Well I have seen so much negativity on the band lately....and it kinda brings me down. so for those of you who are against or on the fence about the lap band, or struggling with your weight loss, I just want to say.

The lap band is working for me!

100 lbs down!

Yup....crazy. 11 months with the band.

Has it been easy? Hell no.

Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, ect..

Was it the "easy road"? Definitely not.

Changing the way I eat, the way I exercise, the way i think about food, learning what I can and can't eat so I don't get sick in public or with friends and family. Learning to enjoy meals with the family with band friendly food.

And even if it was the easy way, my hubby still forked out over $12k, sooooo...i know it wasn't easy working for that money.

Have I learned alot? You bet.

I still struggle. What if I fail? Am I really hungry? Why do I weigh myself every dang day? What do I say when I am with people and can't or don't want to eat? And I have to really be honest about what I eat...

And I still haven't found the idea of exercising "fun". But I know I have to do it. And I never regret it when I am finished. I like barely being able to walk because I totally crushed my workout.

So is it going to last forever...my weight loss? I sure hope so. I've worked hard for this. I've followed all the rules, and in the process i have learned so much about myself. I have come way too far to fail. This relationship between me and the band is a tricky one. But this IS the new me..so for now I am going to enjoy this victory....and have a pumpkin latte. ..cheers!

Awesome story (:

Thank you! I'll be banded on the 28th. I do see a lot of negative comments about the band. But I'm not letting them sway me. It's a tool and I'm gonna use it! You are an inspiration! Thank you!!!

Good for you! I had bypass but I have several family members with the band. Sometimes, I don't know how to encourage them because I feel like we're on opposite ends of the spectrum. Your story clears it up a bit. We have to do some of the same things to make this work and be successful. Thank you for sharing!

Love my band! Wouldn't change anything. Good luck!

Thank you everyone!!!

The band was my only choice and I'm so grateful to have it -- it really changed my life. Even though I'm not at goal yet, I have a nice waistline and a good-looking figure -- loving every minute of health and fitness. Okay, not every minute. Im sitting here anticipating a four o'clock date to walk at a gorgeous lake on an autumn day with two friends who I love and, get this, old brain chatter is thinking up ways to squirm out of it! Not going to happen. Having the appetite monster off my back is amazing and allows me to take on the other nonsense. I'm showing up for myself and living my life fully. You, too, hurray!

For Me and my wife the band was a logical choice, while our surgeon would of preferred the sleeve which would of worked as well.

I am happy with my band and can relate with your experiences. Has it been easy no but life in general is not easy and cleary we have to make choices every day that may be life changing.

Even after eight years I still continue to learn and yet I know what I have to do and just have to stick with it.

Take care

Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, ect.....that WAS the hardest part of all....first 6 months or so adjusting myself to the demands of the band....NOT the other way around.

But once I got that down, and changed my life long bad habits, it HAS been the easy road....and still is.

Been at my optimal weight for over 3 years now, not gaining or loosing, a process finished, a success complete...no fear of gaining any weight back as long as the band is there doing what it is doing.

Why all the negativity???? It's only my opinion but I think many people rersist change, refuse to adapt. So getting through all the Burps, puke, reflux, too tight, not tight enough, stalls, etc...is too much and they back away?

It's also why, again my opinion, is the reason many Dr.'s are staying away from the band...the patient has too much influence....with other surgeries it is what it is...no adjusments. Deal with it.

Coming up on 5 years and I could not be more pleased with my life changing choice to have this surgery...

so happy to see something positive regarding the band. I've had my band for almost 3 years. not easy at all, some days I wondered what I was thinking but overall I have adapted to a new way of eating, how I think about food and I enjoy much better health as a result.. No more diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure it's a wonderful thing not to have that burden of bad health. I recently lost my husband as some of you might know, we were married 39 years and the last few years have been very hard physically for him. Thank God I was healthy enough to take care of him . He had major heart surgery last year and prior to that he had a partial knee replacement and esophageal cancer so taking care of him was my full time job. It takes a lot of energy and determination to care for a loved one and with the help of my band I was able to do it . I promised him I would continue to stay healthy as long as possible . He was my biggest fan and was very proud of my successful weight loss. I hope I can continue to make him proud.

I love my band, December 2015 will be 4 years ive had it. Negatives ? Having to rethink my food habits, lots of water , exercising 3-4 x a week. That's it for negatives !!! Positives ? Loving how I look and feel from rethinking my food habits, lots of water, exercising 3-4x a week. That is all.

P.S. Oh wait ! Thats not all ! Last week we picked up our grown son at the airport, we hadn't seen him in person in 2 years. ( I ve lost my last 20 lbs since we last saw him, im now at a comfortable 142 lbs ) His 1st comment ? " Mom ! You've gotten so skinny ! I did'nt recognize you, and I couldn't understand why this little blonde lady was calling my name !!!" Yep ! I love my band !!!

Such great comments from all of you!! It keeps me going knowing there are others out there going through the same thing!

I agree the banisters need to support each other. I do understand the band does not work for many.... But for me, it changed the trajectory of my life.

No doubt.

I'm coming up on 9 years banded and am guessing I would have been over 300 lbs had I not turned things around! I'm close to my high school weight and am content with my body and body image.... I struggled with that for a decade.

So I read all banded stories but adore us long termers supporting the newbies....ok. I draw the line at recent post ops asking when they can have pizza, fast food etc...

Gotta get your head in the game .. Just my weds ramble ????