B-52

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, ect.....that WAS the hardest part of all....first 6 months or so adjusting myself to the demands of the band....NOT the other way around.
But once I got that down, and changed my life long bad habits, it HAS been the easy road....and still is.
Been at my optimal weight for over 3 years now, not gaining or loosing, a process finished, a success complete...no fear of gaining any weight back as long as the band is there doing what it is doing.
Why all the negativity???? It's only my opinion but I think many people rersist change, refuse to adapt. So getting through all the Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, etc...is too much and they back away?
It's also why, again my opinion, is the reason many Dr.'s are staying away from the band...the patient has too much influence....with other surgeries it is what it is...no adjusments. Deal with it.
Coming up on 5 years and I could not be more pleased with my life changing choice to have this surgery...

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

Definitely going to the gym...the rewards are incredible.....and keep getting better!!!
I'm 63 years old, and there is nothing better than getting on the treadmill and start running, and keep up with and not stop till those around me who are 1/2 my age or younger, quit with exhaustion!
There was a time I could not carry groceries into the house with getting short of breath and exhausted.

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm a gym rat...have been for years.
And I can tell you that true gym people admire those who show up obviously out of shape yet committing themselves in spite of any perceived barriers.
So people are not judging!!

I'm 5 years plus with the Lap band....
I don't have any experience with other procedures...but I can say the Lap Band does have a high rate of unsuccessful results....
Question is, is it the band's fault? (there are possible complications with all the procedures)
My feeling is that the patient has too much control over how the band works.
If you don't like something, you can change it.
If you wish to eat any foods you wish, you can change it. If you want to eat more than you should, you can change that also. You can control what you think is the correct comfort level....
Staff at my Surgeon's office, would tell me stories about people asking for adjustments to the band for all sorts of reasons...
They are going on vacation and want to enjoy eating more....their son's/daughter's wedding is coming up and they want their band loosened....the holidays are approaching..they miss pizza, etc, etc.
Having a band that is adjustable can be a blessing as well as a curse....from what little I know, other procedures are what they are...you go in, it's done. Now learn to live with it. It is what it is.
The lap band is, in many cases, what you feel it should be.
Myself, personally, I could not control my hunger, could not control my eating. Tried every diet known and failed.
It took surgery..something other than myself, to accomplish where I am today. I needed that thing wrapped around my stomach.
Keep in mind, I can go in and get it adjusted if I so choose....
Could other procedures accomplish the same thing? I suppose...others will give their experiences.

I have not had breads...rolls, cakes, Cookies, donuts, most things made from flour which also includes Pasta, pizza.....for over 5 years and I am the better for it!
The band has changed my life!!!

Remember it is a process...do not expect results within the first few weeks, months even.
People get frustrated too early on. The band is adjustable and needs to be before it starts to function the way it was designed to do.
Also, as the band gets adjusted, so the patient needs to adjust themselves also...old habits will not co-exist with the changes the band wants to bring.
It's easy to blame the band while all along the patient is resisting change.
Some people insist on hanging onto old things...things that made them obese in the first place
I was very frustrated early on, felt I made a big mistake, especially after all the work and anticipation leading up to surgery...
But 4-6 months later...Everything started to fall into place, and it just got easier and easier. Best decision I ever made.
Here I am over 5 years later...no excess weight or fat, medical problems reversed, definitely a new person and still going strong!
Most of the day I do not even think about it that much.
Never had a complication, other than the ones I brought upon myself by eating things I shouldn't.

I simply continued doing what I have been doing since surgery....and it improves all the time with discoveries of new and different healthy foods...
For me, it has always been about a new lifestyle, change in what and how I eat brought upon me by surgery....I have never had a diet mentalit, there is no such thing as maintenance, etc, etc.
5+ years now and I live every day just like any other day.
But that's the way it is for me, many people here have different attitudes towards this.

I simply continued doing what I have been doing since surgery....and it improves all the time with discoveries of new and different healthy foods...
For me, it has always been about a new lifestyle, change in what and how I eat brought upon me by surgery....I have never had a diet mentalit, there is no such thing as maintenance, etc, etc.
5+ years now and I live every day just like any other day.
But that's the way it is for me, many people here have different attitudes towards this.

Why stop? After surgery you develop a new lifestyle..something permenent unlike a traditional diet...
I continued on with eating better, healthy, and yes, Less!
Add to that daily exercise, and I am a new person.
And yes, my body did level out where it want's to be...a perfect body fat%
I will be this way for the rest of my life...no more diets...no such thing as maintenance..
If anything, I'm learning to eat healthier all the time, exploring better foods
And I do not deprive myself of life's pleasures...again, for me it is not a diet. I'm enjoying myself.
But that is me, I do not expect people to do things because I do them...everyone has their own life and lifestyle.

Thank God I had surgery

Thank God I had surgery

Why stop? After surgery you develop a new lifestyle..something permenent unlike a traditional diet...
I continued on with eating better, healthy, and yes, Less!
Add to that daily exercise, and I am a new person.
And yes, my body did level out where it want's to be...a perfect body fat%
I will be this way for the rest of my life...no more diets...no such thing as maintenance..
If anything, I'm learning to eat healthier all the time, exploring better foods
And I do not deprive myself of life's pleasures...again, for me it is not a diet. I'm enjoying myself.
But that is me, I do not expect people to do things because I do them...everyone has their own life and lifestyle.

I'm 5 years in and it has done everything I expected, and then some....
Best decision I ever made....easiest thing I could ever do to loose ALL my excess weight and body fat....
Now living the new life I thought would never be possible....
I only say this, because after years on this forum it is obvious everyone is welcome to share their experiences, good and bad....and for every statement made, positive or negative, there is always someone with a different experience...
The same goes with things such as caffeine, alcohol, # of fills, interpretation of the Green Zone...there is no wrong or right, there is no Black and white...
When one person or persons say one thing and feel it is the absolute fact, there will be another one with a totally different experience.
And readers, especially newbies, should not get caught up into that trap...just because someone on the internet says so...
I read success stories, as well as failures all the time....and the underlying issues to both the reader will never know...one can only assume.