considering Lap Band Surgery need Advice??

missdibs1

As many of you have been through, I have lost weight over and over. I am considering Lap Band or Sleeve since I am well over 100lbs over and high BMI. I have lost and gained weight over and over but I am unsuccessful at keeping it off. I lost 50lb on MFP but I have gained 25 back. My insurance wont cover the surgery but I may pay out of pocket or a loan.

Any suggestions?? I would like to loose it the right way without surgery but my health is declining and I cant seem to keep it off. thoughts??

when I had 100 pounds to lose surgery was not an optin (via insurance)

If I could lose the weight.... so can you!!!

It is not an easy process. Diet is the key/ persistence. Are you being honest in your food journal? Are you moving /exercising?

Have you seen your doc?

I had a bad foot (limped) and hypothyroidism as hindrances. I was successful! I know you can be too!

Surgery should be a last last last resort.

Plus my friend had it done (500 pounds btw) and had success............but they were +400 over weight

Compudad

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on December 5th of last year and have done very well with it.

As part of the program I met with counselors, nutritionists and several other medical specialist doctors. The program looked at the big picture and not just the surgery part. The ongoing care and support from my team of medical professionals and support group members keeps me going in the right direction and helps validate the life decisions that I have made.

Every skinny person out there seems to "know someone who has had the surgery and failed" My experience is that the people that I meet and interact with that have had the surgery are happier, healthier and wish they had done the surgery sooner.

Peer reviewed medical studies show that the success rate is better than any other diet plan out there and that fewer than 20% have any complications.

As part of the program, I have changed what I eat, exercise daily and make better food choices all with the added benefit and aid of having a digestive system that is not as efficient at processing every last calorie of food that I consume. I have no more diabetes problems, no high blood pressure issues and my cholesterol is under control. I live a more active lifestyle and feel great.

Weight loss surgery is only successful for people who take advantage of all your particular program has to offer in an effort to change your body and mind. Without change to both, you will fail.

aimeemanninghunter

As many of you have been through, I have lost weight over and over. I am considering Lap Band or Sleeve since I am well over 100lbs over and high BMI. I have lost and gained weight over and over but I am unsuccessful at keeping it off. I lost 50lb on MFP but I have gained 25 back. My insurance wont cover the surgery but I may pay out of pocket or a loan.

Any suggestions?? I would like to loose it the right way without surgery but my health is declining and I cant seem to keep it off. thoughts??

Lap Band is probably the best option. Why? Because you don't spend the rest of your life eating supplements to keep your vitamins and minerals in healthy levels. No matter what you are going to have the make a lifestyle change. There have been many people who have had weight loss surgery and gain the weight back. It is not a fix and you may want to look at yourself and see why are you unable to keep it off. Remember, once you lose weight you can NEVER go back to the way you ate before. You must make a change in your life in order to keep it up. You must still remember input and output.

aimeemanninghunter

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on December 5th of last year and have done very well with it.

As part of the program I met with counselors, nutritionists and several other medical specialist doctors. The program looked at the big picture and not just the surgery part. The ongoing care and support from my team of medical professionals and support group members keeps me going in the right direction and helps validate the life decisions that I have made.

Every skinny person out there seems to "know someone who has had the surgery and failed" My experience is that the people that I meet and interact with that have had the surgery are happier, healthier and wish they had done the surgery sooner.

Peer reviewed medical studies show that the success rate is better than any other diet plan out there and that fewer than 20% have any complications.

As part of the program, I have changed what I eat, exercise daily and make better food choices all with the added benefit and aid of having a digestive system that is not as efficient at processing every last calorie of food that I consume. I have no more diabetes problems, no high blood pressure issues and my cholesterol is under control. I live a more active lifestyle and feel great.

Weight loss surgery is only successful for people who take advantage of all your particular program has to offer in an effort to change your body and mind. Without change to both, you will fail.

Very well said.

EvgeniZyntx

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on December 5th of last year and have done very well with it.

As part of the program I met with counselors, nutritionists and several other medical specialist doctors. The program looked at the big picture and not just the surgery part. The ongoing care and support from my team of medical professionals and support group members keeps me going in the right direction and helps validate the life decisions that I have made.

