2Flyguys

I chose the band for myself simply because I didn't want to alter my body's chemical state. Nearly all Lap Band complications are mechanical. I know people with bands who've lost as much and as fast as with GBP and then I know people who've lost 30# and nothing more. It's all in how you use it. YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'm about 12-14 pounds away from goal...i dont weight myself often....i have a dr. appt 2-morrow...so i'll have a definite #....these last 10-14 pounds r hanging on 4 dear life!!!!!!!!!!!! i've been trying to shed...run...walk...bike ride...jump rope...(and what a lovely sound my stomach flap makes with every jump...lol)eat more calories...eat less calories...since mid april....and they wont go away!!!!!!!!!!for those of at goal...we the last 10-15 pounds the hardest...i took off 117 in 6 months....i am having a panniculectomy in august...i have it scheduled far out due to my job and my son...but i would like to b at goal in august...i dont feel like i could do a liquid diet right now...and i exercise a lot....any advice???????

sandy....i assumed u had a ppo...i had bc anthem ppo...of u have a hmo...i have no idea how that works...

blue cross had one of their nurtrionist call me (not my surgeon's) and i mentioned to her that i wish i could've had my surgery at west hills bcuz it was so much closer to me...she mentioned they would cover my gas...meals and hotel...i never thought in a million years to ask....i went for my consultation on august 13th, 2008 and had my surgery on oct. 6th 2008...i probably could've had it sooner but i had to make my pre-op appointments around my job schedule...i was very happy with blue cross...they covered 97% of my surgery....

does anyone else on here feel "safe" with their band on...dont get me wrong i know u can gain weight back if u dont follow the rules....but i have this feeling of "safety" with my band...i'm sitting here eating a 1/2 cup of refried beans with some ground turkey mixed in it...and i know i cant eat more than this 1/2 cup...i feel safe from over-eating...

my friend had her bypass surgery about 6 weeks ago...so far ...so good....i was trying to talk her into the band bcuz i was worried about all the complications...she eats very greasy food and doesnt dump...her weight loss has been a lot slower than mine...i'm sure thats due to her eating habits...but i was surprised at how quickly she recovered...she hasnt tried sweets....but greasy food does not make her dump...maybe she is one of the lucky ones...maybe its too soon....we are the same height...i weighed 3 pounds more than her pre-op...she has lost 26 pounds in 6 weeks...i had lost 37 in 6weeks...bypass isnt always faster.....

my surgeon's office and all my pre-op appointments were in west hills...my surgeon usually operates out of west hills hospital...but blue cross insisted i have my surgery done at a center of expertise...(uc irvine)...they covered my gas to and from the hospital...my sugery was late in the afternoon...so i had to spend the night...they covered my mom's hotel room and they covered my moms meals for 3 days....blue cross was GREAT!!!!!!!!!! my employer changed over to aetna and so far they've been great about covering my panniculectomy.

i'm 7 months post-op and still have to b very careful when i eat red meat....when i do eat it...a cut it in2 tiny...tiny little pieces and chew it very well.

i've seen a lot of members on this site with just as good if not better results than bypass patients...my friend is 6 weeks post op with her bypass and has lost 26 pounds...at my 6 week post op appointment i was at 37 pounds lost....we r the same height ... i started my journey at 296...she started hers at 293....so there u have it...its not a guarantee u will lose faster and more with the bypass...if u really work with the band...u can have the same if not better results...good luck with ur decision!!!!!!!

i can see a huge difference!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i know how u feel though...my husband and i took pics over the weekend...and i said i looked fat in them....he ignored me and rolled his eyes....lol

did u stop exercising? did u go back to bad eating habits? i'm always scared to death in the back of my mind that my weight will come back....i know if i keep exercising and eating the way i do now...it won't....but sometimes it still feels to good to b true....if u dont mind me asking...and if u did put ur weight back on due to lack of exercise and making bad food choices.....what made u go back??????? do u plan on getting back on the wagon...if so i wish u the best!!!!!!!!!!!!

u r doing great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!! welcome to onderland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

did u mention with ur tool...u will keep the weight off...lazy yeah right....far from it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep on doing what works 4 u!!!!!!!!!!!!! u look great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

a drove the day after surgery...this is a WALK IN THE PARK compared to a c-section!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i got rid of my big clothes sooooooooooooo fast....u would've thought they had a disease on them....lol....:eek:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good luck....enjoy ur small clothes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i never had a problem with my gallbladder...up until now...my friend just had a bypass and they removed it the same day...i have a drs. appt thursday....and i think i will b headed 4 surgery to have it removed...in the very near future....

this post was not intended for u personally and i did say there are some very valid concerns that people make...my point is why worry about a scar...when u have a 300 pound stomach sitting in front of u with stretch marks and cellulite on it...there r valid concerns...of course i had them myself...but then there is knit picking too...and that was my point cleosmom

there are some members who post threads about very valid worries...stomach erosion...band slips...surgery risk...etc....but then u get some post with members worried about scars...having to give up cake...occasionally throwing up...and i said occassionally...lol....come on!!!!!!!!! i myself was headed for 300 pounds...i welcomed a scar...or having to figure out what was going to agree with me...when i went to my surgeon's seminar there was a lady so over weight she could hardly raise her arm to ask a question...her question was about hurt burn...okay...ya who wants to have heart burn....but aaaaaa what about heart attacks???????? do u want one of those....of course look into this surgery....but some of the knit picking is ridiculous!!!!!

my kitchen is like a mind field!!!!!!!!!! our freezer looks like ben and jerry's...cookies everywhere...my mom is a junk food aholic...when we go shopping i pick up a size 10...her a 20...she can keep the junk...i'll take the 10's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

40 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ur going to b at goal no time!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! ur doing an awesome job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!!!! It must feel great to b finished!!!!!!!!!! i'm sooooooooo looking 4-ward to my journey ending!!!!!!!

i can assure u ur going to fill "full" with the band...no its not that misreable stomach ache full...but u wont b hungry once ur restricted...u will b able to eat small portions and fill satisfied for hours at a time...i was a huge over-eater...seriously my pre-band portions could literally feed me for a week now...i feel satisfied with a 1/2 cup of food...i know it sounds crazy...i didnt believe it myself...but i promise u...u wont b hungry with the proper restriction....

i think a lot of people opt to have the bypass because its said "you'll take of more weight ....quicker" i myself and several other band patients have done just as well if not better taking off a lot weight...quickly....than those with the bypass...i thought i was one of the few...i was mistaken...its more work....and you'll get several post from other members that will discuss risk...but if its to take off weight "quicker" that can also be achieved with the band....good luck!!!!!!!!!!

iced tea and crystal light....i swear i keep crystal light in business!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

all of ur responses have been very insightful...i'm not eating anything gross...lol...i've always had the mindset that if it's healthy...it taste bad...for example...lite mayo...yuck!!!!!!!! so in some sense i still do eat like i did b4 getting banded...and yes i use real mayo!!!!!!!!!!!!!lol...and i still get to eat my beloved mexican food....in a healthier way...and eating healthy has introduced me to some foods i would never have eaten b4....tofu chili....love it!!!!!!! i think i will splurge on 1 taquito this weekend....:smile2: