I'm getting banded on Oct 13 and my wife is getting banded on Oct 20. We are both about 30 BMI. I would love to lose about 55lbs and keep it off for good. I've been an extreme yo-yo dieter for the las 25 years. I've lost (and regained) 35+ pounds about 9-10 times in the last 25 years. I'm so tired of this cycle!

We've looked into the sleeve a little bit and have opted for the band. Should we do the sleeve instead?

Any advice? We'd love to hear about your experience.

only you can decide which is best for you...but...in my opinion...I would rather have the band that can be removed if necessary than have the cut our part of my stomach. I love my band!

only you can decide which is best for you...but...in my opinion...I would rather have the band that can be removed if necessary than have the cut our part of my stomach. I love my band!

Thank you for your response sweetpea. You seem to have been very successful on your journey this year!

so far so good and I haven't had a fill...but losing the weight has never been a real big problem for me...its the keeping it off...so here's to never having to lose those I just lost again!

I had about 80lb to lose, a BMI of 36. I was banded six years ago. I have the old 4cc band. I have never struggled to find restriction, it was pretty immediate and whilst I wasnt a very fast .loser I lost steadily and almost automatically - with the band I didnt find the changes to a healthy lifestyle at all difficult.. I run regularly and did so right through my entire journey. I lost 120lb to lose, so yes, I got really thin, not just not fat anymore, and I am marathon running fit. It ws the best thing I ever did, entirely successful, very easy and I have never (touch wood) had any trouble at all with my band. I did not diet, I just ate healthier but have cut out nothing and continued to eat bread, rice and pasta in much smaller quantities. I still consider wine and chocolate essential food groups.

I had about 80lb to lose, a BMI of 36. I was banded six years ago. I have the old 4cc band. I have never struggled to find restriction, it was pretty immediate and whilst I wasnt a very fast .loser I lost steadily and almost automatically - with the band I didnt find the changes to a healthy lifestyle at all difficult.. I run regularly and did so right through my entire journey. I lost 120lb to lose, so yes, I got really thin, not just not fat anymore, and I am marathon running fit. It ws the best thing I ever did, entirely successful, very easy and I have never (touch wood) had any trouble at all with my band. I did not diet, I just ate healthier but have cut out nothing and continued to eat bread, rice and Pasta in much smaller quantities. I still consider wine and chocolate essential food groups.

Wow, your story is incredibly inspiring Jachut! How long exactly did it take you to lose your initial 80lbs?

I think wine, BEER, and chocolate are essential food groups too.

I lost the 80lb in about 18 months and then it took me at least another 2 years to lose the other 40lb - I maintained for long periods but every now and then would drop a few pounds.

I lost the 80lb in about 18 months and then it took me at least another 2 years to lose the other 40lb - I maintained for long periods but every now and then would drop a few pounds.

That seems like a very healthy progression and time period Jacquie. With a BMI of 36, you were certainly on the lower side and it is so wonderful to hear about your long term success. Do you remember how many fills it took you to reach your sweet spot? Have you had to have any fills in recent years?

My BMI is 32 and my surgery is in two days. As a self-pay patient, I only need to do a 48 hour pre-surgery liquid diet, which I started this morning. I get to have my first fill four weeks after surgery for what will be my 9cc Allergan band. I'm very excited and of course a little nervous. I feel the band will give me some help in losing weight and a lot of help in keeping it off.

Every fill took me to a sweet spot, its more that it would wane over time. I ahve an older 4cc band and I had restriction immediately. I've had about 8 fills this year because i had to unfill my band completely for a big surgery and chemotherapy, but before that, a tiny top up fill of 0.1cc or so was all it took - I probably had about six fills in the first year and then a top up every twelve months - you do lose tiny amounts of fluid over time.

Every fill took me to a sweet spot, its more that it would wane over time. I ahve an older 4cc band and I had restriction immediately. I've had about 8 fills this year because i had to unfill my band completely for a big surgery and chemotherapy, but before that, a tiny top up fill of 0.1cc or so was all it took - I probably had about six fills in the first year and then a top up every twelve months - you do lose tiny amounts of fluid over time.

I am starting with a BMI of 32.6 and hope to get my BMI to 25 or below. Glad to hear its working for the lower BMIs as well.