SumthinsGottaGive

Just wondering, for those of you that are already on the journey (or have completed it), what are some of the regrets (if any) you have? Do you regret getting banded? Something you could have done, but didn't? Something you did do and shouldn't have? Any advice for those of us starting out in how we can avoid these same pitfalls? Thanks in advance for sharing!!

That's amazing!! Congratulations on all your success!! That is certainly something to be extremely proud of! I would probably be telling everyone if I lost that much (or when I lose that much). Thank you for sharing and all the best as you continue your journey!!

Have you considered getting the band tightened?

LOL!! What a great attitude you have toward all that's happening in your life! I hope you keep that positivity! Sounds like some of the people around you could use a healthy dose of it. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! This is very encouraging and I hope to share in the celebration of your success as your journey continues!! All the best!!

That's one of the things I love about the band.. it's not an easy way out. It's just a tool to give you what you need. You still have to take the initiative. Thank you for sharing your experiences! Congrats on all of your success w/lap band so far! All the best as you continue on!

I can relate to the mother thing. I wasn't going to tell my mom..but if something went wrong I know she would be devastated if I hadn't told her...not to mention the fact that I had a spark of hope for her support. Like your mom..she turned out to be my biggest supporter. She even found my surgeon. I'm so glad I took the chance and told her.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and your encouragement! As it was stated by one of the other bandsters, when we decide to make the right choice in a situation, we expose others' lack of doing so, as well as their bad habits. Kudos to you for making the right choice for you! And all the best on your journey!!

Thank you!

I just posted the same thing under your response to my topic, but I wanted to post it here too. Ok..here's my two cents.. I'm pretty much in the same boat w/you. I have not been banded yet..but am debating as to whether or not to tell my two best friends. I hadn't planned on telling anyone outside of the family..but I told 4 people outside that I knew would support me. I have no reason to think they wouldn't support me, but I'm not sure. Both of them are smaller...one has always been smaller and the other worked very hard to get smaller (though we're not exactly on speaking terms right now for something else). I keep thinking about what they would say if I had the procedure done and hadn't told them before hand. Knowing them, they would want to be there and support me in it..so I'm thinking I'll probably end up telling them. However, in your situation, you have a friend that has pretty much made her stand on the topic pretty obvious. Should you have given her the benefit of doubt? I'm not so sure. This is a very sensitive time in your life..this journey is not an easy one..and you don't need it made any harder by undue stress and tension or hurtful discouraging remarks. I have intentionally only told people that I know would support me..because once I get started I'm going to need people I know are in my corner. The toughest person to tell, for me, was my mother. She can be pretty *opinionated*.. and I thought about going through it without telling her as well..but I decided to give her the benefit of doubt because we're so close and I really want her support. So I chanced her knowing and not giving me that and it turned out great. She was very supportive and even found my surgeon for me. But I had to be so sure that this was something I was going to do that her reaction to my decision didn't sway me. Just so happens, it was a good reaction.. to something she, under normal circumstances and with anyone else but her daughter, would have probably been against. Some times it takes someone you really care about going down a road you may be against to open your eyes. Therefore, I can see your friends objection.. in her eyes it may look like you didn't give her a chance to be there for you. But through your eyes, she had already been very negative with regards to someone else and their procedure.. through both eyes I can see the logic... BUT .. if I were your friend, I think I would have to understand your reservations of not telling me. As negative and verbal as you say she's been about lap band, I don't know that I would have told her either. My point is: it's over. You've already gone through the procedure and are well on your way. There's nothing you can do about not telling her now but apologize and hope that she sees why you didn't tell her. And if she's not a big enough person to see your side of things, then hopefully it's not something that will throw the friendship away. If she decides to throw it away over that, then perhaps she wasn't a true friend to begin with. I hope everything works out hun! And ALL the best on your journey!

