Anyone considering gastric banding???

helenx55

I have a gastric band, albeit it an empty band...It's been nothing but a worthless headache for me! I lost nothing, yes nothing but i gained hair loss, vomiting trips to A&E where i was severely dehydrated. I learnt nothing about changing my quite frankly horrific food choices.
I was put on the waiting list for a reversal to sleeve, when i stumbled across this site, and it has educated me with a capital E!!!
Im now 5lbs away from a 5 stone loss, my hair is so much healthier, im obviously eating good food and i now take responsability for what i eat and how i look.
It does work for some, and for those people i am happy for them, but for me it was useless, a waste of time, energy and money.

sunlover89

Thanks for the all the comments and insights. I haven't made any decisions yet, I've been doing A LOT of research on the procedure and other ways to lose weight.I have one family member who has had the lap band and did lose weight, but had several problems. I have a friend that had it done a year ago and doesn't seem to have any issues and has adopted a new lifestyle.
As far as what I've tried: I've tried weight watchers several times for as long as 6 months with only 5 lb loss each time. The last time I had joined and was attending the meetings, the instructor literally told me she just didn't think this was going to work for me. I've worked with a personal trainer/nutritionist for 6 months and lost 10 lbs which she noted was good, but that I should have lost more weight. I have done calorie counts several times, with the last stint lasting approx. 5 months. I tried eating 1500 calories and exercising 30-45 min, 3-5 days a week doing elliptical, treadmill intervals, and weight lifting. I initially lost 5 lbs the first month, but then stalled the next two months. The last month I went down to 1200 calories and didn't make any progress. I gave up cokes several years ago and the the last 3 years have been trying to eat more organic foods, lean meats, fruits and vegetables, and whole wheat bread staying away from high fructose corn syrup and anything with hydrogenated oils. I read ingredients a lot. I've tried giving up carbs, sugar.

Could any of you share what really has made you successful. Was it a particular diet, exercise, or many things?

You're clearly doing all the right things...so why do you think that having a smaller stomach is going to help? You can eat now what you would eat if you had the band.
Do you binge eat? If not, and you are eating only 1200 calories and exercising then there must be some kind of medical condition that is stopping you from burning fat which should be investigated first.

Lobster1987

DONT DO IT! The CRAPband is ****! Go with an effective weight loss surgery like the duodenal switch. Youll regret the crapband.

go to www.obesityhelp.com and research all of the surgery options.

shan1204

Any weight loss relies on dealing with the emotional issues that have made us gain weight and no quick fix diet or band is going to solve that.

GmeB

I don't want to trade one medical condition for another. It'd be like putting a bandaid on a geyser.

psuLemon

Thanks for the all the comments and insights. I haven't made any decisions yet, I've been doing A LOT of research on the procedure and other ways to lose weight.I have one family member who has had the lap band and did lose weight, but had several problems. I have a friend that had it done a year ago and doesn't seem to have any issues and has adopted a new lifestyle.
As far as what I've tried: I've tried weight watchers several times for as long as 6 months with only 5 lb loss each time. The last time I had joined and was attending the meetings, the instructor literally told me she just didn't think this was going to work for me. I've worked with a personal trainer/nutritionist for 6 months and lost 10 lbs which she noted was good, but that I should have lost more weight. I have done calorie counts several times, with the last stint lasting approx. 5 months. I tried eating 1500 calories and exercising 30-45 min, 3-5 days a week doing elliptical, treadmill intervals, and weight lifting. I initially lost 5 lbs the first month, but then stalled the next two months. The last month I went down to 1200 calories and didn't make any progress. I gave up cokes several years ago and the the last 3 years have been trying to eat more organic foods, lean meats, fruits and vegetables, and whole wheat bread staying away from high fructose corn syrup and anything with hydrogenated oils. I read ingredients a lot. I've tried giving up carbs, sugar.

Could any of you share what really has made you successful. Was it a particular diet, exercise, or many things?

I would never consider it. My firends dad had a lap band, the deveoloped an infact from it and passed away. In my personal opinion, there are a lot of risk and possible after effects than its worth.

Now io get to yoir post. The issue you probably had was that you cut a lot of calories too fast. I dont know your size but the average exercising woman i work with is eating 1700-2000 calories and many are within 40 lbs to their goal weight. Also, there are plenty of very helpful people on this board.

fmurphyjr

Hi,
This is my first post and this is a topic of real interest to me. I had the band surgery 14 months ago (I have the Realize Band) and it has been the greatest experience of my life! I started at 320 lbs and today I weigh 180 and have never been happier! A lot of the responses talk about the change required and the limitations imposed by the band but I think those would occur in any diet or weight loss program. You have to make changes and you need to change the way you have lead your life because at least weight wise what I've been doing hasn't been working really well to this point. The amount of food I can have at a meal doesn't seem restrictive to me because that is the amount my body needs to function properly. My new healthy diet plus my workouts have given me a new life. Yes it was extreme but FOR ME I know I needed the extra incentive and help that the band provides so that when I inevitably have my moment of weakness at least I have the band to back me up and remind me to stay on track. I's definitely NOT the easy way out, you have to be dedicated and really want it and if you do it's the greatest but if it's not done the right way then like all diets and programs, failure is a possibility. Good luck to everyone out there with their weight loss no matter what program or diet you follow!
PS not that it's a big thing but my total weight loss posted here is since I joined Fitnesspal (Gotta get all the credit I can you know )

3laine75

i'd say no after watching a documentary the other night where one girl nearly died and another was left permanently incontinent - don't know if you'd get it there it was on uk channel 5.

plus people who've had success with it tend to be left with loads of loose skin because they lose the weight so quickly.