Confused After Seminar

[michmcpher31 42]

OK, so I have been researching the lap band for the past year or so and was convinced this was the surgery I wanted. It is the safest, least invasive, and I had read about peoples great results and then came on the forum about a month ago and was even more convinced from reading people's stories and seeing their success. Well apparently from the research they showed at the seminar, the lap band is the least successful weight loss surgery compared to the gastric sleeve, and the roux-en-y bypass. During the break I spoke to the surgeon and he said that that the bypass and the sleeve were best for people with a high BMI and had a lot of co-morbidities that the rapid weight loss would make pretty much go away in a short period of time. Well, lucky for me, I'm just fat. I have no diabetes, pre diabetes, hypoglycemia, hypertension, high blood pressure, and my cholesterol is good. I'm honestly not surprised as I do not drink soda, I do not eat fried and fatty foods, most of my weight gain is a result from almost back to back pregnancies and then a year of medication I was on to shrink a tumor that made me pack on 80 pounds. And most of my weight is in the lower middle of my body, hips, tummy and thighs, which the surgeon said I was "distal shaped".... that being said he thought I would be a good candidate for the lap band but he says that in his 35+ years of practice, someone with my BMI has the best results with the bypass. So now I really don't know! Honestly, I did love to exercise before I gained so much weight, I used to walk, go running, kick box, aerobic DVDs and do Pilates. So I think that with the fact that I am otherwise healthy, I like healthy foods and to exercise I think the band will do what I want it to do, but I also do not want it to fail. I know I will have to work hard and am more then ready to commit to the band. Ugh. The research he showed was not encouraging, but then I come on here and see so many people succeeding.....I don't know anymore. Help!

[Phyllis326 2]

I also waffled back and forth about having the lap band surgery. In fact, this is the 2nd time I am going through the bariatric program in Binghamton, NY because I was "convinced" by what others said to me about the band failures (people gaining all their weight back). I am still consider myself a newbie and only at the beginning of my journey.

But as I read this forum and some others, I see that the success totally depends on you being able to follow your program. This time through the program, I am more than convinced that this is the tool I need to drop 120 lbs I have been desparately trying to lose in the last 20 years.

Another thing I've discovered is that the lap band (or any other surgery option) is not the answer by itself -- you have to be willing to work with it to accomplish your goal. You sound like the kind of person that is committed and knows what is good for your body.

Keep searching for information and whatever your decision, make it your own and do it because you know you can stay with it.

Good Luck!!!!

Phyllis326

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

OK, so I have been researching the lap band for the past year or so and was convinced this was the surgery I wanted. It is the safest, least invasive, and I had read about peoples great results and then came on the forum about a month ago and was even more convinced from reading people's stories and seeing their success. Well apparently from the research they showed at the seminar, the lap band is the least successful weight loss surgery compared to the gastric sleeve, and the roux-en-y bypass. During the break I spoke to the surgeon and he said that that the bypass and the sleeve were best for people with a high BMI and had a lot of co-morbidities that the rapid weight loss would make pretty much go away in a short period of time. Well, lucky for me, I'm just fat. I have no diabetes, pre diabetes, hypoglycemia, hypertension, high blood pressure, and my cholesterol is good. I'm honestly not surprised as I do not drink soda, I do not eat fried and fatty foods, most of my weight gain is a result from almost back to back pregnancies and then a year of medication I was on to shrink a tumor that made me pack on 80 pounds. And most of my weight is in the lower middle of my body, hips, tummy and thighs, which the surgeon said I was "distal shaped".... that being said he thought I would be a good candidate for the lap band but he says that in his 35+ years of practice, someone with my BMI has the best results with the bypass. So now I really don't know! Honestly, I did love to exercise before I gained so much weight, I used to walk, go running, kick box, aerobic DVDs and do Pilates. So I think that with the fact that I am otherwise healthy, I like healthy foods and to exercise I think the band will do what I want it to do, but I also do not want it to fail. I know I will have to work hard and am more then ready to commit to the band. Ugh. The research he showed was not encouraging, but then I come on here and see so many people succeeding.....I don't know anymore. Help!

bc of my weight and high 60+ bmi

my dr wanted me to do the bypass also

but i did not want my insides cut so i stuck by my guns

and got the lap band.

he told me id have to help the band to make it work

by eating better quality foods, smaller amounts (the band helps

with this) and beginning to exercise...

its not a miracle. its hard. but so worth it.

and anyone who gets any WLS can gain it back by eating the cheap/easy foods. i have seen it happen and you will read it on here.

do what works for YOU as you are the one who has to do it.

whatever you decide, decide with all your heart and then do what

you need to do to make it happen. (forget dieting or fads as we know

that doesnt work).

[Kime-lou 648]

I was lucky, I have an amazing surgeon who doesn't try to push any surgery on anyone. He said in the seiminar that he could talk up point of any of the surgeries and make it sound like that is the best one, but the truth is no one of the surgeries alone will make you loose weight. You will only get out of any of them what you put in.

I know someone who had gastric bypass 8 years ago, she is now bigger than she was before she had it. Yeah she lost 150, but only kept it off for a year before putting it back on.

The decision is yours, you must look at the facts and make the decision that is best for you. I wavered back and forth between the band and the sleeve. I opted for the band.

What my surgeon told me is that for anyone you will loose as much as you are committed to loosing. Yes, you loose quicker with the sleeve and with the bypass, but at the 1 and 2 year mark the total weight loss averages are about the same thing. My BFF had the bypass 2 years ago, she lost 100 lbs quick, now she has gained back about 10 and is maintaining there and happy. I think I will also loose about the same, but mine will not be as quick.

