I had LapBand surgery at 40. I weighed 340 lb at my highest and am 5'9.25". The thing that finally convinced me to have surgery was that I knew that even if I could lose the weight, I'd still be hungry all the time. That's no way to live. I also thought of the saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. At 40, I'd tried everything except weight loss surgery. It was all I had left.

I've lost 70 pounds, and I've had to work really hard (and am still working hard to get the weight off). But at least it's working this time. I wish I had done it sooner. I think I would have preferred to have the sleeve, but my insurance wouldn't pay for it. The band is more work, but it's what I've got. I had no complications, and I've learned what and how to eat so that I don't have too many problems getting food down. I don't regain my weight even when I'm bad, and it is helping me with hunger.

Hi, I am 47 and had the lap band surgery done last August, almost a year ago. I have lost 85 pounds. I am 5'10" and the day I met with the surgeon I weighed 380#. The surgery is NOT AN EASY OUT!! It's work. You still have to make good choices, you still have to get up and do the exercise. There are ways around the band, it doesn't stop you from eating ice cream and other things that you shouldn't.

Now that I have told you what it doesn't do, let me tell you what it has done for me. It has made it easier to eat a small serving and be satisfied. I can choose to eat the lean, dense protein and let the band do it's job by keeping my full for at least 5 hours before I am hungry again.

Good luck. Do your research, talk, talk, talk to people who have been there. I have not had any problems since I had the band put in. As a matter of fact, I am no longer a diabetic. I am no longer on Cholesterol medication. I am on only 1/2 of the blood pressure medication that I was on. It's been an amazing journey so far. The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner.

I went to gastric bypass in May of 2010 and I weighed 310 pounds. ( I am 5'10) It's July of 2012 and I have lost 70 pounds so far. I got pregnant 6 months post op which was not the thing to do, but I had been in the hospital with a complication of bacteria in my intestines (turns out yogurt and ginger could have fixed that) and the antibiotics they gave me knocked my birth control out. So I ate or grazed continuously so I wouldn't hurt the baby.

In retrospect its good because i can't over eat if I wanted to. I hurt badly and then I am miserable for a day or so if I even try. However, had I known all I had to do was eat 1200 calories a day and stick to 5 grams of fat and 15 carbs at each meal I might have spared myself the surgical invasion. I never once got a straight answer on what I should eat and how much until AFTER I got this surgery done.

So, it has its good points and bad. Just like anything else. If I had to do it over again it would be a toss up. I have dieted and worked out for 15 years and never lost much (because my food was the problem) and now I still have to watch the food, watch my calories and fat and carbs and I could have done that without the surgery. So I guess like I said...the only bonus for me is that I can't sit down and eat a bag of oreos or eat a whole pizza anymore.

It's all about discipline and self control with the surgery or without it....that's my opinion. Some others might not agree and that's fine but I really wish I had just paid to see a nutritionist years ago instead of personal trainers and listening to people and reading self help books. When i did what the nutritionist said I lost 15 pounds in about 3 weeks. That was a few months ago. I don't really gain weight but I don't lose it because I still graze too much and I eat high caloric foods.

In the end...it's up to you. I'm 50/50 on it.

Hi,
It's a huge decision and it's smart to hear what everyone has to say and weigh your options. Do your research and make an informed decision. I did the yo-yo diet thing for my entire life and was at a point where I needed to change. I was killing myself with food and seemed to lack control over it. The sleeve has been a blessing for me. Started at 325 in Feb of 2012 and lost 60 pounds before surgery. On May 8th I had the sleeve and have been dropping steadily (not super fast) ever since. I'm two months out and feel like I have my life back on track. Whatever you decide, the support on this site is wonderful. Hope to see your progress.