I am at the pre-op stage and am still wondering if the lap band is the best option for me. Unfortunately, there seem to be no clear answers concerning which WLS method will work best for my personality.

I am a perfectionist by nature and while I am "good" at losing weight, the only time I have been able to maintain a weight loss was when Phen-Fen was available. I lost weight, then maintained that loss because I was devoted to daily exercise and didn't overeat; for the first time in my life, I ate reasonable portions because I wasn't excessively hungry all the time. However, once that drug combination was no longer available, my hunger was out of control again and I was no longer able to maintain my healthy weight, though I still continued to exercise at the same rate. I lose weight ever single year, only to gain it back the same year.

I overeat because I am physically hungry; I never experience being full. (I have devoted much time to analyzing this and am confident that I'm right.)

I am interested in weight loss surgery only if I will be able to maintain a weight loss. If I can't, I might as well stick with yo-yo dieting. I eat fairly healthy (except for chocolate candy sometimes) because I choose to control my home environment, and I exercise almost every single day. I am obese because I eat way too much. Is there anyone here similar to me that the lap band has helped? If so, could you please explain why you believe the lap band is superior to traditional, less invasive weight loss methods?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

If you were a sedentary snacker who grazed on Cookies and chips throughout the day I'd say you might want to consider other options,

You have just described me perfectly. I have always hated exercise and my problem was the constant snacking rather than big meals. chocolate , cookies, pickled onions etc. The most exercise I got was probably walking back and fore to the fridge.

So theoretically the band should not have worked for me but it did. Just over 2.5 years later I am still at goal and maintaining. Admittedly I have gained 1kg since the beg of Dec which I now need to focus on losing but other than that small blip it has been an easy ride.

Which just goes to show that it is probably impossible to predict in advance which WLS is your best match.

For me, it helps with the hunger and portions. I was like you in that I never felt full or satisfied. The band changed all that and has made losing easier. I don't have many cravings and feel satisfied after small portions. I have been banded for 6 years and have lost 1/2 of my weight, but am working hard again and am rededicated to watching my diet and exercising. I have never gained any back, but I did stop losing. Losing is hard for me now b/c my thyroid went south, but it is happening and is much easier for me now than pre-band. It's nice not to think about food all of the time.

ElizabethAnne,

If you are considering the lap-band or comparing it with other surgeries like gastric bypass, I would certainly do some research. You will find that lap-band is much less risky and it is completely reversible if it turns out that it isn't the right tool for you. Recent long-term studies have shown that the success rate of the two surgeries is equal, so I can't imagine why anyone would want to take the added risk of gastric bypass without at least trying the lap-band first.

My surgeon seems really interested in the long-run impact the band will have on my life. He isn't just the surgeon, he will be there to help me make the right decisions about adjustments and his staff are amazingly friendly and helpful. He has two nutritionists at his office. I can't imagine a more secure environment for helping me on my journey.

I just started (was banded yesterday), but I have no regrets or fears that I will have regrets. But that is because I did the research to find the right procedure for me with the right surgeon.

Good luck in your weight loss effort, no matter what road you choose!

Thank you for the good advice. I did a lot of reading at first and am now asking many questions. As a result, I am getting closer to the place where you are at---having no fears that I will have regrets. Congratulations on your weight loss!

Well, If you have ever Dieted, lost weight, then gained it back over and over. "I see you have"

This band can help prevent this.

You might fall of the wagon, say,,, if you were to have a unfill for a reason.

As soon as you see the scale going up ! You can stop, and get yourself back to the basics without any trouble. "I'll bet you can't do that now, or keep it going in your future..."

Then, once filled again, you stay back on track.

It really is a great tool.

Also, I am addicted to food. certain foods "TRIGGER FOODS" could set me off !

Now ! I don't miss them, and I don't eat them. If I have a chip or two, I can deal with it because of the resistance from the band.

The resistance takes away that drive to just sit back and eat, or go out to a Restaurant, and go in to the kitchen, and start cooking.

My food bill has dropped allot !

So yep I know what your talking about, and I have lost weight, and it's still coming of.

Also remember that yo yo dieting is very dangerous, and will really mess up your Matabilissim.

That means more weight gain.....

54Shirley,

I appreciate your thoughts and experiences. Thank you! Congratulations on your weight loss!

