MassMom01527

Hi I had Dr. Perugini at Umass also. Great experience and no problems with anything. I was sleeved in Dec. 30 '14. I feel great! I live in Central MA also ????. How are you feeling? Nice to see someone from this area!Lisa

With only 2 more weeks until surgery.....I'm sort of tempted to go buy something that doesn't fit. Like a pair of jeans that is a size or two too small. I'm a size 20, and most stores don't sell size 20, they stop at 14/16. I don't really have a difficult time finding jeans, I just cant fit into the jeans I like. I'm a sucker for a great pair of jeans! I love to wear them and can't wait until they are comfortable again...lol
Do you think i'm torturing myself, or giving myself a goal to reach with some incentive? I can see both sides, what do you guys think?

I agree with both Sandworms and Rachel you get out of the band what you put into it. Unless the band has slipped or their is some type of malfunction, it will do its job, but your job is still the hardest. It is was determines significant weight loss from plateaus and weight gain while having it. I've noticed a trend over the last 6 months on blogs, forums, youtube etc. from bandsters who are having trouble shedding the pounds and aside from band malfunctions, they are all cheaters. Whether that be with alcohol, not exercising, or poor food choices. If your drinking alcohol on weekends, or fruit juices high in calories, snacking on Cookies, ice cream and other high calorie items you were told to stay away from, you are NOT gonna be successful losing the weight. If you put in the work and follow the diet, you will lose the weight you want. I've also noticed a trend in those who lose alot, and who are most sucessful at keeping it off over time, and that is, they've become alot more physically active. They take gym classes, do workout tapes, 4k runs, etc. Lapband isnt a magic pill, its just a tool to help you, but you've got to be willing to put in some work if you want to be successful. Good Luck, I'm sure you can do it. I intend to work my butt off to lose all the weight I want to.
If you are too, you will.

Ok skinny, take a deep breath and let it out slowly ... all is not lost. Do you REALLY want to know why you are gaining? Are you logging your food on "fitday.com" or something similar. There are people on this board that swear by this site.
Here's the thing, we have spent our lives doing things that contributed to our obesity and we are experts at gaining weight. We are not, however, experts at losing weight and keeping it off. So, now we need to try something different because this time we want to get a different result -- that being losing weight AND keeping it off. Part of the something different will be not stressing yourself out, because it only hurts your cause. You CAN and WILL lose weight. . Try the "fitday.com" type sites so that you can see in black and white what is going on and do some research on walking for weight loss so that you can make your walks more effective.
If you are exercising and dieting there has to be a reason you are gaining weight. So, before you throw in the towel, you need to find out what the problem is and how you can correct it.
You are going to be a GREAT bandster. You will lose weight. This is NOT going to be the "end of you". Figure out why you are not losing and change what you can. You'll be all right, really you will ... just breathe.
~Fran

Ducker, I'm out 5 months at being banded and I did educate myself on the bad's, but, wish I would have known more of the uglies. In my opinion, I think that there needs to be stricter approval guide lines and more education provided by bariatric clinics/doctors before a person is approved. In my opinion, the process is rushed and is not thorough enough. I can tell you that I learned more about the band and what to expect from these forums than at the clinic. In fairness to the clinic, I was encouraged to attend a support group provided which I did not, however, maybe it should be mandatory. Next, the nutritional consults addressed very little of the problems associated with the band. During these sessions, I learned lots about eating habits, calories, food logs, chewing well, but, was never given adequate education about the band and potential problems and preventive maintenance. I also started a post under General Lap band support/Things you learned after LB install that you discovered afterward. All the replies were/are right on the money and I can say that some of those things I discovered post banding.
Personally, the biggest concern for me are complications that can occur later on with the band. I experienced one complication just one month after surgery when I began having problems with a seroma on one of my incisions and my band tubing came right through the seroma. I had about 3 inches of tubing sticking out of my belly. I had to endure a 2nd surgery that was more painful than the original surgery because they discovered that my port had dislodged from the original location and was relocated to the other side of my belly. I have 4 large incisions scars that remind me of what I had to endure. Any kind of weird pain or symptom freaks me out and I start thinking the worst.
Thus far, I am one of the fortunate ones that the band seems to work the way it should, most days anyway. I’m stunned with stories of how the band is not as effective on some people. How can this be? Why is this? These are questions that we need answers to.
Finally, I will share with you that there were days that I regretted having this done, especially, after the 2nd surgery and every so often I have days when I am down (bummed), however, the rewards bring me right back on track. 86lbs. lighter I no longer have the severe knee, back and neck and shoulder pain. I can walk and jog, yes jog without the agonizing pain. I have unbelievable energy. I am exercising at a gym, which I never did in my life. I am off 5 medications and am no longer pre-diabetic. I now help my wife around the house. I can watch a movie without going to sleep - really! Lol I slimmed down from a 46 pant waist to a 38 and a XXX large shirt size to a XL, my shoes even fit better. I feel like a new person! The best way to describe what has happened to me is that I’ve woken up from a slumber and am enjoying my family and life again. I’ve been given a 2nd chance after years of being obese. I have a ways to get to goal, but, with God’s help we are getting there. There have been bad and ugly for me but the goods overtake them both. And this is true for any of the WLS options out there. Good luck in whatever decision you make. jake