Hello. I'm a new member. Don't mean to offend anybody here, that's the last thing I want to do, because I'm thinking of getting banded and I need answers from you, but isn't this lap band gimmick a big con?

I mean if you want to lose weight why not diet?

If you get banded you still have to eat less and diet so why bother getting banded?

Surely when your banded 'pouch' is full of food you may feel full but you must still feel ravenous because the rest of your cavernous stomach is completely empty?

I want to believe that banding works but I can't see how it reduces your hunger pangs and you can't eat what you like - I mean indian curries and savoury foods.

How much will power do you bandsters need to succeed?

And if you have will power why don't you just diet and avoid surgery?

This banding idea doesn't make any sense to me, it's just a big con.

Sorry if I've offended anybody but my doctor said that I couldn't get banded unless I could show that I could lose weight, so I tried and failed. But hang on a minute! If I could lose weight by dieting I wouldn't need to get banded would I ? It's all a big con. The fact is that you could all lose weight without the band, banding is a big con.

Thanks for reading the rant.

Savery, you are only partially correct. I can't answer for everyone, but I can lose weight without the band. Losing it has never been my problem....maintaining and keeping it off is another story all together. I've tried for 40 years! But the band will help me with that part. It will help me keep control and even if I do lose it, it will give me a chance to catch myself before I do irreversable damage to myself. As for the "empty" part of the stomach, the "full sensors" are located near the top of the stomach so they are in the pouch area. You won't feel hungry until the pouch empties. One thing you have to remember, the band is not the be all and end all of weight loss. It is just another tool to help. YOU have to make it work.

Hi Savory,

I am not yet banded but I personally know 2 people who are banded and both have lost so much weight. Those same people had not been able to lose weight before.

Please stop and read the posts because on this site are real live people that have had success through being banded. These same people have either not been able to lose weight before or at least not be able to keep it off before.

Also, as you will read time and again by many seasoned bandster, the band is a tool to help you, not only to lose weight, but to be able to keep it off. One can sabatoge the band by going for the things that go down easy and don't stay in the pouch (I hear ice cream and chips are a big culprit). If we follow the advise of our doctors which starts with 'Protein first" we should be able to gain control of our eating and do what is best for our bodies.

Regards,

Alfie

Thanks for the replies.

I am a vegetarian - is that going to be a problem?

Hi Savory,

At the top of this site in "Search" type in "Vegetarian" and there are posts that come up. Your doctor will help you in the area of food choices, but apparently it is do-able.

Regards,

Alfie

I've lost almost 130 pounds with the Lapband and have kept it off for almost a year and a half now. That's something that I have never been able to do before the band. I don't eat diet foods, nor do I diet. So if getting the Lapband is just a big con, then call me conned and I'm loving every minute of it!

savery.....I think you are asking very direct and honest questions! I for one researched the lapband thoroughly before having it done and it was the best thing I did! I had friends that had it done and to be honest it has not really worked for them!

For me.....well so far I think it was the best decision for me! I have been as small as a size 4 and as large as a 24! I can lose weight but at 46 I had grown tired! I wanted a little extra help! That extra tool! I think the lapband only works if you consider it a tool....not the cure-all! I can now enter a restaurant without the fear of eating everything in sight! My binges now consist of maybe one night eating "easy to go down" carbs like a small bag of M&M's instead of a week of grazing!

Just make sure it is right thing for you! Ask all the "rude" questions you need! LOL! It'll be worth it in the end!

I've lost almost 130 pounds with the Lapband and have kept it off for almost a year and a half now. That's something that I have never been able to do before the band. I don't eat diet foods, nor do I diet. So if getting the Lapband is just a big con, then call me conned and I'm loving every minute of it!

Tricia....you're the kind of con that inspires me! :clap2:

If I could feel full after 4 oz of food without the band- than maybe i would not need it. but i dont... will power is needed for any diet- lap band or not, i mean i am able without the band to limit my intake- i can fast even, but i will be hungrey, and for so many reasons even when not hungrey, i will choose to eat... i'm board, and i can and the cake and the pizza are right there. but the lap band is a tool to limit that and although yes, you can cheat with it, the opertunity to do so is less than without the band, and even if you do cheat- like drink a high calorie liquid sometimes wich is not a good idea- compair that to consuming a whole pizza plus. (well, big amounts, I was able to really eat that much pre band).

also the desire to cheat could mentaly be reduced, you know, after you spend so much time and effort and in some cases money, and have an operation for weight loss... in most cases if you go that far and put so much into it, its more likely to choose to stick to the commetment rather than cheat.

and you do feel full- the upper part of the stomech is what gives you the feeling of fullness. and if you keep going you will feel sick (i have) and you might throw up. plus you are full for quiet awhile- because it takes time for the food to flow down to the lower stomech and diagest.

i mean-if someone is able to diet on their own sucsesfully and keep the weight off- thats awsomefor them, and some really can, and so no, i dont think these people would need the band. it is an operation and a commetment, and if you can sucseed without-why operate? unfurtionatly thats not reality for so many people, including myself. maybe that is why they send you to so many tests and psych to see if its right for you. i dont know- ( i didnt need to but most places requier it).

once you loose weight with the band, its less likely to gain back than with regular dieting, since you have the limited intake, that can allways be adjusted as needed.

allthough it is considered experamental still, and as with any procedure there are possable risks, and sometimes it wont work, so many people have sucseeded. to many for it to be a gimic and a con. its not magic, but it is a wonderfull tool.

oh, and we are not offended, its good that you ask questions and do reaserch. very important! feel free to ask anytime. hope this was helpfull, Hana

Thanks so much for those answers you have all been very helpfull, I don't really think banding is a con.