Hi all –

My name is John. I am 35, married with no kids and live in Kansas City, KS. I am exploring Lapband as an option. I am around 450 lbs right now and am starting to have weight related health issues for the first time.

I know I need to make some radical changes if I want to stick on this rock for more than a few more years. Like most, I have tried everything in the past and have even made it to as low as 250 lbs by exercising 2 hrs a day for 18 months. Needless to say, the weight always comes back.

My company starts covering 50% of WLS starting in the New Year, which makes me think perhaps this is meant to be.

So, I am here to learn, and to make an informed decision. I look forward to your insights and assistance as I go down this long road.

John

Welcome John. I've been banded for 2 1/2 weeks and other than the first few days, all has been well. I'm glad I made the decision to do this but admit I was really anxious in the 2 months prior to the op. If I'd known I would get through it so well, I would not have put myself through so much stress. Good luck with your decision... you'll find heaps of advice on this site.

Welcome, you've come to the right place. I've been banded for 3 months and it's the best thing I've ever done. Get banded and join us, we will encourage you all the way!

Hi John & all! I'm new too, this is my first post, but I've been lurking here for about a month soaking up the tremendous amount of information, support and inspiration on this forum. I'm so glad it's here. I received my surgery date on Friday! January 10th .... what a great start to a new year! Best of luck to you.

John, good luck. I recommend Weight Loss Surgical Center in OP. Lap band Surgery, Weight Loss Surgical Center Kansas City, Missouri

i was banded 10 days ago, and i have lost 21 lbs. Today i return to work. The staff there, and Dr Selim were all wonderful.

I was banded 11/09/07. My emotions have run the gamet..... From "what the hell have I done" to "I know this is the right thing for me as I have tried every thing else". The bottom line is, I HAVE tried every thing else, and it did not work for me and the conclusion of that is, if I did not try this I KNEW I would regret it. It took me two years to make the decision. Had I done it 18 months ago, I physically could be in a different place right now. I have let the last ten years of my life pass as an overweight, in-active person. I have not been the best parent or example to my child or partner to my husband because I was forever tired or self-conscious about going out in public.

At 43 years of age I hit 308, became a low grade diabetic, with high cholesterol, and pre-hyotensive. My doctor told me I needed to do something or I would die sooner than necessary. My mother died at 50 and she let obesity rule her last 20 years.

Only you can make the right decision for you, but at 35 years of age and 450 pounds, you know you need to do something to be more healthy.... I hope this message was not to harsh or frank, I just know what you are feeling and if you have any inkling that this is the right thing for you, educate yourself to make sure your decision is sound and then act....

Good luck and let us know how you are doing...

Hi everyone !! My name is Kim. I am married 41 y/o and about 250lbs. I've tried every diet under the sun and I am sure I dont have to tell anyone here about that. I have entertained the thought of WLS for a while always too afraid of complications and death. I wouldnt even think of gastric bypas...too damed scarey for me. I do know a few people who have had a bypass and its worked great. Its just not for me. I have been to one support group meeting and have a appointment in Febuary for a consult. With any luck I will have surgery sometime this spring. I am pretty confident that my insurance will cover it. So I am aiming at loosing about 100lbs. I am 5'6" and think 150-170 would be good for me. I dont want to be skinny...just healthy. I am fron New Hampshire and would love someone to buddy up with so drop me a line if your interested!!

Hi all, I weigh 217lbs and have yoyoed all my life with dieting. I'm 32 years old and I just set my surgery date for January 17th which has me both excited and very nervous. I am very active, exercising about 4-5 times a week so food is really where I lack control. It sounds silly but one of the things I am most nervous about is my social life. I live in Trinidad & Tobago and my husband and I socialise a lot and Trinidad is a big drinking, partying and eating culture! I see the life post surgery as a path to getting healthy, exercising more and my husband and I are even talking about setting a goal of participating in a 5k late next year. I'm curious how others have dealt with a big change in their social lifestyles.

SJK,

I am trying to figure this out now. So much of our life revolves around food. My husband's family is large and social, and they don't know about the concept of moderation. My friend groups (as there are several) consists of my longest friend who loves to go out to really nice resturants and eat and drink really great wine. And then there is my cooking friends, we are all known as really great cooks in our own rights....

It has been hard because my cooking friends don't feel they can talk to me about new recipes or things they have tried. Our Holiday baking tradition is going to be a challenge.

I am not sure if this is helpful, but just know I am trying to figure out too so that I can change my lifestyle so that it is aligned with my new goal of health and making this band work for me.

Molly Brown, good to know others have the same concern. How did you get through your first Thanksgiving banded?

Welcome John!

First thing I would advise is to go to several seminars and get a feel for the docs on your insurance........ You will learn a lot at these sessions. I took my husband with me so that he would understand it all (he has never been on a diet in his life)

This time last year I had made the decision and had signed up for a seminar in Jan............ April I was banded...... today was my 5th fill........... I love my band! It is the real kick in the pants that I needed.

First thing to realize is......... the big difference between RNY and the Band.........

The way I explain it to family, friends, etc........

the band acts like a funnel from the top part of your stomach to the bottom part..... the tighter my fill the smaller the funnel. The nutrients that get through absorb. (unlike the RNY)

Crunchy/Crumbly foods go right through

GOOEY/Gummi tend to act like a cork (for me)

What this means.......

When we go out for Mexican food..

I can eat chips and salsa, a hard shell taco, or tostada.......

also, chicken tortila Soup is always fine....

When we go out for pizza..........(I have a salad)

BUT that said........ I am pretty tight on my fill level.

When we are out with friends that don't know I'm banded..

I ALWAYS GET SOUP!

I eat too fast............. still even now........ and I am trying to change that particualar behaviour.

The best thing............ instead of still feeling hungry after an entire order of fajitta's a basket of chips and what ever is left on my sons plate........ I now am FULL after 1 taco!

That my dear grasshopper is...

PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all –

My name is John. I am 35, married with no kids and live in Kansas City, KS. I am exploring Lapband as an option. I am around 450 lbs right now and am starting to have weight related health issues for the first time.

I know I need to make some radical changes if I want to stick on this rock for more than a few more years. Like most, I have tried everything in the past and have even made it to as low as 250 lbs by exercising 2 hrs a day for 18 months. Needless to say, the weight always comes back.

My company starts covering 50% of WLS starting in the New Year, which makes me think perhaps this is meant to be.

So, I am here to learn, and to make an informed decision. I look forward to your insights and assistance as I go down this long road.

John

John...

The thing about traditional diet and exercise is that it is just too hard. We can't do it. Either we can't seem to stick to it or we can't keep the pounds off once they are gone.

With WLS... while it IS hard the thing is that it is the kind of hard WE can do. Big difference.

Good luck to you!!!

John...

The thing about traditional diet and exercise is that it is just too hard. We can't do it. Either we can't seem to stick to it or we can't keep the pounds off once they are gone.

With WLS... while it IS hard the thing is that it is the kind of hard WE can do. Big difference.

Good luck to you!!!

That is a good way to look at it!! "It's hard, but it is the kind of hard we can do.....love it!"