Just wondering, for those of you that are already on the journey (or have completed it), what are some of the regrets (if any) you have? Do you regret getting banded? Something you could have done, but didn't? Something you did do and shouldn't have? Any advice for those of us starting out in how we can avoid these same pitfalls?

Thanks in advance for sharing!!

No regrets on my end of things! This is the best decision I ever made!

Not getting it sooner!

Not getting it sooner!

AGREED!!

Same here, not getting it sooner. Yes, you will grieve food a little after surgery. Yes, you may have times when you get something stuck. Yes, you will have to still watch what you eat (ice cream, candy bars, etc.), yes, I have had to exercise but I can say that 5 months down the road, 53 lbs lighter, past the grieving period, past the port healing, past the scars on my belly, most days I forget I even have a band. I love it and just wish I had done this years ago. Good luck sunshine. The only frustrating part was that I didn't loose 10 lbs a day like I wish I could have.......giggle.

I dont regret getting the band at all. I know that while I am working out and really trying to be better to myself the band is my assistant who makes sure that I dont blow it. I use the band as a tool. It is not a magic wand that will wish the weight away at least for me anyway. I have to work the band and this diet. For me there is no free ride. I think that my only regret is that I didnt take more before pictures. I hated to be pictured when I was 240 pounds. Now I see it was part of my journey and I didnt document that part well.

But the band itself has helped to transform me into a better mom, wife and person because I have more to give than I have in the last twenty years.

I regret not doing a little more research. I have two friends with lapbands and I only really went on what they told me. I thought I was prepared when I really wasn't. In hindsite, I might have looked into the gastric sleeve a little more. I'm a worryful person and I constantly worry about my band. This foriegn object in me that could break or slip or errode, or be rejected, causing more surgery... ugh its pretty frustrating for me. But I have to get over all these worries myself, no one can help me.. Goodluck to you on your journey

The band has been the absolute best thing that has happened to me (besides the birth of my daughter). I no longer have to worry about my weight escalating out of control because I have taken control of the situation I find myself always analyzing food before I eat. I am by no means a saint at all, but much, much, MUCH better than I was prior to surgery.

I am smiling more. I love to look at clothes now. Even though I'm only down 39, (which is a huge accomplishment for me)..I am already 95% more active than I was a few months ago. I hiked three miles the other day and swam in our pool.

No regrets at all!

My regret is that I didn't do it sooner. That is honestly it

Not getting it sooner!

That would be the only one !

Me too, I wish I did it years ago. That's why I tell people I have a lap band so they know. Maybe it will help someone.

Thank you all for your input!! Hopefully, the only regret I'll have is not doing it sooner, as well!! I'm so excited and sure that this is what I want..and I'm ready to be on the other side of my journey!

Hungrybetty..thank you for your candor. This is a very serious decision and shouldn't be made haphazardly.. I'm sorry it may not have been the best choice for you. The concerns you have are very real and legit, but I do wish nothing but the best for your journey!

hello,

I have been banded on 17th march....my weight loss has not been much so far....but my age my mobility my arthritis and other factors have to be taken into account.I have lost 14lbs in 4 months.

Thank God for the band...now I am off my painkillers...no NASAIDS now...they were ruining my kidneys...now Im getting used to the pain...taking many supplements...and feeling hopeful..and getting better.

I have been succesful in loosing my excise weight but I do kinda regret being banded. Through my journey I spent a lot of time either hungry or getting sick. There were weeks here and there when I was in a good place in terms of the band. I now choose to keep my band pretty loose, had a large unfill after maintaining my weight loss for a few months. What I wish is that I gave eating right and excersising one more try on my own. I hadn't tried to loose weight in years before I got banded. That's my story, I certainly don't mean to discourage you, just wanted to share my experience. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I can honestly say that I have no regrets, not even doing it sooner. I have faither that everything happens for a reason, and until I moved forward, I don't think I was ready. This is a great tool, and a life changing event.

No regrets here. I found the courage to get banded and to take control of my body after years of struggling. It has only been two weeks and I've lost really only 3 pounds with band, but the hope I felt going into the surgery gave me strength to lose 27 on my own, how cool is that? Now I know, for the first time, that I CAN lose weight without drugs that could hurt my body. I just have a little friend inside me who reminds me when enough is enough. If/how much I lose from here is still entirely under my control.