Every skinny person out there seems to "know someone who has had the surgery and failed" My experience is that the people that I meet and interact with that have had the surgery are happier, healthier and wish they had done the surgery sooner.

Peer reviewed medical studies show that the success rate is better than any other diet plan out there and that fewer than 20% have any complications.

As part of the program, I have changed what I eat, exercise daily and make better food choices all with the added benefit and aid of having a digestive system that is not as efficient at processing every last calorie of food that I consume. I have no more diabetes problems, no high blood pressure issues and my cholesterol is under control. I live a more active lifestyle and feel great.

Weight loss surgery is only successful for people who take advantage of all your particular program has to offer in an effort to change your body and mind. Without change to both, you will fail.

20% complication rate is very high. 1 person in 5 has complications? Wow.

Serious complication with hip replacement is 10 times lower and we still thought it was very high.

Babygi6003

I know you will get a lot of people on here that will disagree with your choice..but I had the Gastric sleeve done 2 years ago and I have lost 82 lbs so far and kept it off. I still have some to go and by no means is the surgery an "easy" way out because you will still have to count your calories, exercise and put the hard work in.

I do not regret my surgery one bit, it has allowed me to have the life I always wanted. I am currently training for my first half marathon and without the surgery, there is no way that I would even have attempted to run!

Compudad

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on December 5th of last year and have done very well with it.

As part of the program I met with counselors, nutritionists and several other medical specialist doctors. The program looked at the big picture and not just the surgery part. The ongoing care and support from my team of medical professionals and support group members keeps me going in the right direction and helps validate the life decisions that I have made.

Every skinny person out there seems to "know someone who has had the surgery and failed" My experience is that the people that I meet and interact with that have had the surgery are happier, healthier and wish they had done the surgery sooner.

Peer reviewed medical studies show that the success rate is better than any other diet plan out there and that fewer than 20% have any complications.

As part of the program, I have changed what I eat, exercise daily and make better food choices all with the added benefit and aid of having a digestive system that is not as efficient at processing every last calorie of food that I consume. I have no more diabetes problems, no high blood pressure issues and my cholesterol is under control. I live a more active lifestyle and feel great.

Weight loss surgery is only successful for people who take advantage of all your particular program has to offer in an effort to change your body and mind. Without change to both, you will fail.

20% complication rate is very high. 1 person in 5 has complications? Wow.

Serious complication with hip replacement is 10 times lower and we still thought it was very high.

I did not say that 20% had serious complications. Many have minor complications that require tweaking of diet or vitamins. The important thing is that the risk is lower than remaining morbidly obese.

HuneeBunee08

I have the lap band. I HATE IT. The first year yes i did lose 75lbs, then my life got super busy, i kept getting sick, so many fills and unfills, i would just stick to regular diet and exercise. Thats what i am doing now, and its working for me so far. So save your money.

NonnyMary

Why don't you openly discuss the issues here - you'll get good insights from others that might help you break a pattern.

Things to think about:

- What is your current lifestype?
- How do you prepare your food?
- What made you gain the last 25?
- What do you want to achieve?
- How are you currently working on it?

Openly discuss these, and others and people will give you good (and bad, alas) input.

I am not very active because it is so painful to move. I cook when I am up to it but not as much as I should. I think I gained back the 25 lb this last time because I got lazy and not really monitoring my food. Went on vacation, over ate etc. I'm not looking to be thin and I'm too old (53 y/o) to care about how I look in a swim suit. I just want to be albe to walk with my 80 y/o parents without getting so worn out. I really want to feel better and fit it... if that makes any sense.

Hi with this surgery, you will not be able to have the luxury of the above what you wrote. Before surgery, if you get lazy and decide to eat a pizza, then no biggie health problem, but if you get lazy after you do the lap band, that same pizza will have very bad consequences - like throwing it up and what they call "dumping" syndrome (for sure the gastric bypass people have this);

if you have emotional problems - like me - making you eat - the surgery wont do a dang thing about it, except that now all youcan eat is an egg-size portion of food at a time. and you have to chew it like 20 times before swallowing (at least this is with gastric bypass);

so what kind of life is that?

kazsjourney

I was previously 380 pounds (have lost 180 pounds without surgery and havent weighed 380 pounds since 2006 when I started to lose weight,,,,,altho I am not at maintenance or goal yet)my doctor wanted me to get lapband surgery,,,,,I decided to give myself 6 months to make a real effort and if I didnt make progress then to investigate the surgery...I never needed to investigate Make the decision thats right for you just remembering WLS is merely a tool.

