Lap band yay or nay?

I wish I could, but I never weighed enough to qualify, even though I'm technically obese.

Lapband will give you faster results.
Traditional (ie. eat less, move more) changes will give you slower, but probably more lasting results.

I personally would advocate the more traditional route. I know that it takes longer to see results, but that gives your body time to adjust so you're less likely to have skin issues. That gives you time to exercise and strengthen your muscles so you can be more toned as you slim down. That gives you time for your brain to change along with your body, which I really think is the key to keeping the weight off. If your brain doesn't change, then you'll end up right back where you started.

Honestly, it's your body, and you're free to make up your own mind. Don't let family, friends, or an internet forum tell you what you should do. If you want to have the surgery, then do it. If you don't, don't.

I guess my family is scared of the yo yo dieting.

Tough love ... but ... if you don't have the willpower to keep off the weight you've lost over and over, then how are you going to have the willpower to keep the weight off once the band comes off? You actually earned that 60# & 40# losses, but couldn't maintain them. What's it going to be like when the weight is just melting off? I'm not trying to sound harsh. I would probably wait for the surgery until you're at a point where you can control yourself. It's hard, I know. Everybody has bad days. But you gotta muster up the strength to pull yourself back together after a bad day and not let it turn into a bad week or a bad month. No surgery is going to do that for you.

i have just taken myself off of the lap band surgery list as i am doing so well.
several things you should keep in mind before saying yes...
1.there will be some foods you can not ever eat again(you won't find this out until you get it done everyone if different)!
2.you can never eat a meal past the size of 1/2 a tea plate again!
3.it will be along wait if you are going nhs.(years 2 +)
4.the band will not make you loose all your weight only 70/80% of your EXECESS body fat!
5.you will have to loose 10+% of your body weight now before they will say yes to you!
6.you will have to take vitimans for the rest of you life!
i could go on and on but i won't boar you to death...
the band is a tool to HELP you loose weight NOT make you loose weight,you still have to do the hard work yourself...

nay.... eat less & exercise more.

i dont mean to be harsh, but simply put, thats all you need to do, with a HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE amount of willpower.

willpower I do not have... I find it for a few months and it's gone and I gain back the weight... probably why my family is concerned.

I looked into it years ago and even had a consultation with the doctor who did it in my area. He said if a person is not ready or willing to follow a restricted diet and exercise that it won't work. He said he had many patients who were not successful because they weren't making the effort. Even though you physically have put less in your body or you'll get sick, there is nothing stopping you from eating for drinking the wrong things. This doctor told me that some of his clients who weren't emotionally ready to be thinner actually started to drink gravey and eat straight icing sugar - hence why no weight loss even with restrictions on "how much" you can eat.

After hearing that it became evident to me that you need to be able to control your food and exercise to take weight off successfully with a lapband. And IF I was able to do that....then I didn't need the lapband.

So I opted to do it the hard by safe way.

Bariatric surgery will not give you will power. It is just a tool to help you eat less. There are plenty of other tools in a dieter's toolbox which can do the same thing without the risk of elective surgery. Stick to your diet and exercise plan. If will power is your problem, look into support groups, counseling (CBT), etc.

I guess I should have mentioned that i have lost 60 lbs in the past and only to have put it back on... then lost 40lbs again only to have it back and then some... I guess my family is scared of the yo yo dieting.

This decision is really not one that anyone here can make for you. You need to consult a good doctor with experience in lap band and a psychologist who also has exeperience with lap band patients. If you get the lap band but do not treat the underlying reason you abuse your body with food, you will lose weight (it's pretty much impossible not to with a lap band), but you will likely just gain it back. You, the doctor and the psychologist should make a joint decision as to whether this is the right option for you. Whatever the decision, I wish you luck and success with it.

nay.... eat less & exercise more.

i dont mean to be harsh, but simply put, thats all you need to do, with a HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE amount of willpower.

willpower I do not have... I find it for a few months and it's gone and I gain back the weight... probably why my family is concerned.

If you do not have willpower, what do you expect to do after the surgery?

I have seen surgeries like this work for people, but it's usually in the case where changing their diet and exercising wasn't making a difference. It's not an "easy" road, but if you do your research, consult with a physician and weigh the pros and cons, you are going to make the decision that's right for you. I don't think it will help your will power issue, so I think you should really consider that before doing it. Either way, it's your choice and as long as it's an educated one, it will be the right one for you! Good luck!