I highlighted in red the exact reason why dieting didn't work for me either. I also took Phen-fen and was able to get most of the weight off, but as soon as it went off the market my appetite returned and so did all of the weight plus some. I am an "excellent" dieter too..lol...I can get it off, but I can never keep it off. The wonderful thing about the band for me is that it has taken my appetite away, the same way the phen-fen did. I find that small meals truly satisfy me and I no longer have the desire to overeat. I can actually watch the food network and not get hungry! For me, this band has been the answer to my prayers. I always told family and friends that if I could find something that would stop my ravenous hunger I knew I could get back to a healthy weight. I still have a way to go on this journey but I know I will make it this time.

hopefloats,

Thank you so much for your insight. If the band can suppress my appetite like Phen-Fen did, I will finally be able to successfully manage my weight. Though they were short-lived, I loved those Phen-Fen days! You've given me great hope!

All I can say is that I have not "dieted" since getting my band almost 4 years ago. I have easily been maintaining this weight for over two years.

The band has given me control over my portions by giving me the sense of satiety that I never had. My thoughts no longer revolve around food at all times. Before being banded I was always thinking about my next meal or snack. I always felt physically hungry. That is no longer the case.

Cocoabean,

Your great success gives me hope, too! I cannot even imagine a month without dieting, so four years is definitely amazing. Thank you for sharing your experiences. And congratulations on losing the excess weight and on maintaining that loss!

I think you sound like a great candidate. I was like you--a big exerciser with a big appetite--and I think we're one of the types most likely to find success with the band. The exercise is key and the band manages portion control. If you were a sedentary snacker who grazed on Cookies and chips throughout the day I'd say you might want to consider other options, but as it stands I think the band and your natural tendencies are a good match. Eventually you'll get to have those chocolates back too!

LapNYC,

Thank you for your encouraging thoughts. I met with the dietician yesterday, and interestingly, your words based on your own experiences, echoed hers. She asked if I ever "drank" my calories, and I said no way. Consuming calorie-ladened drinks has never been an issue for me. She, too, thought the lap band would work well for my personality and would suppress my hunger. Chocolates? I'll be too fearful of getting off-track again.

You have just described me perfectly. I have always hated exercise and my problem was the constant snacking rather than big meals. chocolate , Cookies, pickled onions etc. The most exercise I got was probably walking back and fore to the fridge.

So theoretically the band should not have worked for me but it did. Just over 2.5 years later I am still at goal and maintaining. Admittedly I have gained 1kg since the beg of Dec which I now need to focus on losing but other than that small blip it has been an easy ride.

Which just goes to show that it is probably impossible to predict in advance which WLS is your best match.

elcee,

You have given me food for thought. And that's precisely why this WLS information is so difficult for me to muddle through.

When I first met with my surgeon over two years ago, he recommended the lap band for me, and quickly added that if it didn't work, we could then move to a different WLS. Since then, my insurance coverage has changed somewhat. If I am approved for weight loss surgery, a second type will not be approved later unless there's a medical complication.

I want to be able to take a test that will determine which option is clearly the best one for me! If only it were that easy.

For me, it helps with the hunger and portions. I was like you in that I never felt full or satisfied. The band changed all that and has made losing easier. I don't have many cravings and feel satisfied after small portions. I have been banded for 6 years and have lost 1/2 of my weight, but am working hard again and am rededicated to watching my diet and exercising. I have never gained any back, but I did stop losing. Losing is hard for me now b/c my thyroid went south, but it is happening and is much easier for me now than pre-band. It's nice not to think about food all of the time.

Kimberly,

Congratulations on losing half of your weight---that's fantastic! The thought of never gaining any back is completely foreign to me but exciting.

I, too, have a low-functioning thyroid and have taken medication since I was very young. When I am on the proper dosage, I don't notice any problems, but when the dosage becomes too low, the first thing I notice is either weight gain or lack of weight loss when I am trying hard. And unfortunately, when my medicine is increased, the pounds don't just drop off. However, they do eventually come off, which is the most important part.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. Good luck with losing the remainder of your excess weight!

ElizabethAnne,

I think you are going to make the decision that is BEST for you! And that's what we all want for you. :-)

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. I am not an expert, but was just banded so a lot of this is new and fresh. I am certainly willing to share my experience with you.

Linda

ElizabethAnne,

I think you are going to make the decision that is BEST for you! And that's what we all want for you. :-)

Good luck and let me know if you have any questions. I am not an expert, but was just banded so a lot of this is new and fresh. I am certainly willing to share my experience with you.

Linda

doctordiva,

Thank you for your encouragement and support. I also appreciate your offer to share your experience with me as a recently banded individual. No questions come to mind right now, but I will likely have additional questions if I become insurance-approved.

I hope your recovery is going well!