I've read that quite a few of you have really struggled with loosing weight with the lap band. Many of you have not been able to get the the "sweet spot" even after the bands are completely filled. :cry I'm not banded yet, but am worried that I will have the same poor experiences. Any suggestions to help me prepare for success?

I've read that quite a few of you have really struggled with loosing weight with the lap band. Many of you have not been able to get the the "sweet spot" even after the bands are completely filled. :cry I'm not banded yet, but am worried that I will have the same poor experiences. Any suggestions to help me prepare for success?

Yes, think positive, dont focus too much on the negative threads and just keep telling yourself that YOU are going to make this work. I also struggle with finding what I would consider my sweetspot, but until I find it Im going to keep making good choices and quit eating things just because I can.

I also worried before having it done....then I saw I poll where it asked "would you do it again"....something like 92% said yes....that was enough for me!

Just do the research and make sure this is the right thing for you! No one but you knows that! Also.....you've probably heard it over and over but this is not the cure-all.....just an awesome tool that you can work with if you know its just a tool!

Good luck!

it has taken me a few months to get to my sweet spot (not sure if I am there now) but I have still lost weight by changing my lifestyle.

For every one complication/failure post you'll see out here, there are probably 10 successes. We tend to magnify the failures in our heads though. Though I did not hit my "sweet spot" until 3.5 months after surgery I was still losing consistently all that time. It just got a little easier when the full restriction set in (once you learn how to work with i!). People always find it easy to whine and moan about stuff, but I agree...most of those folks, if asked if they would do it again, would say yes.

Also remember that when people ARE doing well, they are less likely to come to the site and share it. When we struggle and are feeling it's a hard time, we come for support! You WILL see success stories here, of course, but I have noticed that lots of people check in when they are not doing so hot...I know that is true for me! DO IT! You will NOT regret it!!! Follow the rules set by your doc, exercise, and you will do GREAT!!!

When I woke up the day after surgery I thought, "What the hell did I do to myself? How is this thing suppose to help me lose weight? I want a do over!" I was in pain from the surgery and my life was about to change...for the better. I just didn't know it yet. I spent every minute on this site looking for support and virtual hugs. Fast forward three months later I am hoping to give the hugs and support now. I feel great, and the weight loss is only a small part of my overall success. I am so glad I had this opportunity to get this surgery-it has changed my life. I believe in myself more than I ever did before. I am so glad that I didn't get a "do-over".

Don't let the rants and the venting run you off into the ditch. This is a safe place for people to come when they are experiencing difficult times. If I run into a wall with my band this is the first place that I come to.

I don't have any regrets, per se, but if I had it to do over again I would have gotten a sleeve.

But I will never regret losing weight.

I have no regrets I had not lost a pound in over three years and I am down 31 pounds since surgery Nov 9th.

How could I regret that...LOL It is not as fast as I might want, but in reality that is awesome weight loss.

I just have to stay focused and do the band rules and don't let anything sway me from my long term goal, to eat healthy and too take food out of control and put myself back in the driver seat for once!!!

It will not be something you regret I firmly believe that.

What is a "sleeve"? I am still learning the lingo! ssdown

I've read that quite a few of you have really struggled with loosing weight with the lap band. Many of you have not been able to get the the "sweet spot" even after the bands are completely filled. :cry I'm not banded yet, but am worried that I will have the same poor experiences. Any suggestions to help me prepare for success?

Subscribe to the before/after pics thread. There are people constantly putting their pics up there to motivate others.

:rofl:

Dont think your band should do all the work for you. Be prepared to get off your butt and work off some of those calories and make muscle out of the body you have destroyed for years.

Also be prepared to make wise food choices, just because you can eat a tub of icing or bowl of mashed potatoes with a pound of butter doesnt mean you should. Eat solid Protein every day and save the bad foods for rare occasions.

I haven't found the "sweet spot" yet... I was banded over 8 months ago. HOWEVER, I've lost 75 pounds. Yes, it was HARD work. I probably could have lost some weight without the band. BUT, the difference is, I'm not putting it back on, and I'm not giving up. I can usually lose weight (30 pounds usually) and then I put back on about 50. It's not as much of a struggle for me now (it was very, very hard in the beginning) I don't think I could have gotten this far without it. It DOES take work. It's not a magic pill... people who know I've had the surgery think it does all the work for me.... which is soooo not true. If you think you are going to have this, and it will do the work for you... don't bother. You will not lose weight. If you think you are going to make better choices and have this as a tool to help... then it will. Good luck!

Positive thoughts positive thoughts positive thoughts.

also realizing that this is a journey... there are going to be set backs and there are going to be victories..... it is a process.... don't expect over night results..... one day at a time! Good luck!

What is a "sleeve"? I am still learning the lingo! ssdown

Check it out:

Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared