I am considering surgery and have a date of April 19 however my friends are discouraging me by saying u gain your weight back... U throw up!! I am a bag of emotions!! Help!!! Wish I wouldn't have told anyone and just did it!!!

Don't be upset it's a big change but it def works! I was banded two weeks ago and all together with prop and after iv lost 28lbs and I haven't thrown up once . It's hard but so worth it. If your friends arnt willing to support you then maybe you should choose new ones. You have to Belive in your self before you start caring what anyone else says

Real talk: most of my the people I know are fat and miserable and jealous they can't afford the surgery themselves or are thin and don't understand what its like to be me and think I took the lazy way out. Do what's right for you. Read blogs from people have experienced first hand and know every singlw person is different. You started this for a reason but know if its not right for you you can back out anytime.

You don't owe anything to anyone but yourself.

I was banded on Jan 3rd and have not thrown up once...knock on wood. One thing I have noticed about people is that they do not like change. I know for me I was the "fat" friend and when my friends found out what I was doing, they were a little upset. Not because they want me fat but because they are comfortable with how I was and did not want me to change. The thing is...being over weight means being unhealthy most of the time. YOu have to do what is right for you. It is not going to be easy but I would do it over again a million times over. I have lost 35 lbs and am on my way to a new me. Already my clothes are loose and I feel so good. Do not go into it thinking that it is a miracle surgery, go into it knowing it is a tool that WILL help you though and to heck with the nay sayers!!! lol

As hard as it is to believe some people sabbatoge you when they are jealous of you. I am guessing they would love to have the surgery but can't. I know many people personally what have had this surgery and have read about millions more. Yes, you will throw up if you eat too fast or too much but that can be so controlled to where it may not even happen. You will still be able to eat and live your normal life. THis is just a tool. Some people still struggle with losing weight on the band as there are ways around the band. It is not a cure. IT is a great tool to assist you. WHo doesn't need that? If 5 years down the road comes and you are gaining weight, go back and get a fill and you are good to go. If you use your band as you should you won't gain the weight back. Do what is best for YOU, not them!!

Thanx for the encouragement... I have tried everything else and truly feel like this is my last dance.. Not gonna lie I am terrified but ready!! I just dont know what to expect because it seems as everyone experience varies

lovebug said it right "you have to believe in yourself before you start caring what anyone else says " You need to do whats right for YOUR health, not your friends. Ask them what research THEY have done to backup their claims. Do your research first and when they start talking smack calmly back up your opinion with the info you have . I did my research after 2 relatives were banded last June , and was finally banded last December. Im down 27 lbs and looking and feeling much better. (Started at 225 lbs, just hit 198 this morning , Woo hoo ! I got a nice compiment from a male co worker as i walked into work this morning "You're looking good, have you lost weight ?" "Yes, Ive lost 27 lbs thankyouverymuch !" The huge amount of positives far outweigh the few negatives. BEST DECISION EVER !!! Good luck !

Most people who arent banded or know people who are banded base their opinions on news / press stories that highlight problems disasters with WLS .. its no suprise when unbanded people respond in this way. What u need to do is what pink dahlia suggests and get the knowledge to counteract their views. I would say that their opinion as friends only counts towards caring about you having 'surgery' which they should with any surgery, as for having a valid opinion about the band, nope

Friends dont have to carry around your excess weight, you do .. therefore u need to be the one to decide if this is right for you .. good luck ..

Thanx for the encouragement... I have tried everything else and truly feel like this is my last dance.. Not gonna lie I am terrified but ready!! I just dont know what to expect because it seems as everyone experience varies

I think for me that up until the point that I did enough research to understand fully how the lap band surgery is a tool for me....., then it became exciting to get started. Before that I was terrified like you say. I wish I had this website three years ago. My doctors should know how much this site can help understand just by reading everyone's stories. I just got operated on this past Mon. and feel good about my journey, good luck to you and thank you everyone for sharing.

I don't think ur friends are necessarily jealous or trying to sabotage u but u know how most people are. They are afraid of what they don't know. All they hear is bad (I mean they are not getting the band, why would they have researched it?). U should as everyone else has said do what is good for u and they will see ur success and when some other friend comes to them and says they r thinking about doing they will say, "oh, do it!! I have a friend who did it and she is freaking hot now!!!"

