New and getting a lap band soon!!!

Good luck, I have one too, I love it!

Wow! I guess I'm one of those people that chose to change my eating habits and lifestyle over any type of surgery. Lifestyle changes last a lifetime, a temporary fix is simply that. Have you tried MFP in losing weight? Many many members had planned on WLS and threw out the idea after losing their weight on here in a healthy manner not involving invasive surgery.

I do hope you change your mind, you'll find members on here that have lost 200+ pounds on their own using the MFP support boards, tools here and altering their habits into healthier ones.

Welcome to MFP, I do hope you try this site before making a surgery attempt that will alter your body and life forever. A number of members have gone the lapband, sleeve and other invasive surgery routes only to quickly gain the weight back and not have learned how to alter their eating habits.

Wow! I guess I'm one of those people that chose to change my eating habits and lifestyle over any type of surgery. Lifestyle changes last a lifetime, a temporary fix is simply that. Have you tried MFP in losing weight? Many many members had planned on WLS and threw out the idea after losing their weight on here in a healthy manner not involving invasive surgery.

I do hope you change your mind, you'll find members on here that have lost 200+ pounds on their own using the MFP support boards, tools here and altering their habits into healthier ones.

Welcome to MFP, I do hope you try this site before making a surgery attempt that will alter your body and life forever. A number of members have gone the lapband, sleeve and other invasive surgery routes only to quickly gain the weight back and not have learned how to alter their eating habits.

I agree as well.
Good Luck to you and welcome!

OMG.....really? Here we go again....

Welcome to MFP and congrats on choosing a healthier LIFESTYLE. I also have the lapband and have been successful with incorporating better habits. Yes, it is a TOOL. And it CAN lead to permanent weight loss so long as you do your part. It is NOT the easy way out and and I am sure you have done some research and know what is expected of you.

You can and will be successful if you follow your doctor's and the programs guidelines and rules by the letter. Stay on liquids until you are told you can move on to pureed and/or soft foods. Chew, chew, chew once you are on solids. Slowing down adn taking your time are essential to ensuring you get the maximum benefits of the lapband. If you are told to limit and or avoid certain foods, then by golly, do so!

Most importantly, surround yourself with SUPPORTIVE people. I have found some wonderful, inspiring, and motivating friends here on MPF. I have found a wonderful group of fellow WLS people and quite a few OPEN MINDED, NON-JUDGEMENTAL non WLS friends as well.

We are ALL supposed to be here to support and encourage each other. I wish you the best of luck. You have made a decision that is the best and right desicion for YOU. This is YOUR journey. This is your chance to put the past behind you.

Feel free to send me a friend request.

hey and welcome
good luck with the surgery - I'm interested in how it works so update us please
friend request heading your way

Welcome! And how exciting about the lap band! I've heard good things! (my only concern is how do you get all the nutrients you need each day? Do you get extra supplements?)....sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm getting on you for it, because they can be very beneficial..and I have some friends that I know it would help, just a couple of questions I have

Take care!
And good luck! You'll have to keep us post on how the weight loss is going!

You dont need to take supplements daily, although this advice varies from Dr to Dr. A healthy diet will see that you get everything you need.

Hello and good luck. I had my lapband placed in April 2010. It has been a great tool. It has dimmed my appetite which helps me making better food choices. I have tried every diet known to mankind. I always did well if I was taking an appetite suppressant but as soon as I stopped, the weight would come back on. They are just understanding how some morbidly obese people have a dysfunctional physical saiety issue. I will tell you that I have worked hard during the past year to lose just over 100lbs. Some people do need the extra help that wls can provide. Keep in mind, that people who have wls - have tried so many times to lose the weight on their own. The tool won't fix your head but if you look at it as a tool and work it - wls works.

Hello and welcome to your journey on MFP. I am curious, but prior to having WLS, isn't there a lot of counseling and appointments involved? Are there classes to instruct and weigh the pros and cons? I know that there is still very few insurances that will cover this procedure, so I imagine that the cost is also a huge impact upon the decision to have this done.

Even with having WLS, you will stil have to monitor and watch intake of foods. Will there be certain items that you will not be able to eat? I know after my gallbladder, fried is a HUGE No-No. It is a good thing since I don't need fried. I can imagine that the nutrient loss because of food intake loss could have an effect on bone density as well. Is that something that they monitor during the post procedure?

I think that it is wonderful that you have found something that will work for you, and if I was having the same things going on with you, I am sure that I could hardly stand the waiting till it was done. I wish you the best of luck in your procedure and look forward to also hearing about how you maintain afterwards.

best wishes on your decision to have your sugery. You do what you have to do to get healthy. I use a tool as well in my journey and its helped tremendously, .lol, my second hang out, the gym......I use the cardio machines for my tool, so I truly understand what you mean

I hope all goes well, youre going to do great, and you will get a lot of support from folks here, they supported me as well, Im close to my 200th day........take care and best wishes...........Lloyd

Welcome! And how exciting about the lap band! I've heard good things! (my only concern is how do you get all the nutrients you need each day? Do you get extra supplements?)

They take a bunch of bariatric geared supplements. They work with people on their nutrition and such. Not that you're saying this, but a lot of people bash it as an easy way out, it's actually quite hard.

odd?...your ticker says you lost weight and you don't have the band yet...

Hello and welcome to your journey on MFP. I am curious, but prior to having WLS, isn't there a lot of counseling and appointments involved? Are there classes to instruct and weigh the pros and cons? I know that there is still very few insurances that will cover this procedure, so I imagine that the cost is also a huge impact upon the decision to have this done.

Even with having WLS, you will stil have to monitor and watch intake of foods. Will there be certain items that you will not be able to eat? I know after my gallbladder, fried is a HUGE No-No. It is a good thing since I don't need fried. I can imagine that the nutrient loss because of food intake loss could have an effect on bone density as well. Is that something that they monitor during the post procedure?

I think that it is wonderful that you have found something that will work for you, and if I was having the same things going on with you, I am sure that I could hardly stand the waiting till it was done. I wish you the best of luck in your procedure and look forward to also hearing about how you maintain afterwards.

Thanks for your support and good questions! I researched the lap band for 2 years prior to my decision. Most major insurance companies cover WLS now, if you meet criteria (high BMI, high BP, diabetes, sleep apnea or other problems). You are correct about pre-op appointments and procedures. I have had several over the past six months.

Diets consist of small healthy meals (cut up). You cannot drink and eat at the same time. Protein is essential, and I can only take chewable and liquid vitamins.

As with any surgery there is risk and people should consider it seriously, this was not something I entered into lightly. I just have "yo-yo'd" since I hit menopause (had to have a hysterectomy in 1991), and despite eating a healthy diet I have had a hard time losing weight.

I know if I lower my caloric intake to less then 1500 calories I can loose weight (I just lost weight), but in order for me to keep it off and break the cycle I need this tool.

Thanks again for understanding!!!

I appreciate you coming back to share more about it, it's a bit easier to understand knowing the person has done a lot of research etc. It's when someone decides to have any surgeries but does not put in the time that worries us. The best too you as your date is coming up soon!!:flowerforyou:

Good for you Joleen, get your life back on track, don't worry about the criticism from others. I believe people who are obese have a disease, I can't imagine getting to that size myself without something being terribly wrong in my life or myself. Your better to get lap band then die of a obese related medical problem.

Welcome !! I wish you the best of luck with your band .. I had the lap band surgery Nov 2010. It is a nice tool to have. Just make sure you follow the diet plan they put you on.

Hope everyone has a great day !