I was banded in January 2012, and within months of me, two of my real life friends had Gastric Bypass. One had it in October 2011 and the other February 2012. We all started out with over 200 pounds to lose. I was originally scheduled for Gastric Bypass, too. But, I canceled the surgery because I simply couldn't justify permanently rerouting my internal organs without trying something far less drastic first. So, I got the Lap-Band instead.

Like so many others on here, I heard endlessly how I was a fool for choosing the Lap-Band over Gastric Bypass. "Oh you'll be lucky to lose 50 pounds with Lap-Band"... "You should have Gastric Bypass, you'll dump a ton of weight much faster"... "why don't you stick with the sure thing, Gastric Bypass, rather than waste your time with Lap-Band?". Believe me, I heard it all, so much so I even began to doubt myself and my decision. What if they were right?

But I researched not only the Lap-Band but the Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass thoroughly. I knew the pros and cons of each, I knew what the surgeries entailed, and I knew that regardless of which one I chose the work would be mine to do and I'd have to make diet changes for a lifetime. I knew Lap-Band was right for me, so despite the naysayers, I went through with it.

Fast forward to now, July 2012...

• My friend who had Gastric Bypass in October 2011 has lost 64 pounds. She lost all that in the first 3 months and hasn't lost anything in the last 6 months. She never really changed her eating habits because she figured she didn't need to with the Gastric Bypass. She did cut back on portions in the beginning, but currently she admits that aside from vomiting occasionally from eating fatty foods or sweets, she eats pretty much like she did before surgery.
  
• My friend who had Gastric Bypass in February 2012 has lost 14 pounds. She hasn't changed a single thing about her eating habits and is vomiting multiple times daily from trying to overeat.
  
• I, who had Lap-Band in January 2012, have lost 121 pounds. I am far from perfect, I struggle with head hunger almost daily, and I definitely have times I eat unhealthy foods. But the majority of the time I eat very healthy and follow the portion and nutritional guidelines my nutritionist gave me.
  

My point isn't to gloat, or to say "See, Lap-Band is better!" My point is the fact that it doesn't matter which WLS you choose, you MUST DO THE WORK YOURSELF. I don't care if it's Gastric Bypass, the Sleeve, or Lap-Band. The surgeries are tools not magic pills. If you don't change your eating habits to healthy ones for a lifetime you simply will not get the results you desire. Period, no exceptions. I hear people say all the time "Oh I got the band because I don't want to diet". Of course, we all did, but guess what? You do have to eat healthy, not just for awhile like a diet, but for a lifetime.

Ultimately, no matter which WLS surgery you choose, your success or failure depends on you not the surgery itself.

I read this story with my wife, it's amazing to read about your success. My father-in-law had a bypass in 1997 he has lost close to 200 lbs, but he also suffers from all the the things the bypass can give you... Dumping syndrome, deficiencies in Iron, calcium, b-12. His sister in law had it done and shares the same success as your friends. Surprisingly my cousin who is also a nurse recently chose the bypass and has done very well (I said surprisingly because being a medical professional I thought the cons to the bypass would have moved her toward the band) anyway she's already made herself available to help me and hasn't said a word about my WLS choice and that's very cool.

Yes the dumping and deficiencies are another reason I canceled the Gastric Bypass. But you give more great examples of both WLS success and failure. Two people can have the exact same surgery and have very different results, all based on how much they're willing to change their eating habits to help themselves.

It's awesome that your cousin is going to be there for you despite choosing a different WLS than she did. In my opinion, that's how it should be. We're all just trying to do what's best for ourselves and should be helping each other despite our differences, not criticizing because of them.

Wait, you lost 121 lbs in 6 months? Is that right or am I misreading something?

Wait, you lost 121 lbs in 6 months? Is that right or am I misreading something?

Yes, I have lost 121 pounds in about 6 months. Or rather 123 pounds now. (I've lost more since this original post)