Dear Member,

Exciting new changes are coming to LapBandTalk.com! In a few days, LapBandTalk.com and the other Weight Loss Surgery Boards (WLSBoards) will join together and transition to BariatricPal.com! We’re excited to be leading the movement to support weight loss and health for all members of the weight loss surgery community!

WLSBoards is celebrating its 10-year anniversary, and we are planning to make the next ten years even better. That’s why we’re combining the WLSBoards into a single, more powerful force. Each of us may choose different types of weight loss surgery as our own tools for weight loss, but ultimately, we all have the common goal of fighting obesity. BariatricPal.com will be better able to serve the weight loss surgery community by advocating for our rights as a unified voice.

BariatricPal.com has the same great discussion forums as LapBandTalk.com and all of the other social media options, such as blogs, private messages and photo galleries, which you know and love from LapBandTalk.com. In addition to the lap-band forums that you’re used to, BariatricPal.com will have new forums for all of the weight loss surgeries. You’ll also love our all-new weight loss surgery resource section with information on choosing a weight loss surgery, the weight loss surgery diets, choosing a surgeon and so much more!

Successful weight loss surgery is a big effort, and BariatricPal.com is designed to support your new healthy lifestyle. The community and information are always available on the site and using our new BariatricPal.com mobile apps. BariatricPal.com will let you track your diet and exercise to keep your weight loss and nutrition on track. Other ways to join the movement are to meet your BariatricPal.com friends in person, and to track your goals.

The launch of BariatricPal.com is hassle-free for you. Your LapBandTalk.com account and profile will automatically be transferred to BariatricPal.com.

We’re very excited about leading the charge against obesity, and we hope you are, too! Stay tuned for more information about the changeover to BariatricPal.com! At the world’s largest weight loss surgery hangout, it’s cool to be a loser!

I have no reason not to believe Alex has our best interest at heart. But I gotta say mixing lap band with other surgeries makes me nervous too. I just know non banders are gonna come over and mock us. Maybe not at first, but ultimately they will (I think). Maybe I am just being negative though and things will be fine.

I trust you and and knowing that you are a Bandster eases my mind.

I'm glad he is a bandster too. Puts me at ease.

I very much appreciate all you do and have given us, Alex. I'm sure some days you feel more like a babysitter than a forum founder and it's important you know that all your efforts on our behalf don't go unnoticed. I am extremely grateful for this forum and all you've done.

I have to be honest, like others, I am nervous about these changes coming. I made Lap Band Talk my "home" because it's a safe place just for us bandsters. The thought of being thrown into a mix with all WLS patients seems like a situation just begging for conflict. The other thing is admittedly selfish on my part- but I really don't care about other WLS besides the band. My concern is for other bandsters and their needs. The experience or problems of someone with the Sleeve or Gastric Bypass is not my concern. I also don't want to be put in a position of constantly defending the band or countering band bashing myths. We have enough struggles within our own ranks already and I fear a combined WLS site will greatly diminish our sense of community and comradery and well as force us to go on the defensive.

I know without a doubt you're making these changes because you truly believe they are in everyone's best interest. I know your intentions are nothing but good. But, even so, the changes worry me greatly.

Thanks for hearing me out

i was verbally bashed on OH when i was in the pre op stages and it damn near scared me to death...i can promise you if that starts happening on this forum, i will be leaving.

Your concerns are my concerns. I plan on personally moderating the Lap-Band forums. Members that don't follow our rules will be permanently banned. We will have zero tolerance for bullying, rudeness or trolling.

i was verbally bashed on OH when i was in the pre op stages and it damn near scared me to death...i can promise you if that starts happening on this forum, i will be leaving.

I have never been there and it doesn't sound like I missed anything the way people talk about that place. If this place turns sour it will be hard to come back. But Alex said he won't let that happen...

PS: Looks like we posted at the same time Alex. Perfect timing!

Your concerns are my concerns. I plan on personally moderating the Lap-Band forums. Members that don't follow our rules will be permanently banned. We will have zero tolerance for bullying, rudeness or trolling.

Thanks Alex. That is reassuring

So oddly I got a bunch of e-mails today from Alex, about en-rout by pass and sleeve gastrectomy for the WLS boards...but nothing about lapband...are these boards even live yet?

So oddly I got a bunch of e-mails today from Alex, about en-rout by pass and sleeve gastrectomy for the WLS boards...but nothing about lapband...are these boards even live yet?

We sent the same email to all members of our four wls communities (LapBandTalk, VerticalSleeveTalk, RNYTalk and SleevePlicationTalk). The new site BariatricPal isn't live yet. We're hoping to go live tomorrow night.

Great thanks Alex for your reply, I'll keep an eye out for it.

The new site BariatricPal isn't live yet. We're hoping to go live tomorrow night.

I am nervous for you guys!

I am nervous for you guys!

like you....am nervous about all this combining..unless someone has been on the recieving end of band bashers who promised it would fail, you have no idea...its hard enough us obese/fat people are still widely accepted as targets and no one in the real world take it serious.....jeannie from band wagon told me to get off OH last year, came to my rescue and told me to come to this forum...and here i am..i really hope nothing changes alex...aside from those things i pm;d you about (people who i have blocked cant comment/quote or respond to me)....and the blogs...i have alot of blogs i wrote and ready to post my thoughts...i need this forum for support

like you....am nervous about all this combining..unless someone has been on the recieving end of band bashers who promised it would fail, you have no idea...its hard enough us obese/fat people are still widely accepted as targets and no one in the real world take it serious.....jeannie from band wagon told me to get off OH last year, came to my rescue and told me to come to this forum...and here i am..i really hope nothing changes alex...aside from those things i pm;d you about (people who i have blocked cant comment/quote or respond to me)....and the blogs...i have alot of blogs i wrote and ready to post my thoughts...i need this forum for support

I will not allow any abusive behavior on our new forums. Bullies will be banned permanently. You know I'm always available and will deal with any bumps in the road that may arise (I'm sure they will!) We've all suffered similarly but have taken different paths to get to where we are today. Does that make one person (or procedure) better than another ? I have no problem with intelligent conversation or even arguing about the efficacy of any weight loss procedure. I will have zero tolerance for trolls or trouble makers. The weight loss surgery bashing from weight loss surgery patients (AND surgeons!!!) is what has given bariatric surgery such a bad name. If anyone feels they are being targeted, they know where to and how to reach me. Things will most definitely change....I'm hoping they're for the better.

Not to purposely preach here but just rise above it gang. Most people do not like change but change is always inevitable. Nothing ever stays the same. Look at WLS for example. Bypass and Band were always the top options for WLS and now band in a lot of ways is being bumped by the Sleeve. Use the report button if you find problematic posts. Do not stoop down to the band bashers level. Be yourself and help keep the newbies informed and let Alex and his team do the needful. Remember each surgical procedure attracts its own "band" ( see what I did there?) of detractors or haters

OK, getting down from soapbox....Be gentle I lost a lot of weight and bruise easy.

Yep! I got the memo and I'm not thrilled.