Ok..here's my two cents.. I'm pretty much in the same boat w/you. I have not been banded yet..but am debating as to whether or not to tell my two best friends. I hadn't planned on telling anyone outside of the family..but I told 4 people outside that I knew would support me. I have no reason to think they wouldn't support me, but I'm not sure. Both of them are smaller...one has always been smaller and the other worked very hard to get smaller (though we're not exactly on speaking terms right now for something else). I keep thinking about what they would say if I had the procedure done and hadn't told them before hand. Knowing them, they would want to be there and support me in it..so I'm thinking I'll probably end up telling them. However, in your situation, you have a friend that has pretty much made her stand on the topic pretty obvious. Should you have given her the benefit of doubt? I'm not so sure. This is a very sensitive time in your life..this journey is not an easy one..and you don't need it made any harder by undue stress and tension or hurtful discouraging remarks. I have intentionally only told people that I know would support me..because once I get started I'm going to need people I know are in my corner. The toughest person to tell, for me, was my mother. She can be pretty *opinionated*.. and I thought about going through it without telling her as well..but I decided to give her the benefit of doubt because we're so close and I really want her support. So I chanced her knowing and not giving me that and it turned out great. She was very supportive and even found my surgeon for me. But I had to be so sure that this was something I was going to do that her reaction to my decision didn't sway me. Just so happens, it was a good reaction.. to something she, under normal circumstances and with anyone else but her daughter, would have probably been against. Some times it takes someone you really care about going down a road you may be against to open your eyes. Therefore, I can see your friends objection.. in her eyes it may look like you didn't give her a chance to be there for you. But through your eyes, she had already been very negative with regards to someone else and their procedure.. through both eyes I can see the logic... BUT .. if I were your friend, I think I would have to understand your reservations of not telling me. As negative and verbal as you say she's been about lap band, I don't know that I would have told her either. My point is: it's over. You've already gone through the procedure and are well on your way. There's nothing you can do about not telling her now but apologize and hope that she sees why you didn't tell her. And if she's not a big enough person to see your side of things, then hopefully it's not something that will throw the friendship away. If she decides to throw it away over that, then perhaps she wasn't a true friend to begin with. I hope everything works out hun! And ALL the best on your journey!

"As to "the easy way out"...nah, it is a way out. But then again, I drive a car rather than riding a horse, or bicycle or walking. I use a dishwasher. I use a washing machine and dryer. Someone else grows my food and butchers my meat. I buy clothes at stores rather than weaving the fabric and making them. We take the easy way out all the time." Thank you for sharing your thoughts! You are so right.. and it's funny how "selective and discriminatory" society can be about what they choose to see and what they choose to blind their eyes too, with regards to an "easy way out." What you posted about the Dr. on the radio..that is seriously profound! Almost reminds me of how White Blood Cells behave..trying to get things back in order that they believe are destroyed or "broken." I'm not saying it's 100% accurate, but it does make sense. All the best!

I have a glass Homedics from Macy's.. that's been consistent for me. My mom even got one after I did and loves it.

Wow..this is great info to know. I hadn't even thought about this before. Thanks for posting this.

Wow.. why someone wouldn't make the most of this tool is beyond me! It's there to give you that extra something you couldn't get from diet and exercise alone. I guess some people want something for nothing. Congratulations on all your success!! 153lbs..that's amazing! I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity and hope to see results similar to many of the other success stories on this site! Thank you for sharing! All the best as you continue your journey!

ROTFLOL @ Cheetos dream!!! LoL!! Congratulations on making the big step and crossing over from ready to rolling! I can't wait to be there and started on my way to my goal! 10lbs in 3 days ..that's amazing! From what I'm reading and hearing of many others' stories, get ready for more of that! Keep up the momentum! I look forward to celebrating in your success w/you! All the best on your journey!

I think Beachy_Baps hit the nail on the head when she said, "I know there's jealousy and people are getting used to my new lifestyle. It's human nature to react like this so I don't fault anyone." Your encounters definitely confirm that.. people can be very ignorant.. but that's where we have to be the bigger person in understanding where these feelings stem from. It's quite sad, because everyone should do what makes them happy (that's legal and doesn't involve hurting or killing anyone else. LoL!) Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! All the best on your continued journey!

LoL! Exactly! Every pound is a victory!

Wow! Creepy friend! LoL! Unfortunately...I know someone almost as bad as she is...I wouldn't consider her a friend though. We used to be friends, but after she crossed some "friend boundaries" I had to push her away and only deal w/her at arms length. I have not told her because I chose to not have the entire world know my business as well. Thank you for sharing this! It is very encouraging and re-confirming.. I've only told my family and a handful of people outside of the family about my decision to have this done and have gotten nothing but support. When I start losing weight I'm thinking about saying something along the lines of what you are.. "low fat/carb/sugar diet." I don't have diabetes, but congratulations on getting that under control! I hope everything continues to work out for you! All the best!