Throwing up is possible. So is gaining all the weight all over again. It is also quite possible you will lose a lot of weight and be healthier. It was probable that I would carry an extra 50-70 pounds for the rest of my life if I did not get banded. It was certain that my weight was adversely affecting my health.

It is great that your friends can be honest with you and share their concerns. They should respect your decision and provide support either way. Best of luck to you.

I had several people try to talk me out of having the surgery...but I would never change my decision. I am so happy and feel incredible. I agree with everything the others said.....it's all up to you, it's your body, your life, you are the one who will do the hard work, and you are the one who will feel great after the weight loss. And by the way....those who tried to talk me out of the surgery are now praising me for how much work I did and how great I look.

OKAY, FIRST OFF, IGNORE YOUR FRIENDS....HAVE THEY HAD THE SURGERY?? IF NOT, HOW DO THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER???

I HAD MY BAND ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO....IT WILL BE FIVE YEARS IN APRIL...I WENT FROM 237 LBS TO 120 LBS.......I LOST THE BIGGEST PART OF MY WEIGHT THE FIRST YEAR...

IF YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF, THEN WORK AT IT...YOU CAN DO IT, JUST HANG IN THERE AND DECIDE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT....PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT LISTEN TO SOMEONE THAT HAS NEVER HAD THE SURGERY, NOR ANYONE THAT JUST FLAT OUT REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND FAILED...THEY WILL TELL YOU, " IT WON'T WORK" YES, IT WILL WORK...PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU DECIDE....I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, I WOULD HAVE MY BAND AGAIN EVERYDAY TO STAY THIS THIN...I LOVE IT...

MY DAUGHTER HAD HER BAND 3 YEARS AGO AND SHE IS AT GOAL...LOOKS WONDERFUL....

OKAY, FIRST OFF, IGNORE YOUR FRIENDS....HAVE THEY HAD THE SURGERY?? IF NOT, HOW DO THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER???

I HAD MY BAND ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO....IT WILL BE FIVE YEARS IN APRIL...I WENT FROM 237 LBS TO 120 LBS.......I LOST THE BIGGEST PART OF MY WEIGHT THE FIRST YEAR...

IF YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF, THEN WORK AT IT...YOU CAN DO IT, JUST HANG IN THERE AND DECIDE THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT....PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT LISTEN TO SOMEONE THAT HAS NEVER HAD THE SURGERY, NOR ANYONE THAT JUST FLAT OUT REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND FAILED...THEY WILL TELL YOU, " IT WON'T WORK" YES, IT WILL WORK...PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU DECIDE....I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, I WOULD HAVE MY BAND AGAIN EVERYDAY TO STAY THIS THIN...I LOVE IT...

MY DAUGHTER HAD HER BAND 3 YEARS AGO AND SHE IS AT GOAL...LOOKS WONDERFUL....

It's good for your friends to lookout for you...but quite another to sabotage you. You have to do what is best for you. Your friends dont live in your body nor do they live your health concerns. Do your research, talk with others who actually have the band, then decide whats best for you. If you do it and lose weight, tossing your cookies once or twice will seem like nothing. And it may not happen. Nervousness and excitement are expected. Everything worth having takes work. There is only one of you for all time-fearlessly be yourself.

I got the band on 10/29/10, I have lost a total of 92lbs. It was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. The thing is that you have to take a chance. My friend downed the surgery ever chance she got, I choose not to tell her, once I told her she was upset, but so what. I was in a deep dark depression and just breathing, not living. I say this to you because I want to kick my own a** for not doing it sooner instead of listening to my friend. LiVE YOU OWN LIFE ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU FEEL IS BEST FOR YOU. None of those so called friends put in on the plus size clothes that you have to buy, nor do they put food on your table, nor do they have feel the way you feel when you see yourself in the mirror. You may throw up, some may gain their weight back, but it doesn't have to be you. I would rather throw up a few times than to remain in the state that I was in. God Bless. Do it!

One more thing, what will happen if you don't do it? HMMMMMM?