So I am just curious.....I lost 60 lb with my band, and after infertility treatments and having 2 kids I am literally right back where I started in may of 2009 - down to the same measurements even! So, if I was unable/unwilling to make a lifestyle change with the band, what is it that will hit me like a bolt of lightening with the sleeve? I am self pay, and can't spend 20k for another failure!! Help!!

Lifestyle changes are critical...whether it is wls or doing it on your own. Best of luck to you!

I've just been recently approved and have been asking myself the same question. I have had the bad habits that led to my obesity all my life! I know lifestyle changes are critical, but HOW do you go about them? isn't it overwhelming day by day? Just thinking about my 2 week pre-op diet has nervous as hell. I have two kids and I sell cakes and I my DH would much rather I forget all about this because he's attracted to BBW... When you're swimming upstream, how do you keep going?

I'm ot sure what it was for me. I do know it's different this time. I can't fail.. If I don't make this work it means I'll be fat and miserable the rest of my life. I don't want that.

Aside from my total mindset prior to getting the sleeve.. A few factual incentives:

I'm self pay.. It's cost me a lot. I'm not going to waste my money on failure

Health.. I'm no longer in pain from my knees hurting or waking up gasping for air from sleep apnea

Others doubting my decision.. Some family members think it won't work. I refuse to let that happen

Natural high... Since my surgery I've been on a euphoric high because I am completely into living a better life. I've never been so hell bent on bettering myself before. I love the way I feel.

The sleeve won't be any more successful than the band unless you are willing to change your lifestyle for the better.

Do tons of research prior to deciding. Many don't understand the true commitment before they jump into wls and then they regret it. RESEARCH.. And thoroughly know the ins and outs of it ALL

Good luck

We have all been in your shoes with the same thoughts. There really isn't too much we can say to influence if. I do agree with previous poster that you need to do a lot of research and learn everything that you can. Seeing a therapist can help you answer these questions too.

For me, I had and still have to work really hard to catch my triggers and to respond differently to the trigger. This is really hard work and most of us here are very successful.

I really don't know how to explain how little the lifestyle changes have really affected me. Something in my mind just clicked when I knew I was having this surgery. I had a similar feeling when I quit smoking cigarettes years ago. I had quit smoking maybe 20 different times and kept going back to it. But the last time I quit was the LAST TIME because something in my mind just clicked and I was able to quit. Just as trying so many diets and failing and deciding to have the sleeve to end the cycle - something just clicked. I sailed through my pre op diet, I'm 4 wks post op now and pretty much eating whatever I want.

I wish I could explain how my mind just up and decides it's ready to do something like this! Some of your fears may come from doubting the surgery, so do your research and hopefully you'll feel more confident with your choice.

Good luck!

I know this may sound crazy but try to stop worrying about what you eat and start focusing on why you eat!! This is the true change... Your relationship with food!! Answer that question and the what you eat will follow. The journey should be about overall health both mental and physical and that is what ensures long term success.

Why not make a lifestyle change? A change that will help you live a more vibrant, healthy life. You have to decide if you are really ready for this. Its a big step into an unknown world and the not knowing the outcome is the hardest thing to accept. The only way to be successful is to do what we have never succeeded in doing before and that is not gaining the weight back. This surgery is awesome, it controls how much you can eat, but it can not control what you are eating only limits it. Reaserch more before deciding on this, it has to be all or nothing there really is no in the middle.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I know a total lifestyle change is in order - I want to do it, but I use food so much to cope with life... I have been in therapy forever (not just weight issues). I have huge motivation with being an older ( 42) mom to a 4 year old and 11 month old - I want to be around to see them grow up! I am just scared....have tried going to oa, but it is hard to make meetings with having little ones. I have to do this! Every morning I wake up and vow to follow the band rules and eat healthier, but I find myself unable to stop drinking with meals, unable to stop eating sweets (goes down so easy).....I think, that with the sleeve, and being able to eat healthy foods - like chicken and shrimp and carrots and apples (and all the things I can't eat now because they get stuck), I have a better chance at success. Maybe??

The sleeve is nothing like the lap band. You will learn how to eat healthy and make better choices and you will learn how to use appropriate coping skills to deal with emotional stressors instead of turning to food. The Lap Band was a good try but that it. You will be very successful if you are willing to change the bad impulses of reaching out for food. You can do this,, we all have...

Thanks everyone for your responses. I know a total lifestyle change is in order - I want to do it, but I use food so much to cope with life... I have been in therapy forever (not just weight issues). I have huge motivation with being an older ( 42) mom to a 4 year old and 11 month old - I want to be around to see them grow up! I am just scared....have tried going to oa, but it is hard to make meetings with having little ones. I have to do this! Every morning I wake up and vow to follow the band rules and eat healthier, but I find myself unable to stop drinking with meals, unable to stop eating sweets (goes down so easy).....I think, that with the sleeve, and being able to eat healthy foods - like chicken and shrimp and carrots and apples (and all the things I can't eat now because they get stuck), I have a better chance at success. Maybe??