Today I had lunch with a friend who had lapband last May. I heard from her in Aug and she had already lost 60 lbs. I didnt even ask her about weight loss today. It didnt matter. She looked fantastic! She was beaming! She's 20lbs from goal. She answered my many, many questions as I prepare for the surgery this March (i hope). It was so refreshing to hear her answers to my questions about the dreaded "getting stuck" NONE; hair loss NONE; Gas and belching NONE; too tight of restriction NONE; food restrictions NONE, just less of everything. It went on and on. She didnt have one complaint! Not one! I asked her what the secret to her success is. She said, "i wasnt going to put myself through surgery, have 5 holes in my stomach and not do it right". She is completely compliant with her doctor's protocol. She eats Protein at every meal, she exercises, she eats slow and stops when she is full. She even enjoys 1 glass of wine a week. She did express what a mental challenge this can be. Your stomach got the band, not your mind....you still need to deal with the mental aspects of food.

Her results are inspiring. Her attitude refreshing! I tried very hard to hear a complaint but there was none. I told her she is a posterwoman for lapband and I pray I have the attitude and success she has!

What an inspiring story! I too am having my surgery in March, on the 19th. Glad to hear of someone who had such a great experience. May we be so fortunate!

Quiltingfarmgirl: how long did it take to get approval from insurance company?

Thanks for sharing that story! It truley is inspirational, noot to mention comforting! I am having my surgery on the 20th and have been stressing over the same subjects! Hope I have the same success! I hope you get your approval soon!

Thank you so much for sharing that story! I feel very ready to have my surgery, but it is also scary to have surgery....I am determined to work as hard as I can, because this has been a several month process...and I know this is a lifestyle change....It is great to hear about positive and successful experiences!

Great story!! Thank you for sharing!

I was banded on Jan.6th and am so far very happy with it, but it's still nice to hear the positive experiences of others.

thank you...that truely was a great story.....keeping the faith !

I am a slow loser but my experience has been similar to your friend (though I did lose 100 pounds PRIOR to surgery so I think that slowed down my loss after surgery). I have only had stuck insidents eating raw carrots to fast and really cheap restaurant bread rolls. So I eat carrots with hummus and don't eat cheap bread. I am at restriction but can eat any food I want. A lot of this journey is mental though so I have to choose NOT to eat candy, bread, pasta, rice. Knock on wood I don't have frothing or Productive Burps. Everyone needs to come up with a food plan that they can live with forever. I try to eat conservative 90-95% of the time. If I want to have cheesecake at a super bowl party though I will. It is after all Super Bowl Sunday Not Super Bowl Week.

That is pretty amazing. Either she is a WLS surgery saint or she has a short memory or she was trying to make you feel at ease.

I didn't suffer hair loss, or have shoulder pain or gas pains etc but I went through a period of belching a lot more than previously. However in the big scheme of things that is so minor I don't count it as a negative.I also eat just about everything, drink wine, don't diet, haven't cut out carbs etc. I am guilty of not exercising but we won't talk about that as losing without exercising is the exception not the norm and I would hate to make everyone else think that they shouldn't exercise. I also get stuck sometimes but to me it's no big deal.

I think what i am trying to say is that I also have no complaints but don't be surprised if your journey is not quite as rosy as the picture that your friend paints. If it is great, but if it isn't don't be disappointed as some of the things are just minor inconveniences.

So true elcee! I've had ups, I've had downs, but no disappointments! Well, to the exception that I wish my hunger was better controlled.

GLove, It only took one day. I was amazed. The Dr submitted everything on Feb 2 and they had the approval on the 3rd.