I have not had my band yet but I am getting a little scared. I was doing a endosleeve trial with my band doctor for three months. I didn't get the device and didn't lose any wait but the nurse said that others without the device lost 30 lbs and that diet and exercise works. She made me feel like a failure for wanting to get the band so I held off. I am in limbo right now. Can anyone give me any advice. Does anyone regret having the band?!?!

Please help?!?!?

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I absolutely regret NOTHING about the band. Would I have been happier if I could have lost the weight without having spent 17000$ to get the band, of course, but this is the greatest thing I have ever done for myself. This band has literally changed my life. I am going to be quitting a job that I hate because I know have the confidence that I can do what I want...I never had that before. But here is some advice that I can give you.

1. You will still battle food, but it is much easier because you are not hungry. I have head hunger everyday, but now I can stop and think...Is this real hunger or head hunger? If it is is head hunger, the first thing I do is head for the Water bottle because I know once I drink, I can't eat for at least a half hour.

2. You still need to exercise, but that too becomes easier when you see that it actually makes a difference. I worked out faithfully for years with NO results (because I was eating way too miuch), so I just gave up on exercise. Now even when I am not doing my exercise routine, I find myself using my exercise ball, during commercials or while taking a break from grading.

3. This is a much of a mental fight as it is a physical one. One of the best things that I did was tell myself over and over and over...This is going to work. I will never be hungry. I love to exercise. It is funny how mentally you can make yourself fit into all of those molds.

Don't let people make you feel bad about your weight loss or lack there of. This is a very personal battle. Some people can do it without the band and good for them. Others of us need some help. Nobody ridicules people for their golf handicap, but they feel it is okay to do so because you don't lose the weight as fast as others.

Here's the thing to think about for those people who lost the weight? Are they going to keep it off. Your doctor may put you on a pre-surgery diet, and that you will have to follow.

So I hope this helped. I tell it the way it is, but I want you to know that just because you didn't lose weight now doesn't mean that you won't lose weight with the band. It truly is the greatest thing I have ever done for myself.

Well put, Salsa! Pincham, what you're feeling is totally normal. We've all been through it before surgery. Use the rules they give you and it WILL work!!

Hang in there!

THANKS SO MUCH!!! I feel alittle better. I have a nutrition appointment on friday I will go into it wil a better outlook. I just didn't ever want to go into that office again.