Hi anyone,

I am a 205 pound 5'3'' woman looking for weight loss surgery. So I don't believe I qualify for a lap-band surgery and the Orbera might be a choice I can consider. I have been reading as much as I can about the balloon and certainly have some concerns. Maybe there are folks here with some advice?

Quite frankly I am worried about the non permanent nature of the procedure. I have been trying to lose weight for a very long time and can not quite seem to get under 200 pounds. I exercise very regular and eat healthy. My problem is I simply eat too much and have a lot of trouble knowing when I should be "full". I thought I would be a good candidate for lap-band surgery because I think I already have a lot of better eating choices (I totally could be wrong about this). However, I read that a candidate should have 100 pounds to lose and with my body type it would be too much.

So for those who have/had the balloon, do you think it is an effective eating behavior tool?

Also, how soon where you able to exercise after the procedure?

Hi anyone,

I am a 205 pound 5'3'' woman looking for weight loss surgery. So I don't believe I qualify for a lap-band surgery and the Orbera might be a choice I can consider. I have been reading as much as I can about the balloon and certainly have some concerns. Maybe there are folks here with some advice?

Quite frankly I am worried about the non permanent nature of the procedure. I have been trying to lose weight for a very long time and can not quite seem to get under 200 pounds. I exercise very regular and eat healthy. My problem is I simply eat too much and have a lot of trouble knowing when I should be "full". I thought I would be a good candidate for lap-band surgery because I think I already have a lot of better eating choices (I totally could be wrong about this). However, I read that a candidate should have 100 pounds to lose and with my body type it would be too much.

So for those who have/had the balloon, do you think it is an effective eating behavior tool?

Also, how soon where you able to exercise after the procedure?

Hi dear, and welcome. I believe you may be mistaken about the criteria for being banded. Most doctors say not to be banded if you need to lose a significant amount of weight. Now..just so you know...I needed to lose at least 100 lbs. and did that and more with the band so I'd take everything with a grain of salt so to speak.

Might I suggest you speak with your primary doctor and then follow up with a weight loss specialist to see what surgery would fit your needs best. I did not want the permanence of most surgeries, hence the decision to get banded.

Good luck and here's to you taking control of your health and well being.

Thank you!
Sorry I should have clarified I am probably not a candidate for my insurance to cover the surgery. I have an appointment with a surgeon in a month so I would like to be as prepared as I can be for what my options might be.

I self funded my sleeve and had it done in Mexico. 4 times cheaper than in the states, and the facility was better IMHO. I wouldn't recommend band or balloon in Mexico because of the need for adjustments.

I know you don't want to consider soothing permanent, I didn't either, but when I started to grasp how the body keeps working to put my fat back on, I started to consider the sleeve. Have not regretted it.

Good HBO special on the problems with keeping weight off: http://theweightofthenation.hbo.com/the-quest-to-understand-the-biology-of-weight-loss

Hi. I have had the balloon for almost 4months. My weight and height similar to yours (211, 5'5") I chose the balloon because I did not want major surgery. I wanted something relatively non evasive that would kick start weight loss while helping to retrain my brain to see food differently, retrain my stomach to adjust to smaller quantities and retrain my psyche into not needing food to comfort myself! And yes, the balloon has done all that. Its been a very uncomfortable adjustment. Its not easy to have this thing take over a huge portion of your stomach. There are lots of uncomfortable side effects, besides being full. But that is what has changed my relationship with food.

After four months, I can easily say I have no cravings of any sort. I do not crave cake or burgers or fries like I did before. If I see them, yes, I will take a few bites, and those bites are enjoyable, but I can also walk away...because I know if I eat too much I will hurt my weight loss goals and there are undesirable side effects. Is this new outlook on food sustainable after the balloon is removed...I don't know. And I am afraid it might not be. But I am eating so much healthier than I have ever done before and honestly relieved that my carb/sugar carvings are gone.So am hopeful I will be more aware of what food does to my body, moving forward.

As I am sure you have read in your research...the balloon is just a tool. It is not a magic pill to weight loss. I have to count my calories (I keep them 1100 a day) and I have to exercise (3 times a week is good, but 4 times guarantees a good weight loss that week) I am very aware of every food I eat....I always try to make good choices (not necessarily perfect, but good enough). So at a burger joint the other night, after having a great weight loss, I wanted to have a nice meal with my family - I had a burger, no cheese, whole wheat bun and asked for a side salad instead of fries. Was it the best choice, no I could have had just the salad, but it was wonderfully satisfying.

The balloon keeps me full so I am not starving all day on such little calories and allows me to eat only a 1/3 of my former portions. I have lost 23 pounds and hope to lose 10 more before its removed in 2 months. You will read plenty of people who lost much more (40-50lbs)- but always take into account their starting weight because others may have a lot more to lose than you do. I did not qualify for the sleeve or lap band or by pass, but really was not interested in anything so dramatic. I just wanted to lose some weight fast, get healthy again so I could enjoy working out again.

Please read lots and lots before committing to this. The side effects are unpleasant and require major adjustments in what and how you eat. But it does work and you will lose weight. Good luck!

