. It's not going to help with you head hunger - no WLS will do that for you. If you can't get control of your head hunger, WLS will not work for you, no matter what you get done. You can eat around any WLS if you want.

Yes, you have to exercise, even if it's only moderately to start with. And this is because a sluggish metabolism developed from too much dieting over the years means that you could eat the same as a skinny person and still get fat. If you try to eat less, your metabolism slows even more. To lose, you NOT ONLY need to eat less (less calories), but you also ideally need to get your body to burn it off faster (with exercise which increases your metabolism). Otherwise as you get older, your metabolism gets slower, and you will start to regain. This is true with whatever surgery you decide on. In fact it's true if you want to lose weight and keep it off long term period. WLS is is one part of a bigger picture, and that's something you shouldn't lose sight of.

You will probably lose more slowly with the band. But in studies, it shows that total weight loss between band and RNY at the 5 year mark is similar. In fact regain in the band is less than that of RNY. I don't know about everyone else, but I am prepared to trade off slower weight loss for less regain long term. And for that matter, I don't HAVE to accept that the band will means slower weight loss. In fact I haven't and have lost almost 60 lbs in just over 6 months. I don't consider that slow at all, in the whole scheme of things

Weight loss isn't simply a physical thing, it's also a mental thing. Because for long term weight loss, you need a two-pronged attack - physiological (the band/RNY/whatever) and psychological (your attitude). If you want a miracle cure to your weight problems without changing how you think about food, WLS will never be the answer for you. There are loads of RNY, lapband etc patients who don't overcome their food addictions, and unfortunately surgery isn't the answer in situations like that.

I am proud to give my band credit for helping me. Yes I exercise, yes I make good food choices, but the band makes it EASIER for me to do those things now. I tried and failed for 20 years to lose the weight, and the ONLY difference between then and now is that my band is there to provide Portion Control all day every day.

Yes I slip up, yes I'm not perfect, yes I sometimes still battle head hunger (less and less so though as time passes) but the band is very forgiving. I get back on the wagon the next day and it rewards me with making sure I haven't gained 5 lbs like I used to whenever I fell of the wagon pre-band. Sometimes, despite falling of the wagon, I still lose.

So if you're wondering if the band is nothing more than a gimmick that won't help you do anything more than you could have done yourself, perhaps this will be a small reminder that there are literally THOUSANDS of successful banders who have lost the weight and kept it off because of the band. I have NEVER lost this much weight before, or done it quite so easily either. This is no gimmick - the band WORKS. But it's no miracle cure - a lot of it is up to you. If you're not prepared for that, will any WLS be the answer for you?

Edited February 24, 2009 by lellow

[amberstar 1]

Amen! love your post

[bandfun4me 0]

Great Post, you hit the nail on the head. I am sure, that lots of bandsters agree with you. Including myself WOOHooo!

[bambam 0]

Thank you so much for posting. I'm on my preop diet and will be banded 2 weeks from today. I really needed the reassurance that this will work IF I work it - but I have to do my part. It has really been sinking in over the last 6-9 months that this is going to take total commitment on my part and willingness to give up control of the old habits that got me to where I am today.

Again, thanks!

[Maggifer 0]

Lellow-

I'm 6 weeks post op and going in for my first fill tomorrow.

This post is JUST the 'kick' I needed to stay focused.

I was starting to let my nasty, critical self in, saying I was losing weight too slowly.

Hell I've lost 22lbs in 6 weeks, not to bad if I say so myself!

Thanks for inspiring me :w00t:

[Jodi_620 37]

Great post lellow!

[HeatherO 7]

Ditto on the great post. You said it perfectly.

It is not easy, but it is a heck of a lot easier than going it without the band. I could always lose weight preband but could not keep it off. The band is better than any diet pill or plan in the world for me because it eliminated my biggest obstacle, constant hunger. I love my band and what it has done for me.