Stephy5

I felt the same way, I'd like to lose it normally but I know I can't. I've gained and lost the same 50 pounds probably 10 times since I was a kid. I can't lose 150 pounds on my own. I don't have enough will power to do that or enough hours in the day to do that much exercise, I need some assistance. I feel like the band is built in will power. I go out to eat, and I'm a little sad I can't eat what I always want, but since I physically can't eat it, I won't!! Then I'm ok, and I'm full on what it is I can eat. Before I would of ate it anyway and justified it in my mind. If my family wants to eat their 2,000 calorie meal they can go ahead, but I feel full and happy and healthy with my small portion of food I can eat. I'm starting to realize I don't need most of the food I was eating.
I was scared too, I tried to convince myself that I shouldn't do it. But I did it. I'm feeling good now, I don't have a fill yet, but I think i can handle it. I'm sure I'll feel a million times better when I lose a lot of weight, and can do normal things like sit comfortably in a movie theatre or an airplane, and do things and not be tired all the time, and shop at a normal clothing store.

Susi, I think it's great that you're exploring options. Whatever decision you make, you need to be comfortable that it's the right decision for you. I hope you can find the answers you're after.
First off, choosing a surgery just because your online friends have had it is not a good reason to have it done. If you look further, you'll be able to find different online friends. You need to choose what's right for you, not what is the popular answer.
I looked into RNY last summer, and attended a live support session sponsored by a WLS surgeon I know. At that meeting I asked the six or eight women present (there were no other guys) why they had chosen RNY over other types of surgery. To a person, they all said they were so morbidly obese, they knew they needed to drop a huge amount of weight as quickly as possible. For one, the surgery was a huge success - she looked amazing, and if nobody had said she'd had RNY, I'd have never known. The rest looked somewhat less good - their color was off (they all were various shades of gray), and the horror stories they were sharing about the negative side effects of life after RNY really gave me pause. I didn't have *that* much weight to lose, and decided the litany of problems associated with RNY just was more than I wanted to take on.
Sleeve gastrectomy, and the more recent sleeve plication surgeries were also viable options for me. I felt maybe they'd be able to result in as dramatic a weight loss, but then I found my insurance wouldn't cover either of them. So it came down to the lap band.
At first I was reluctant to embrace the band. It seemed somehow less "committed" than the other types of surgery. I was slanted against the band, because I didn't want to have to work at it. I wanted that magic bullet that will do all the work for me, while I sat back and admired myself for being so clever. To work the band requires effort, planning, and being proactive in my own weight loss. I'll admit I wanted to take the lazy way out, and I felt the band was going to be too much work.
The more I researched, the more my mind changed. I read story after story about people who had been banded, and who have had great success with the band, with relatively few side effects.
The turning point came for me the day I was given some very direct advice by someone who had already been down that road: They said, "The ultimate goal is to lose the weight. With a band you can still lose, just more slowly, and maintaining is a lot easier after the fact. Your insides are still intact, and if there are problems, it can be removed." Then they leveled me with this comment:
"Yes, it takes work, and it takes longer to lose with the band. But in a couple of years, after the weight is gone, and all everyone will see is the new you, does it really matter which method you used to get there?"
I was gobsmacked. I realized it was truly about losing the weight, and getting my life back. I have never looked back. I was banded on December 6. I'm just getting started, and I know I have a long ways to go. But as of this morning, I'm down 41 pounds, and I weigh less than I have in over five years. I'm very, very pleased.
Good luck!
Dave

At my first consult the nurse commented that someone my size they often recommend bypass. When I said I only wanted the band she said that's fine it was my decision and that they have had people with the band loose more than the "average". In general I also did not see bypass as an option for me as I had a minor stroke 16 months ago and I knew my hemotologist would not support the invasiveness of the bypass. While I am still trying to be patient it is important to remember that weight loss is slower with the band. Preband I lost 50 pounds and in the 4 months since 25 more. I am just now starting to have restriction. Some people get restriction after 1-2 fills I was not that lucky. After 4 fills I am just now getting restriction. Does your doctor's program include meetings with a pscyhologist and/or group therapy sessions on "mindful eating"? I found these sessions to be really helpful. When I am eating or deciding whether I need a snack I say to myself "Am I really hungry?, or "Remember to savor eat bite. Chew mulitple times." Before this behavior modification I used to take a bite hardly chew and swallow. Now I savor all the flavors before swallowing. Try taking one raison or cranberry and chew it for 10 seconds. You will be astonished how much flavor you will notice from ONE raison. Much more than you notice when you eat a handful but only chew twice.

I used to worry about if I would or wouldn't tell people. Than I realized, I have nothing to answer for to anyone and maybe j,ust maybe my journey will help someone else. A friend of mines journey is what made me make the decision and I thank him for that. I have a friend getting the vertical sleeve and she doesn't want to tell people either. I sbelieve that is her business. But to me that means deep down she is ashamed. We should not feel like we are cheating or ashamed. We have to do everything we would have to do on WW's or an at home diet. We still have to work out. Actually if anything we actually have more restrictions in some ways. Be proud and choose to tell or not to. But make sure you feel proud of your decision. I believe it will make us much more successful.
Good luck!!! I am hoping to be banded in January.