Khaylar

I just came upon this post and I have to say this is an excellent question and the comments have really helped me. This topic has been a huge concern for me in my decision so I really appreciate the post and the feedback.

I've been in a similar war with myself since I decided I was going to start doing research on the lap band. I’m 34, I’ve been married for 9 years, and at 285 Ibs I’m at the heaviest I’ve ever been. I've come to a few conclusions that I hope might help you. I lost a lot of weight over the years with diet and exercise, but put it back on again. Further impacting my self esteem and self confidence. I don't want to do this anymore to myself. This led me into looking at surgery; I think the lap band would be a great tool to help me. I’m unhappy. The weight is not only hard on my joints, bones and body, but it’s hard on my marriage and my self image. I recently went to Great America, and couldn’t get on a ride because I was too big. EMBARRESSING!!!! Again this led me to look into other alternatives. At the beginning of the summer I was doing a walk/run 2.8 miles every day. Eating right and Exercise. One day I just stopped. No particular reason, I just stopped. I need something to say “Hey, get back on the wagon and get moving again” I feel the lap band will be that “insurance policy” if I don’t eat right or correctly (too fast) then it will be there to just give me a little nudge. Even when I was losing weight with diet and exercise I was hungry all the time. My appetite can be ferocious. I eat FAST! This “quality” about myself led me to research the lap band. I have to lose over 100 Ibs and I don’t want to put it back on so again I think the lap band would be good “insurance.” At least for me, maintaining was as hard as losing. I haven’t had the surgery yet. I first started at the informational seminar and have a consultation appointment in August, but I’m about 95% sure that I will be going through with it at this point. I go back and forth a lot. “Is this something that I want to do to my body it’s been through enough?” “I can’t believe I’m considering this. Why can’t you just lose it with diet and exercise?”…etc..etc.. It’s been a huge process and one that I haven’t taken lightly by any means. I have been grappling with this decision for awhile now and I feel I’ve come to a point where I’m ready. At least…I think I am. [*] I hope this helps you understand my decision for researching and considering surgery vs. just exercise and diet alone. [*] Good luck to you.

Good Luck and keep up posted on your progress : )

Good luck!! I hope everything goes well for you!

I've thought about this a lot and I don't think I'm going to say anything. I really just don't feel the need to share it. I'll tell my parents, sister and my husband, but that's it.

Thank you! I was curious about that myself.

This is a great topic. I have not yet been banded, but I was wondering about the "fullness" feeling. I think my biggest worry is eating at a resturant and having to throw up and not being able to make it to the bathroom. It's a fear. I've read several people on this site talk about the "small hicup" or "small burp" as a warning sign and I hope that I will have that too. Keep up the great work!!

Breath! Breath!! Everything always works out for the best!

Congratulations!!! Keep up the great work and good luck on July 18th

I am 34 years old and 285 Ibs. This is the largest I've been. In the past I've always been able to manage my weight with diet and exercise. This time last year I lost 20 Ibs with diet and exercise and thought I was on the right track again, but I gained the weight back plus some. I hate the way I feel when I'm heavy and I hate the way I look in my cloths. Recently, my mother and I went to a lap band seminar because I've just been so sick and tired of the way I look and feel. A close family friend had the lap band and has shown positive results in the last three years. My question is: I have been GRAPPLING with the idea to do the surgery or not to do the surgery. I feel like "Well, I lost 20 Ibs before with diet and exercise, and if I had just kept it up I would have lost all my weight! So get motivated and get off the couch and get moving!" But then the other side of me is "Well, you did lose weight with diet and exercise before, but you put the weight back on and maybe you need more "reinforcement?" Has anyone gone through this discussion with yourself before? What were some of your conclusions? I realize I have to make this decision on my own, but this has been the biggest hold up for me and I think at this point I just need some other perspectives on their own decision processes. Thank you

Thank you so much for the feedback. I'll be visiting my friend out of state, who's already gone through this process at the end of the month, and I'll have a ton of questions for her during that week. I have my consultation on August 6th @ 1 p.m. I'm excitied and I feel like "it's time." I haven't made any concrete decisions yet but I know that I am definately leaning toward the procedure. Thank you all for your support!

Ok, so I've done one round of P90x, three months of the full routine, following it religiously during that time. I lost 20 IBS and saw results very quickly (almost the first week). I loved it, but it is hard.