Definitely!! I know insurance can be a joke sometimes..and the things they require can be unrealistic and irrelevant. I will certainly keep in touch w/you! I can't wait to share in the celebration of your success!! All the best!

VERY well said!! *applause* Thank you for the encouragement!!

Wow, hun! I'm so sorry that you're feeling this way! I think we've all felt that way before.. hence we're all banded or getting banded or having some kind of bariatric surgery. Things will get much better when you start feeling better about yourself.. and for some, that doesn't happen until we lose the weight. No one knows what you battle with internally.. and until the battle is either won or eliminated all together.. you will continue to struggle. Therefore, I wish you ALL the best on your journey, regardless of which path you take. Ok.. now that being said.. I have chosen to go with banding. I have been researching it for months now and have only made the decision recently. I have not been banded yet, but am registered for my seminar and a meet w/my surgeon. Why I chose banding over: Gastric Bypass: I have never been one for surgery. This will be the first surgery of any kind I'll be doing. I don't think it's necessary until it's necessary, which is why I don't really get most plastic surgery. Who wants to be cut up unnecessarily??? Anyway.. my logic is.. if I have to go this extreme.. I want to go as low-end extreme as possible. I want a way out if things get bad. Cutting away 90% of my stomach and rerouting my intestines is not a way out..as a matter of fact, it's very risky and holds the most risk of all bariatric surgeries. Gastric Sleeve: Pretty much the same thinking.. cutting half of my stomach away is not a way out either. It holds less risks than the bypass, but more than the banding. Also irreversible. Why I chose to do Lap Band: Lap band, to me, was a no-brainer. It had everything I was looking for. Low risk, reversible and highly effective. I wasn't looking for a way out. Let me rephrase.. I wasn't looking for an EASY way out. I was more drawn to the band because it's not an "easy way out." You still have to eat right, you still have to exercise..but it's exactly what I want: a tool. A very effective tool. To be used to aid in my fight and give me more of a leg up against this weight. My reasoning may not be others.. but I know I like the fact that if (God forbid) something goes wrong w/it.. I can get it removed. Also, I figured, I'd take this route because if it doesn't work.. you can always do the bypass (which I doubt I'll ever do) or the sleeve. I would suggest leaving yourself with options...which is why I went with the band. BUT..OVERALL ..I would suggest doing what is best for YOU! And no one knows what that is except you and your doctor (mostly you ). I hope this was at least a little helpful. Feel free to ask me any questions. I'm certainly no expert, but I know what I know. I've done a lot of research on this..as should you (if you haven't done so already). I was able to make this decision with eyes wide open. Know the risks, know the potentials and numbers. You'll feel better about your decision when you do. Here are a few of the sites that helped me when I was doing my research: http://www.realize.com/gastric-bypass-surgery-information.htm http://www.viewpoints.com/Lap-Band-Surgery-reviews http://carolinasurgical.com/steps_to_bariatric_surgery.php - this site has a very good informational video you should watch. Read slowly! Think carefully! Choose wisely! All the best hun!

LOVE IT!!!! I actually stood in the mirror and spoke to my fat.. each individual area and said my goodbyes.. LoL! I wasn't nice about it either. This has been a horrible relationship from the start! It's OVER! Well said hun! ALL the best to you on your journey!!

Isn't awful how so many past failures can really mess you up!?! Sorry, but that really struck a cord w/me! I look for failure (when it comes to diets) and am not surprised by it..which is not a good thing.. but it's just how I've been conditioned doing all of these past diets. Hopefully being banded will break me out of that! Thanks for sharing this!

Wow! You're absolutely right.. (something for nothing) .. it's all about perception though. Like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. Thank you for sharing! And I will remember that moral: This is a no-rain parade! LoL! All the best on the continuance of your journey!!

Wow..that's amazing! 40lbs only almost 2mths! Congratulations! I wasn't going to tell anyone.. but I am really tight w/my family and I didn't want to do this without their support. I don't have any regrets in telling them and it's been nothing but positive feedback and support..so I know I'm blessed in that. And you're comment about "human nature" is very spot on. That's a great attitude to have toward these types of situations! Thank you for sharing! All the best as you continue your journey! P.S. Don't stop buying your cute outfits! you've earned them!!