So look at the facts of all the surgeries and go with what you feel comfortable with.

[michmcpher31 42]

Thank you guys for your responses and advice. And me too Carolina, I do not want my insides re routed or part of my stomach removed. And while complications may be rare with the bypass or sleeve, they do happen, and a lot result in death, the stats for the surgeries were like 1 in 2000 for lap band and then 1 in 500 for bypass and sleeve....

[CaGottaBand 498]

I ran into the same thing at my seminar. The surgeon who ran it was anti-lap band and actually doesn't even perform the lap band procedure. I'm not sure if I'm just stubborn and don't want to take his opinion...but I said screw his opinion and am basing my opinion on the success stories posted on this forum. I know that if I follow the plan and exercise the band will work for me. I know it will be a struggle, but I'm willing to fight. I'm betting you're willing to fight as well. Good luck on whatever path you choose.

[BandedBettyBoop 36]

My favorite line :" Well, lucky for me, I'm just fat."

Lol me too! No comorbidities!

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

My favorite line :" Well, lucky for me, I'm just fat."

Lol me too! No comorbidities!

Go for girl. A lot of did. While I was not as heavy as some, I have seen great successes here. And YES, you do have to work, but I think you will love getting back to exercise and Pilates. I know I did! I believe in the lapband!

[michmcpher31 42]

Thank you ladies! Yes, and a big reason for me getting the surgery is to PREVENT any co morbidity's. I want to be around to see my little girls grow up and have grand kids and stay by my husbands side until the very end in YEARS from now. I want to take way more pictures with my girls and husband then I do now because I do not like the way I look. They are only little for a very short amount of time and I want to enjoy it as much as I can!

[BandedBettyBoop 36]

Michmcpher31 I have the same thought process. This is more of a preventative measure so that I won't have those crazy issues later in life. Good luck to you in your journey. Your girls are lucky to have a mom who cares!

[FLORIDAYS 3,040]

OK, so I have been researching the lap band for the past year or so and was convinced this was the surgery I wanted. It is the safest, least invasive, and I had read about peoples great results and then came on the forum about a month ago and was even more convinced from reading people's stories and seeing their success. Well apparently from the research they showed at the seminar, the lap band is the least successful weight loss surgery compared to the gastric sleeve, and the roux-en-y bypass. During the break I spoke to the surgeon and he said that that the bypass and the sleeve were best for people with a high BMI and had a lot of co-morbidities that the rapid weight loss would make pretty much go away in a short period of time. Well, lucky for me, I'm just fat. I have no diabetes, pre diabetes, hypoglycemia, hypertension, high blood pressure, and my cholesterol is good. I'm honestly not surprised as I do not drink soda, I do not eat fried and fatty foods, most of my weight gain is a result from almost back to back pregnancies and then a year of medication I was on to shrink a tumor that made me pack on 80 pounds. And most of my weight is in the lower middle of my body, hips, tummy and thighs, which the surgeon said I was "distal shaped".... that being said he thought I would be a good candidate for the lap band but he says that in his 35+ years of practice, someone with my BMI has the best results with the bypass. So now I really don't know! Honestly, I did love to exercise before I gained so much weight, I used to walk, go running, kick box, aerobic DVDs and do Pilates. So I think that with the fact that I am otherwise healthy, I like healthy foods and to exercise I think the band will do what I want it to do, but I also do not want it to fail. I know I will have to work hard and am more then ready to commit to the band. Ugh. The research he showed was not encouraging, but then I come on here and see so many people succeeding.....I don't know anymore. Help!

I will give you a little insight into my story....I had BMI of 55 when I started at 377 lbs. I lost my weight in 22 months. I had 217 lbs to lose. I had no health issues.

My dr said he felt I was a good band candidate because I was willing to do what it would take by sacrificing everything necessary to make it work.

I did it. I followed his orders, measured my portions and tracked my calories. Everyday for 22 months ... So the band worked for me because I made it work,

Now I am maintaining and the band is doing it's job... Preventing me from overheating.

It's not messing with my bodily systems, depriving me of Vitamins or harming my functionality in any way.

I love my band!

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I started with a BMI of 72 and well over 400 pounds.

I was originally scheduled for Gastric Bypass (I heard the same speech about high BMI not being good for the Lap Band, I wouldn't lose the weight, etc). At the last minute I canceled the surgery because I just couldn't justify re-routing my perfectly healthy organs. The Lap Band just seemed like a logical starting point to be because it was the safest, totally reversible, no hacking off or re-routing organs, and no dumping or malabsorption issues.

I found a local surgeon who wasn't afraid of my high BMI and Lap Band. That was the best decision I've EVER made in my adult life.

I've already lost 166 pounds in the 10 months since surgery.

Regardless of which WLS you choose, how much and successfully you lose is entirely up to you. They are wonderful tools but that's all they are, not magic bullets. You will have to change your eating habits and exercise Portion Control for a lifetime. But, if you're willing to do the work, you will be successful.

[michmcpher31 42]

Floridays and Missy, I've seen your posts before and when I looked at your profile's and the success you guys have had, I thought to myself, "wow, she's done amazing!" and people like you two are the reason I believe the Lap Band is the choice for me! I am 100 percent committed and willing to do my part! I hope to be as successful as you 2 and many others have been here on the forum!