Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Big Texas dude seriously considering banding



Recommended Posts

Welcome Brad to the LBT forum.

The Lap-Band has two wonderful benefits.

#1. It is a great tool for both losing and keeping off weight (though, you will have to be vigilant).

#2. You will be surrounded by women.

Make that wonderful, gorgeous, sexy women.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, big Texas dude!

I think of the band as a safety net. On the other weight loss projects, I would experience success, but only for a limited time. When I lost focus, the weight would find itself right back to me...by the time I regained focus, I'd have to start all over again. Sound familiar?

With the band, if I lost focus for a while, I don't lose ground, or maybe a couple of pounds, but that's all. It prevents the yo-yo effect.

I have recommended the band to my friends, one of whom will have her surgery in a couple of weeks. If my daughter were to need it, I would have no reservation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome from another Texan. We have lots of great band doc's in our state. Of course I'm partial. I'm fairly new myself at this being banded thing. I've not had any complications so far. I am still working on getting restriction, but my eating habits have really changed. The old food cravings are nearly gone - that has been really amazing to me.

Let us know how you do. which doc are you seeing?

Terry :rolleyes:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I understand what you a worried about. I too had the same fears and worries. I am a 34 year old, father of two, and at the time of my lap-band I was 6'4'' and 352lbs. I was banded on the 1st of Aug. 2006 and have so far lost 34 lbs. I have noticed some increase in my portion size lately, but will have my first fill on the 13th of Sept. and expect that my portions will go back down to what it was like right after my surgery. I hope that everthing goes well for you and remember to follow your Doctors advise, and ask a lot of questions.:clap2:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

WOW! I love all of the input and support from everyone here!!

Welcome from another Texan. We have lots of great band doc's in our state. Of course I'm partial. I'm fairly new myself at this being banded thing. I've not had any complications so far. I am still working on getting restriction, but my eating habits have really changed. The old food cravings are nearly gone - that has been really amazing to me.

Let us know how you do. which doc are you seeing?

Terry, my appointment is with Dr. Andres Katz. He and his partners' LB website is http://www.lapbanddallas.com. I like the fact that they are all three accomplished surgeons who do not focus only on this one type of surgery, although they do have plenty of experience with the band.

Anyone here know anything about them??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

UPDATE: It's been a while since I posted here, and I thought I'd come back and share my experience. It's been six weeks now, and I have lost 32 pounds!! I'm eating just two small meals a day (well, normal-size, really, but small compared to what I used to eat!), and the weight and inches are dropping off. Oh, and I did not have the band.

I was well on my way to the surgery -- I'd done the preliminary exams and was waiting on insurance approval -- when the doctor at my employer's clinic recommended a "wellness program" to jumpstart the weight loss before surgery. Needless to say, I was skeptical, as I had done lots of other programs without success. But when I read up on it, I found it to be different from anything else I'd tried. Rather than changing what you eat, the program concentrates on changing when and how you eat.

So, in a nutshell, I am eating about as little now as I would with the band, but without the surgery. I am not restricted from any food, and I have learned strategies for eating out and eating at parties or buffets. Yes, given my track record, I have concern that this will not last long-term, but I am very encouraged that it will. (The program keeps stats and claims an 80% longterm success rate -- quite different from diets!) I am truly enjoying eating, enjoying food, and enjoying not being controlled by it. (And also enjoying keeping several thousand $$$ in the bank by not having the surgery! :) )

I post this not to put down LB or those who have it at all! (If this fails long-term, I'll go right back to LB.) I just know this forum is a great place where people come for information, just like I did, and I wanted to share my experience. Oh, the program's website is HealthyLifestylesCourse.com. (This is not a paid endorsement, btw!)

Hope someone else can benefit from this!

Brad

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Brad! I've had the same worries as you regarding the lap band. I find this forum so supportive and brutally honest about everything!

Congrats on your weight loss without the band! That is great!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×