colleeb

I was banded on 3/1/12 and I've lost 64 pounds so far!

I was banded on 3/11/11. Since then I have lost 94 pounds. I have lost 121 in total.

Banded 4/14/11 and have lost 72 lbs. 3 lbs to normal bmi.

To me this isnt cosmetic surgery it is a medical need, if you dont go ahead and get WLS what will change in your life, how will you make sure that your inability to lose weight on your own doesnt continue. I saw this as a means to becoming well again, like having a knee replacement to walk again, to me WLS was a medical intervention to get me living again.
Its a minor operation that can bring about major change if you are willing to commit to making it work.
Personally i dont see it a big decision, all the what if it doesnt work, what if i fail, negative what ifs need to be aired but so do the what if i make this work, what if i am successful, what if this is the best decision i have ever made ..
None of your medical problems will improve if you dont lose weight... To me, making the decision to get surgical intervention is the first step, then decide which weight loss surgery is right for you .. or you could always chance to luck and apply to the biggest loser

Hi,
I got my band January 8, 2003. I am 5'0" tall and weighed 276 lbs. My doctor, Robin Blackstone, had never done a lap-band before, only gastric bypass...but I had done my research and knew I wanted the lap band and that I wanted her to do it. She and her team, Melissa (you rock), worked diligently over all these years to help me achieve my goals. I weigh 151 right now and still want to loose 10 more pounds. It has been such a ride of a lifetime! I can still remember how much time I spent on the boards trying to find someone to help me, someone who had the same things going on as me, someone who was worse off than me, someone who had "made it". When I had my surgery in AZ, the band had only been approved in the US for a year or so. Everybody was going to Mexico to get it done. Some even to Europe. I am forever thankful that when I was ready for my band, Dr. Blackstone had been studying and was ready to do one. Also, that my insurance paid for it. Each step of this journey is long and not at all what I expected, but I would do it all again tomorrow to learn all the amazing things I have learned about myself, to be able to be living in this moment, not sitting on the couch watching my family live life all around me. The lap band is a life-changing experience...if you are ready to really change, one day at a time, it can be the best decision you will ever make! Good luck to all of you!

I love my band and wouldnt have it any other way. The road is not an easy one and rather slow but like its said,"anything worth having is worth fighting for!" Please know that theres forums are fi;lled with tons of people in the same boat as you and instead of being affraid ask questions! One is affraid of the unknown and uncertain fill yourself with knowledge, research and people who have been threw it instead of thinking fears. Good Luck!!

i heard something one day, someone asked if i loved my family and i said yes, they asked me if i would die for my family and i said yes, they they said would you live for them, and it really struck a cord with me, that i had a choice if i really wanted to live and have a life i needed to make a change. i have lost 101 pound and still need to lose 60ish.