JoelleAnn78

A family member did the sleeve and does not recommend the procedure. As with all procedures, the key to losing weight and keeping it off is to cut calorie consumption and eat right. Surgery is not the answer... everyone I know who went in for surgery gained weight back, and also had to deal with the side effects of the surgery. I would recommend you see a nutritionist and seek other alternatives.

As Devil's Advocate --

I had weight loss surgery and have successfully kept off 200 pounds after almost four years. I am in the process of losing the last of the weight I gained in pregnancy. My fiance had the sleeve in May 2012 and would do it again in a heartbeat.

As a WLS success I would recommend it to anyone who feels that they can 100% commit to the change that it requires to be successful. If you are looking for the magic pill - don't bother. This is the hardest journey I have ever been on. The first year is a quick fix and an easy "way out" as some people se it -- after that you are back in the same position you were before surgery with a few very prominent differences:

(1) Improved health (for me it was no more high blood pressure, no more "severe" sleep apnea, no more PCOS)
(2) Improved mobility leading to easier exercise and increased activity
(3) The feeling that you have experienced some success that helps to carry you through to the next level of maintenance.

On the flip side, I am not a fan of the Lap Band. My ex-husband had the band back in 2007 and experienced multiple issues. My program would not consider it for me as they, as well, experienced a lot of patient problems post surgery. I would stand behind RNY and Sleeve, though. Best of luck to you.

SoDamnHungry

First find out why you're eating so much. I'm not opposed to the lap band in general, but a lot of times it just masks a problem that you might be able to fix on its own. If you gain back 100 pounds, then you're eating way past the point of being hungry for some reason. You may be able to force yourself to eat less for awhile, but the problem will still be there.

NonnyMary

maybe you could adjust your MFP numbers in order to make your weight loss plan not so drastic. but not more than just a little tweaking because then you might adjust it too high. I found that if I go too drastic, then its too hard for me. I mean for example one way of eating does not allow cereal, but that was too drastic for me, and so if Im going to do this i will have cereal or a blueberry muffin in the morning,, those two things will enable me to keep on this new way of eating. so maybe you can do something like that, tweak it so that it gives you a little more leeway in order to keep it up. Someone suggested that to me, and it makes a difference and I am losing 2 pounds a week now. Which is great for me!

wibutterflymagic

A 100lbs is not really all that much. I would really reconsider any type of procedure. Those surgeries are not a quick fix or end all be all. You still have to look at why you are having issues. Why are you reverting to old habits and gaining weight back? I have a friend that did surgery and although she'd had success she WOULD NOT recommend it to anyone unless it was needed for an extreme medical reason. You have to change your lifestyle to an extreme and what you can and can't eat is changed drastically. She's also losing her hair due to lack of nutrients although she is following her prescribed diet plan. Get to the bottom of why you keep yo-yoing instead of taking what you think is the easy route with surgery. Do you want to take the lazy route or do you want to get to the root of your issues? Do it the right way so in the end you can be extremely proud of what you have accomplished and know that you stronger and healthier due to your own hard work.

nancybuss

We are here to help you with your Why on gaining it back. It can happen with surgery too, and honestly then its even mentally harder when it goes back on.

Let US help!!!!!! You've done it, you can do it! Its not a Diet, its a NEW Life and new eating and exercise habits.

You deserve the new life you desire.

Add me if you'd like more friends.
Nancy

EvgeniZyntx

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on December 5th of last year and have done very well with it.

As part of the program I met with counselors, nutritionists and several other medical specialist doctors. The program looked at the big picture and not just the surgery part. The ongoing care and support from my team of medical professionals and support group members keeps me going in the right direction and helps validate the life decisions that I have made.

Every skinny person out there seems to "know someone who has had the surgery and failed" My experience is that the people that I meet and interact with that have had the surgery are happier, healthier and wish they had done the surgery sooner.

