First and foremost, this is not written to offend anyone or upset anyone. I log in daily every morning for motivation. I understand that not everyone is a complete success with the lap band. However, I believe that if they look deep inside and evaluate the situation, they will see that the majority of the time the fault lies within. Of course there will be some where the band simply didn't work, but I believe that is the first excuse people throw when they don't see the weight coming off and staying off as they hope for. We all are different and will all lose weight at different speeds. I'm 17 months post op and have been a slow but steady loser. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want it lose it very fast. But for me, slow and steady seems to be the way my body and the band are working and I'm good with that. Every pound lost is one pound the right direction. However, for the people who say that they hate it...that their doctor lied to them... that they want it taken out and gone...can you do it without it?? If so, why in the world did you get it in the first place? From my experience, this is so much more of a mental journey than a physical one. If you absolutely hate your band and wish you have never done the surgery, that is your decision and I will respect that. However, I just don't want to continually read over and over again that the band failed someone. It is a simple medical device, that is all.

It is really interesting how the same people who tell you that you're fat or overweight and NEED to lose weight are the same people who tell you NOT to get the band. I avoided telling anyone because I already knew the response would be "Don't do it!" I had friends and total strangers tell me that. My wife had let the cat out of the bag to a few of my friends a couple days before my surgery, and those were the exact words I heard.

But heck, my primary doctor was included in this group. I went to him a month before and told him of my plans and his response was

Dr: You're overweight, need cholesterol meds, sleep apnea device, and BTW get your ass to the gym. OH and here's some anxiety pills...

Me: but wait Dr. I have already looked into LAP-BAND...

Dr: oh no that's highly dangerous and I will not approve of that. But hey, don't forget these pills I perscribed.

Hopefully, we'll prove them ALL wrong.

LOL! Sounds like your PCP is cut from the same piece of cloth as my ex-PCP! "No, Jean, you don't need something as drastic as surgery..." "Jean, if you would just exercise...." "Jean, here's another diet to follow..." "And here's a refill for your cholesterol medication..."

I did indeed prove him wrong, and I also found myself a new doctor. The only exercise I've ever seen the original one do was lift his fork from his plate to his mouth at a Mexican restaurant. He's morbidly obese himself...so if his approach doesn't work for him, why would it work for me?