9 months and 100 pounds later... what I've learned.

[HeatherinCA 10]

Nine months ago I was 270lbs with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and borderline diabetes.

As of today, I've reached my original goal weight of 170lbs. Last time I was under 200lbs was... 20 years ago?

I've had 2 fills totaling 6cc into a 14cc band. I've always had very little restriction. Nothing has ever gotten stuck and I can eat about 4 cups in 10 minutes.

I truly believe that my surgery saved my life! It took having surgery to finally get that elusive something to click in my head that I had to change my eating habits.

While I don't think that the Lap-Band is for everyone... (***I recommend most people I know to get a by-pass instead***) I'm so happy I got one!

My new goal: loose 10 lbs of body fat and gain 15 pounds of muscle.

***From my experience, success with the Lap-Band is 80% willpower and 20% band. Whereas the people that I know who have gotten the by-pass: 80% by-pass and 20% willpower. With a by-pass you CAN'T over-eat and must avoid high sugar foods. With the lap-band, I can eat everything and must monitor myself.

I think that I agree with the statement above; but when willpower(won't power) gives out, lapband takes over causing you not to overeat! Karen

I agree with both of you! I physically can't eat WAY to much food, or I feel totally uncomfortable, But I definitely eat similar to you. I always felt weird seeing people eat like 1 egg for a meal... I tried that today I had 2 eggs and a Tomato and I was starving in like 2 hours. The band kicks in the 20% I can't stick to my diet. It gives you that little bit of leeway.

[babyk 1]

congratulations!

[ElfiePoo 109]

***From my experience, success with the Lap-Band is 80% willpower and 20% band. Whereas the people that I know who have gotten the by-pass: 80% by-pass and 20% willpower. With a by-pass you CAN'T over-eat and must avoid high sugar foods. With the lap-band, I can eat everything and must monitor myself.

I would agree with you about the band being 80% willpower and 20% band for those the band works for (it didn't for me so it's still 100% willpower ).

I would also agree with your 80/20 for bypass patients...initially. When they're about a year or so out, the honeymoon is over. Bypass patients are expected to lose about 2/3 of their excess weight just by virtue of the surgery. After that, whether or not they lose any more...or keep themselves from gaining it all back...is up to willpower. While their bypass may keep them from stuffing themselves at one go...it won't stop them from grazing their way through the calories. Also, many bypass patients find that they don't get dumping syndrome from the sugar (so, no deterrent there)...or after enough episodes of dumping, their body learns to deal with it and they no longer get the dumping syndrome.

All I'm saying is that even if someone gets the bypass (this is for those who think it'd be 'easier'), at some point it will require them to make good choices and put the fork down. There is no free ride.

By the way...congratulations on your 100 lb loss!

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