I'm having my initial consultation on Thursday. I believe the Lap Band is the best option for me...so far.

My question for you all is:

Knowing the amount of weight and effort (exercise, diet modification etc) it took to get and keep the weight off do you think you could have done it without the band?

i'd love to think that i could do it by myself, but then reality smacks me across the face - no way on God's green earth could i do this by myself.

i am using this tool in every way possible. eating right and exercising.

the band and i are in a partnership ... the bad helps me eat right, and i work my ass off.

Could I have lost it? Absolutely...I have done so numerous times.

Could I have kept it off? Nope. I am only early into my journey, but I can tell you from those last 50+ attempts to take it off and KEEP IT OFF that I know I couldn't do it on my own. Lord knows, I've tried...in fact, I have probably lost 700# or more in the past 20 years.

That's why I spent the money and had the surgery -- to FINALLY get healthy once and for all. This is the first time in my life that every time I go down another pound I can feel confident that I will not see that weight again.

It's a nice feeling!

Yes I can take it off but not keep it off. For the first time in my life I won't be "going off my diet" when I reach goal. I think I may have too drink some calories (carnation instant breakfast ) to keep me up to my goal of around 150!!!!

The band has helped me expand my world farther then the cookie and candy isles at the grocery store.

edie

I know the band did it for me!!! Cleaning the pantry I found at least 4 different teas,pills,drinks and diets that I used to lose weight in the past...

The band sure does help to re-educate myself when it comes to portions and excercise

Anyone can lose weight. It's just a matter of how much, and how long they can keep it off. I never was able to keep any weight off for any good amount of time. The band helps me keep it off.

I found myself being incredibly rude at Christmas dinner.... my Sister had a plate of Fruit salad and Pea Salad - not a full plate - but probably a cup or more of each. Then she went back for her "real" food.

She came back with dinner plate that was heaped over with turkey, stuffing, potatoes - you know the drill.

I found my mouth hanging open - and I clearly had a look of horror upon my face - because my poor sis started justifying her giant plate of food.

I may not have the portion size thing completely down - but there has been a RADICAL shift in what I consider to be an acceptable amount of food.

YOU TOO can be appalled at your family members eating the same amounts of food you used to eat... if you get the band. :]

Seriously - After 10 mos - I haven't lost that much weight - but I am going at it very slowly and can barely tell that I am on any kind of an eating plan. I have lost large amounts of weight before... I lost over 80 lbs to get below 200 a while back - but I had to completely OBSESS over every bite of food and every calorie burned. It took an all consuming concentration to lose those 80 lbs - and no time or thougth at all to gain every one of them back - with interest.

I decided I didn't want to obsess any more. I just want to live my life and eat less. The band makes that possible. Truly.

How many years before this one can I say that I weigh less now than I did before Thanksgiving? That would be NONE.

Keep on researching. When you're ready, you'll know.

Hugs!

I am where you are mamaz2ndbaby....Instead of spending almost $2k on surgery, could I buckle down and do hynosis or some other form of behavior modification?????

Crapola, this decision is a hard one.

My question for you all is:

Knowing the amount of weight and effort (exercise, diet modification etc) it took to get and keep the weight off do you think you could have done it without the band?

Nope. No way in hell. I could have, and have, lost about 50 pounds. Then, I'd have hit a plateau, or gone through the holidays eating too much as I just did, gotten frustrated and quit. Instead of sitting here after my nice healthy bandster lunch feeling so good about being right back on track.

The band makes it possible for me to eat a reasonable amount, and honestly not want anymore. It makes it possible for me to focus on something besides food: what I ate last that I regret, what I'm going to eat next, if I'll be "good" or not.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. No question.

The band has given me what I lacked before...control. IT helps me portion size, it helps me control my hunger, it is helping me control my future! I have been able to lose weight any number of ways...but it never stayed off, and like ReneBean, I had to THINK about every single bite that did or did not go into my mouth. With the band, I no longer think about food that much. I have found a spot, where I am not hungry, so I tend to forget to eat if I keep myself busy. If I am not busy my head tells me I need to snack all day!!! But as for my stomach? It isn't hungry! I have learned to eat in a healthier way, healthy food first, then if I have room and still want it, I eat sweets or carbs---whatever is calling me! There just isn't a lot of room to eat much of it!

Take today as an example---used to be for lunch I would have had a sandwich, 1/4-1/2 a bag of fritos (not a tiny bag!) and then found some sort of goodie to eat as dessert. Instead, today I took the ham I would have made a sandwich with, and rolled it up with a slice of cheese, and ate it, I ate 3 of the scoops size fritos, and could not finish the others left on my plate, was just one of the times, my band said enough! I have a square of Ghirardelli dark chocolate, I was planning to eat, but it too will have to wait. Control----it is awesome!!!! Do it without the band---I only wish, I would never have gotten to the point I did if I could have. But now I know it is gone, and will stay that way!

Feel free to keep asking what is on your mind!

Kat

When it comes to the band...does it really help you manage your portion sizes? I know I sound conflicted...but this is where I am right now. Thanks for your patience.

Yes, it really does. If I eat beyond that "satisfied" feeling, I am miserable, usually leading to a PB. So there is some really good behavior modification going on.

But it's more then that. Almost always, I'm just "done" after a small portion. Not "done" as in "I really want more but I know I shouldn't, so I'll try to make myself stop". But "done" as in "I just am not interested in more food". It's a revelation for me.

I think some doubt is normal, but it's also a big decision and one you want to think through.

YOU TOO can be appalled at your family members eating the same amounts of food you used to eat... if you get the band. :]

Ah, but do we get a set of Ginzu knives?

I know what you mean. We took MIL to Old Country Buffet, and I was shocked at the amount of food people had piled on their plates going by our table. I realized I would have been one of them before banding, and it was a bit naseating(sp?).

Yep.

I count that moment of Horror as an NSV (Non-Scale-Victory for you Newbies).

Who would have thought a moment of horror could be a good thing?!?

Thanks everyone for the feed back.

I could not have done this without the band either. As soon as I hit that first plateu, I would have given up on any diet. And my last plateu lasted 8 weeks! Now I'm losing again, but NO WAY would I stick to a diet for 8 weeks without losing.

You said it! I could have lost it without the band, but it would be back already. The first plateau is crucial!!!!! I am at a plateau now, but overall, sticking to the rules because I don't want to have a golf ball in my chest! Most of us here agree that with this tool, we were able to survive plateaus and know the scale will keep going down eventually!

The question is "could you have?" the answer is yes....but that would mean hard work the rest of my life. I am LAZY! I am powerless over food! The band gives me that power back and I love it.