Edited April 25, 201610 yr by jansluv

Thank you both. Also congrats to you both on your weight lost. Jansluv that is comforting to hear. I do want something to help with behavior modification.

I'm asking myself the same question, I yo yo my whole life and am unsure the balloon will give me what I need long term as a tool. I like the less invasive aspect but am wondering if I should apply the 7000$ to a more permanent solution

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It's a very personal decision. I have the balloon and am cautiously optimistic that six months of forced behavior modification will have lasting results (what does it take - 21 days to establish a new habit?). After a month I've lost almost 20 pounds and seem to feel better than many people here have reported. I didn't want to permanently alter my body - just my mindset. I am feeling good about my decision but, again, that's just me ... everyone has to decide what's best for them. Good luck!

P.S. Regarding exercise, I was able to start walking (more than just around the house :-)) after a few days. I probably could have done more a week in, but didn't want to push it - I wanted to let everything settle and give my body time to adjust. I think two weeks is probably enough time before doing anything more rigorous, but that would be a good question for your doctor. A month later I feel like I could do just about anything without discomfort (I've felt that way for awhile now).

I exercise regularly, but after the insertion of the balloon, it took me 4-5 weeks to feel good enough in the morning to exercise again. The mornings were tough as I always felt a little nauseas when I woke up, with the fear of spitting up or diarrhea, I didn't want to risk it. I could have worked out in the afternoons but that wasn't convenient with my schedule.

I thought I'd share my experience. I get my balloon out in two weeks.

After two months I basically stopped losing weight with the balloon. I have maintained my weight loss though. (Through the holidays, and 4 vacations including a cruise)

I feel almost no restriction now. I often feel what I used to think are hunger pains, but I know I'm full. I know I can eat more than what I am eating but that's basically because I'm only eating about 1300 to 1500 calories a day and that's pretty easy to do even with a balloon.

I started with a lower BMI (28) and it's even lower now. I'm hoping I can maintain for a few years. And I will work hard to do that. (I exercise 5x a week and have for years)

I'm not sorry I got the balloon. It was a good step for me in this journey. It allowed me a break from having to feel like I'm always on a diet and constantly starving. I feel like it got my head back in the game. I was ready to give up trying. I'm going to struggle with my weight the rest of my life and even though my BMI is 24 now, I am going to have to try to keep it here or get it lower so that I don't go back up.

If I'm not able to maintain my weightloss, and I gain back my weight, I will get the sleeve in a year or so. ( my doctor said he would do a sleeve on me even if my BMI is 28.) The reason I didn't get the skeeve in the first place was because my husband begged me not to. But now he has agreed that if my weight goes back up then he would be behind me getting a sleeve.

Edited May 13, 201610 yr by SLSH

I would think you are qualified for the lap band. They don't go by pounds needed to lose, but by BMI. There are BMI calculators on the internet. If you are at least a 30 BMI and have at least one medical issue ( ie, High Blood pressure or high cholesterol) that could be tied to your weight, you're qualified.

I stopped losing weight at 3 months. I am currently at 4 months and am fighting like crazy to lose a pound. 1300 calories per day and working out 3-4 times a week. I no longer feel full and keep eat a normal sized meal without too much, if any, discomfort after. I wonder if our stomachs stretch a little with the weight of the balloon and/or get used to the sensation. Anyway. I am down 25 pounds and 2 dress sizes to a size 12, so I am happy with my decision to do this. Its made me more aware of the food/calories/nutrition that I consume. I was contemplating having a second one put in when this one comes out in July but I don't think its worth the cost. Like you, if I can't keep this weight off, and take a few more off on my own, I will move to the sleeve next time. I feel so much healthier right now and confident and am enjoying clothes shopping, which I haven't felt in a long time!

@@jansluv - this may sound crazy but have you thought about eating more?

I was averaging 1200 calories and 60-80 g of Protein when I went to see my regular doctor, and she told me that I needed more. She was concerned that I was losing muscle instead of fat, and that I was not eating enough for energy or satiety. So I increased to 1500-1600 calories and 80-100 g of protein (and she thought I could do even more than that, but that's where I am for the moment). Sure enough, my weight loss picked up and I felt better.

It's important to note that I'm tall and have a lot to lose, so my numbers may not be the magic numbers for someone else, but they are at least food for thought. If you have not tested your BMR/RMR you might want to consider that to hone in on the ideal numbers for you. Or there are formulas that you can do online which will give you a general idea, however my experience has shown that they are not precise (but they are better than nothing). If nothing else, a little extra protein might help move the needle.

Regardless, congratulations to you on your success, inside and out. Best wishes on the rest of your journey!

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Thank you all for your advice. I talked to the surgeon yesterday and we decided to go with Lap Band. My insurance will not cover the surgery so it will be out of pocket for me. Oh well.

Thank you all for your advice. I talked to the surgeon yesterday and we decided to go with Lap Band. My insurance will not cover the surgery so it will be out of pocket for me. Oh well.

Best of luck to you with your surgery - wishing you great success!! :-)