I am scheduled for November 22. I was looking forward to getting my band but my mom mentioned today that a friend of hers was getting her band out. Long story short, I am now worried about it not working. I feel like I have researched the surgery enough to make a good decision. Anyone else been here?:blushing:

Yes, I was scared to death that this would be another failed diet, a $10,000 one! I knew a lady who was banded, and didn't lose any weight, she warned me not to get a band, but we played cards together and I saw how she ate, 1/2 a sandwich, then an hour later a small bag of chips, then 30 min later a candy bar, etc. I realized that our eating patterns were very different, I only ate 3 times a day but I ate huge quantities. The band helped me eat a small meal and feel satisfied and I lost my weight. After she saw my success she changed her eating and started to get fills and she is now on her way to losing her weight too.

Edited October 25, 201015 yr by LeighaMason

Most people feel that way, especially before being banded and then immediately after, before reaching the right restriction.

If you do what you have to do to lose the weight ( diet, working out, etc)., you will have great success! It's all about how motivated you are to lose the weight that determines just how much success you will have. :blushing:

Congrats on the surgery date!! You are on your way to a new life :smile2:)

I have had horrible eating habits, which did not change when I got the band. The band only changes your stomach, but it does not change how you think about food, you have to do that on your own and that is the hard part. I often 'forget' I even have the band... Im being honest, i really thought everything was going to be different then it wasnt...

I have thought of this. Leave it to moms to help make us worry :blushing: Gotta love em! Best wishes to you!

I think the people who have the most trouble are those who think the band is a magic bullet that will suddenly fix everything, and make the person's life perfect. Reality is far different.

As I've heard a hundred times, "The band is just a tool." The rest is up to the person to use the tool properly.

For all the failures I read about, I think I read more success stories. And I'm just stubborn enough to think that I'll be a success story.

I got fat by eating one meal at a time. I intend to get thin the same way. :blushing:

Dave

I am getting my band in one week. When I first started thinking about getting one.. I certainly didn't look at it as I do today. Over the last week, I have realized that it can and will work, as long as I am willing to make the changes that I need to make within myself. It's going to take a lifestyle change and smarter, healthier choices.

John

Hell yes, I worried it wouldn't work.

But I ate well and exercised and my band helped me with portion control. And it worked. Fewer calories went in then I was expending. Not rocket science. I lost weight!

I don't think there is a bandster alive who doesn't worry that it isn't going to work. But assuming that your band works for you like it should, and you follow the rules, it will work. Simple as that.

I have my surgery today at 2:00 pm. I have thought of this because I have seen a woman at work have it done and fail. She figured out ways to get around the band and will not go get fills. She doesn't try at all. She drinks carbonated drinks so that has probably stretched her stomach. She eats chips and junk food all the time. She drinks with her meals as well. I know these things are HUGE no nos. I am ready for the changes that I have to make for the lap band to work. Lap-Band is a tool and I am going to use it!:huh2:

I had very little worry about the band not working for me prior to my surgery. I was just banded on October 15, but I went into this knowing that in order for the band to work, I had to change my habits. I started changing my eating habits in the months leading up to be banded. I also got off my behind and dragged myself to the gym 4-5 days a week.

I'm 10 days out from surgery, already back at the gym and feeling great. I know the band will work for me because I'm not going to let myself fail.

Lorraine, you wrote:

"I have had horrible eating habits, which did not change when I got the band. The band only changes your stomach, but it does not change how you think about food, you have to do that on your own and that is the hard part. I often 'forget' I even have the band... Im being honest, i really thought everything was going to be different then it wasnt..."

Please don't get discouraged....you are only 3 months post-op.....I am 7 months out, and it took this long for me to get to enough restriction to lose....and believe me, if you are at the proper restriction it's pretty hard to "forget" you have the band. And someone else mentioned knowing someone who failed because she didn't go back for her fills....well of course it won't work if you don't follow up with your surgeon and get your fills! I can see how it could happen though, all through "banster hell" I COULD eat anything that I ate before, but when I finally reached restriction that changed, and I remember feeling a little panic set in, and thoughts like "wow, this is it.....now I can't eat like i did before".( For some people i think when they realize that they can't eat like they did before they choose not to have fills so that they can continue to eat what they want.) That was about a month ago, but now the weight is coming off and and I feel wonderful. It's a process, and it takes more time for some of us to get going, but all you have to do is read the sucess stories on here to know it CAN and DOES work!

Edited October 25, 201015 yr by stargate713

I suggest reading Women, food and God by Geneen Roth. . . It is not about "GOD" but about a very general idea of something more. The book did wonders for me. I was such an emotional eater and binger and I no longer do those things because I have worked on the emotional issues. There is a strong connection with food and emotions. I am getting my band done in 6 months bc I still eat my 3 big meals but the emotional side of it is a work in progress but I definitely feel the healing.

I am nervous about it failing but but I think if you are willing to commit and work on yourself then you can't fail. We are always a work in progress.

Lorraine, you wrote:

"I have had horrible eating habits, which did not change when I got the band. The band only changes your stomach, but it does not change how you think about food, you have to do that on your own and that is the hard part. I often 'forget' I even have the band... Im being honest, i really thought everything was going to be different then it wasnt..."

Please don't get discouraged....you are only 3 months post-op.....I am 7 months out, and it took this long for me to get to enough restriction to lose....and believe me, if you are at the proper restriction it's pretty hard to "forget" you have the band. And someone else mentioned knowing someone who failed because she didn't go back for her fills....well of course it won't work if you don't follow up with your surgeon and get your fills! I can see how it could happen though, all through "banster hell" I COULD eat anything that I ate before, but when I finally reached restriction that changed, and I remember feeling a little panic set in, and thoughts like "wow, this is it.....now I can't eat like i did before".( For some people i think when they realize that they can't eat like they did before they choose not to have fills so that they can continue to eat what they want.) That was about a month ago, but now the weight is coming off and and I feel wonderful. It's a process, and it takes more time for some of us to get going, but all you have to do is read the sucess stories on here to know it CAN and DOES work!

I really have been scared that it won't work but your post REALLY is one of the few that's made sense to me. Yes, I can change my eating habits - I've done it TONS of times!! That's the problem! I can lose but I gain back. Is this band going to help me, back me up and remind me that I CAN'T eat like I normally do?! When you say you reached your proper restriction, you couldn't eat like you did before - that's all I need. I just need the 'stop'.

You know what I mean??

Thanks for the post. :huh2:

Hang in there you can get through this. I know if you do what they tell you to you will do well. I am three years and four months out and have lost 116 pounds and feel wonderful. When they ask me at meetings how I did it I just tell them I did exactly what they told me to do. Once you get the sugar out of your system it is not that bad (about three days. If you really want this you can make it happen.

Good luck

Sue

Thanks for the encouragement! I know that my habits HAVE to change and I did not get like this overnight. I am excited to lose this weight and feel better. It is good to hear that these fears are normal. I really haven't told many people about the surgery because I don't want to hear all the horror stories :huh2:.

I haven't had mine done yet, but like I was told and knew prior to the seminar I attended "this isn't a magic wand". Its about an extra tool to help control the over eating. Its got to be something in your mind that you are willing to do and work at. Its knowing this is my life, this is how I have to eat and excercise because I was not born in a family of twigs... the genes I've been blessed with are more of the oak variety :huh2:

Weight will always be a battle for those of us who are over weight, its how we choose to handle it.

Good luck!