Peer reviewed medical studies show that the success rate is better than any other diet plan out there and that fewer than 20% have any complications.

As part of the program, I have changed what I eat, exercise daily and make better food choices all with the added benefit and aid of having a digestive system that is not as efficient at processing every last calorie of food that I consume. I have no more diabetes problems, no high blood pressure issues and my cholesterol is under control. I live a more active lifestyle and feel great.

Weight loss surgery is only successful for people who take advantage of all your particular program has to offer in an effort to change your body and mind. Without change to both, you will fail.

20% complication rate is very high. 1 person in 5 has complications? Wow.

Serious complication with hip replacement is 10 times lower and we still thought it was very high.

I did not say that 20% had serious complications. Many have minor complications that require tweaking of diet or vitamins. The important thing is that the risk is lower than remaining morbidly obese.

Well, this made me look it up:

50% re-OP rates reported: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/lap-band-surgery-half-patients-complications/t/story?id=13187452
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/obesity-lap-bands-may-cause-more-complications-than-weight-loss.html

Late complication (serious) rate of 26%
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/obesity-lap-bands-may-cause-more-complications-than-weight-loss.html

Major complications range from 1% to 50% (possibly reduced to 8% due to procedure changes)
http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/lap-band-problems-lap-band-complications.html

So, no, it isn't just vitamins and diet.

Congrats on your success but keep the info balanced.

Mokey41

You can lose weight with surgery but it won't fix your head. There is a reason that you over eat and can't control your food intake. Having gastric surgery won't fix that and can lead to major depression when you find that you can't eat for the all comfort/stress reasons that you turn to food.

Invest the money in a good therapist and fix what is wrong instead of trying to mask the issue. If you can get your mind around eating small meals and doing without after surgery then you can do it before.

Compudad

A 100lbs is not really all that much. I would really reconsider any type of procedure. Those surgeries are not a quick fix or end all be all. You still have to look at why you are having issues. Why are you reverting to old habits and gaining weight back? I have a friend that did surgery and although she'd had success she WOULD NOT recommend it to anyone unless it was needed for an extreme medical reason. You have to change your lifestyle to an extreme and what you can and can't eat is changed drastically. She's also losing her hair due to lack of nutrients although she is following her prescribed diet plan. Get to the bottom of why you keep yo-yoing instead of taking what you think is the easy route with surgery. Do you want to take the lazy route or do you want to get to the root of your issues? Do it the right way so in the end you can be extremely proud of what you have accomplished and know that you stronger and healthier due to your own hard work.

The Lazy route???

Who do you think you are calling my hard work the Lazy route?

I have never worked so hard in my life and my success shows. After 30 years of yo-yo dieting I have found something that works for me. Anyone that calls it the "lazy" route is a judgmental ignorant fool that does not understand the whole process.

MinnieInMaine

OP, I'm glad you're considering working on your emotional weight loss barriers rather than just hoping lap band will be the answer. I would say, if anything, spend that money you were thinking about spending on the surgery on some weight loss therapy/counseling. Or at the very least, look into attending a local Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

I'll tell you, thinking about why previous weight loss attempts didn't work was a real eye opener. My friend happened to ask me about it and at first I dismissed her question but it wouldn't get out of my head. For me, deprivation was always the root of failure. Every time I tried dieting, I'd attempt to live off things like salad with fat free dressing (not filling) or soup or frozen diet meals and see-thru diet bread, and would be constantly hungry and miss eating the foods I really enjoyed.

So once I figured all that out, I also figured out how to incorporate my favorite foods. You can still have the things you like, just tweak the recipes a bit to make them healthier - more veg, leaner meats, less pasta/rice. And fill yourself up through the day with whole foods, not diet crap. It's a process so don't try to change everything at once, just make one change every week or two and eventually it will become habit. Try new foods and new recipes. Be mindful - every time you make a food choice, think of how you could do a little better.

I see that you have difficulting cooking. How about when you do get the energy, cook up a big batch of something like a hearty soup or casserole or even a family pack of chicken or pork chops that will last you several meals. Portion it out once cool and freeze the portions so they're easy to prepare later and much better for you than take-out or a frozen dinner.

bacitracin

What changed after the 50 lost and before the 25 gained back? Try going back to what you were doing when you lost 50.