Opinions on the Lap Band

My niece in her forties thinks it is OK. She had it done and has lost 50 pounds. My sister's gynecologist said he is thinking of doing the lap band - that it is safe and it helps lose weight. For myself, I'm not sure I want to undergo surgery for losing weight but I may have to if my elbow doesn't stop bending to my mouth Keep us posted on how it goes for you because the rest of us care.

there is a lady who goes to my childrens school who got it this time last year while i have worked VERY hard to lose about 50 pounds or more i guarantee she has lost over a hundred and only does walking. i saw her yesterday and i was like WOW she looks incredible i was so jealous.

BEST OF LUCK

I have a friend that had this done 2 years ago at the age of 43. She lost more weight prior to the surgery than after and is still overweight. She has followed all the rules and even had her thyroid checked to make sure it wasn't that. So I say this. Good Luck and remember that sometimes it works for people and sometimes it doesn't . But honestly if it doesn't work you can always go back and have the Gastric Bypass done.

My mom had it done several years ago. LIke anything follow EXACTLY what the doctor tells you to do before and after. Especially where you need to go get the band tightened and filled, its an important part of the process. If you aren't going to follow it, why go thru with it. Good for you for doing it. Im sure you will be happy and look great.

In March of '09 I was at 318 pounds. Bad knees, bad back, limited endurance, extreme shortness of breath, snoring, and falling asleep every time I sat down in my recliner.
March 2th I went into Curves and intended only to strengthen my knees and possibly increase my endurance with working the hydraulic machines. I had tried and failed so many diets that losing weight was not even on my radar. My mother had gastric bypass surgery years ago, never lost any significant amount of weight and has been in poor health ever since. I figured I was just destined to be Fat. I did not change my eating except to try to add some vegetables because I knew that I wasn't getting enough of them. (I have since changed my eating somewhat, but that is another topic, entirely).
As of March 1, I have lost 131 pounds. I am walking at least 3 miles a day, seldom bothered by breathing issues, I don't snore, I take less than half the pain medicine I used to because my knees and back almost never bother me, and I almost never fall asleep in my chair anymore.

Surgery is a HUGE life decision, and it is only one of the tools available to you to be used as A Part of your fight to get healthy. I believe you CAN lose weight with--or without--the surgery.

:flowerforyou: Good Luck with whichever decision you make.

March 30th 2009 almost 1 year ago I had Lapband Surgery it was the best BEST thing Ive ever done. I started at 300lbs and I am now down to 167 in slightly less than 1 year. I work hard and am ver determined. Just know that it is a TOOL and will require some will power in the beginning but as long as you are controling what you eat and you are doing exactly what the doctors say you will do great!

Let me start by saying, I am 42, 5'3" and was 263 lbs the week before my surgery. I was banded in Jacksonville, FLA. 3/11/2010. I am now 243 lbs and can really tell a difference already! It was NOT easy but definitely not the hardest thing I have encountered. Surgery is never EASY! The first 3 days are trying (or were for me) however, that being said I did not take any pain meds and have been fine! The biggest thing is follow the instructions and..STAY HYDRATED!! This site is a must! The support and tools are the Best! Good luck with your journey and I am here if you need to ask ?'s.

I shelled out over $15,000 and was banded 12/22/09, I feel it was the best decision I ever made! I just wish I would have done it sooner.

It was very frustrating at first because I was not losing as fast as others who were banded at the same time, but my doctor has been conservative with fills, which I'm glad because I have not had problems of food getting stuck and vomiting as some I hear do. I've lost almost 35 lbs since being banded, but have lost more in inches, I went from a size 30/32 to 22/24! I work out 3-4 times a week and have completely changed my eating habits. It has not been easy, it is still a life change, a permanent diet so to speak. I still have some treats and give into cravings, but I don't make it a habit. It still takes willpower. The band is a tool and you have to do your part to make it work for you. What works best for me is planning my meals ahead of time and logging everything on here.

Good luck, when you start seeing results, you'll be so happy you did it!

No one can decide if the surgery is right for you except you. It is a choice only you can make, and the purpose of the post is NOT to second guess anyone who decides to do lap band or gastric bypass.

I have not had either procedure, and have been overweight pretty much continuously since I was in my mid-twenties. I just had my 56th birthday, and am female 5'3". I have lost weight on more than one occasion, and then gained it all back "with interest." At my highest, I weighed 245 and although I thought about surgery in passing, I never seriously considered it.

This is why--there are no guarantees. I have an acquaintance who lost about 150 lbs. and was at a healthy body weight on Jenny Craig about 20 years ago, but went back to old habits and gained back every pound plus more. She had gastric bypass about 10 years ago. In her first year she lost 20 lbs. It is now many years since, and she has probably only dropped 50 lbs. and is still easily 150 lbs. over a healthy weight. Her metabolism is so messed up from her prior dieting experiences that she just can't lose. She also has to continue to deal with the logistics of eating with gastric bypass, and there are challenges.

For myself, I found MFP a year ago, and made permanent changes in what I eat and my activity level. I lost 50 lbs. in about 7 1/2 months. I still need to lose more, but because of my new habits, I am maintaining for now, and now that a personal situation is over with, I am planning on getting back onto a losing streak again.

Last year, I changed the department I worked in and my new supervisor appeared to be very health-conscious--always talking about working out, etc., and not to be judgmental, but the reason for her interest was obvious, as she was about 60 - 80 lbs. overweight.

At first I was impressed with her focus, and shared information on foods I had found helpful, such as sandwich thins. Then came the team meetings. The first one I attended, she brought bagels and full fat cream cheese, and insisted everyone have one. I refused, and took some flack for it. Subsequently, there were muffins. There were potlucks at which she and another person, also overweight, always consumed food with great "enthusiasm."

I continued to watch what I was doing and lose. By February, it was clear that the supervisor and this other guy had taken a dislike to me, and it wasn't until about a week before I left the company that I figured out what was going on. She, and the other guy, who also went out of his way to be unpleasant toward me, had BOTH had lap band surgery, and since their eating habits remain atrocious, neither of them have lost hardly any weight!!

As I reviewed previous events, I realized her attitude toward me changed when she found out that I had lost more than twice what she had in less time and without surgery. (She just assumed I had surgery because I was losing.) In the last meeting I attended, which was a pot luck, both of them were making jokes about how they had to eat lots now because they were going to have their lap bands tightened in the next few days and wouldn't be able to indulge themselves.

I have moved on and no longer work with these two, but they are examples of people who appear to me were not very well-screened prior to surgery, and it doesn't appear to me that either of them have derived much benefit from it.

Based on my personal observations, I would suggest anyone thinking about lap band or gastric surgery do an experiment whereby they do portion control, make good food choices and exercise to the best of their ability. After looking at the results at the end of two months, it is possible that they might not feel the surgery is needed. On the other hand, if you are unable to change and control your eating habits before you have surgery, it is more than likely that you will have the same problem after surgery.

If that sounds harsh, it is not meant to offend anyone. But it is intended to make anyone thinking about surgery to be sure they have their head on straight before proceeding. Surgery can be very helpful. I know of someone on this thread in my age group who has done fantastic since her surgery. I think she has lost about 130 lbs. in less than a year and a half, but she has made major changes in her eating habits, and she is into running and training to do a triathlon.

Whatever you decide, I wish you well.