I just got my financing (I took a home equity loan on my house) for the lap band. Now my friends are like -- just exercise and you will loose it. My BMI is 34 and I'm 5'10 and weight 243. Ahhh, this is a major decision...anyone else out there feel like this?

It is easy for those to say 'just exercise more' If we could, we would!! Sometimes we need to take our own path and do what is right for YOU! Good luck....I hope to be making these decisions in the very near future too

I get that way all the time for everything.. it's called buyers remorse.. I do that every time I visit the financial aid office where I attend school. It's normal to feel that way. You live in your body 24/7, I think you're worth the investment.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

I as well am 5'10 but weighing in at more than you darlin- sad thing is I am worried I wont lose as much as I want because a lot of it is muscle and I dont want to be skin and bones and just plain jane with no curves. My surgery is in a month and Im all over the board with what to do and think.

I just got my financing (I took a home equity loan on my house) for the lap band. Now my friends are like -- just exercise and you will loose it. My BMI is 34 and I'm 5'10 and weight 243. Ahhh, this is a major decision...anyone else out there feel like this?

You don't mention how old you are, how long you've been overweight and what methods you've tried previously to lose the weight.

Having surgery is a big and permanent step, so I think it's wise to be sure you have given a REAL attempt to lose the weight with other traditional methods first. We know diets like weight watchers and south beach don't work for everybody, but SOME people do have success with them, if you commit to them and add exercise.

If you have given those methods a real chance to succeed and have failed many times, then I would say learn everything you can about the lapband before proceeding. And please do NOT think that getting banded will be the easy way out, you will still have to work hard WITH your band to be successful.

Good Luck.

hello

I am a 25 female 5'10 and 240. I weigh 20 more pounds than when I had the surgery in August 2006. I have been fat all my life.

Looking back on this now I am super dissapointed on how this turned out for me. This surgery has gotten me in debt and fatter than when I had the surgery. If I had a choice I would have not wasted my money on this surgery. YOu are not guaranteed to lose weight. After I had the surgery I lost 25 lbs because all I could eat was broth. Than I gained the weight back. The lap band is like any other diet program. You have use it as a tool, YOU HAVE TO eat healthy and excercise. The lap band will not make your thin, and weight will always be a life long struggle.

I dont want to discourage anyone from doing this surgery. Each person is different, I am just letting you know that for me it was a wrong decision.

Good luck to you and whatever decision you make.

I am 30, highest weight was 337, I lost about 30# on my own and decided that I never wanted to gain that same 30# back again like I have been doing all my life. I have always been overweight. So I too took money out of my home equity and went and had it done. I have lost another 30# and am pretty happy so far.

Hi, I had to take out a loan and put some of the cost on to my credit card. Do I feel it is worth it? Absolutely! I was just banded two weeks ago, but I have been overweight my entire life. I am now 43 y.o., female, and happen to have a low-end BMI of 36. My pre-op weight was 225. I've lost 10 lbs. since the surgery two weeks ago.

I am looking forward to long-term benefits of being at a lower body weight, such as a decreased risk for diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

I look at the surgery as a way to increase my overall health and well-being.30+ years of dieting sure didn't work for me!

Can you really put a price on that?

Yes lovestodecorate, the band is just a tool, and if you have been anywhere near this site--you will have read that hundreds of times.

It IS a tool. A shovel is a tool, but it makes digging a hole a helluva lot easier--and my band made losing weight a helluva lot easier!!!

When you achieve some restriction without being too tight----best done with a slow steady approach--it is not a race---then the band helps to alleviate your hunger. When you are not entering the kitchen starving all the time it allows you to make wiser decisions.

Yes there are surgeries where you lose weight, and you do not have to do any of the work...look at the stats for regaining weight though! You DO have to learn to eat differently! The band as a tool helped and continues to help me with those lessons!

With the bands help in restriction, I have reduced my portions. I have never been one that is comfortable with serious, tight restriction. I eat well over a 1/4 or 1/2 cup of food per meal. But I have learned what to eat for healths sake--not just for weight loss!

With the bands help I have weaned myself off of so many starches and sweets. I have no eliminated them and have no intention of doing so--I am learning how I want to eat for the rest of my life! The point being with 100 pounds gone I likely have a longer rest of my life to be eating!

I began my band without exercising. I lost probably the first 50 pounds without exercise. Then I did not begin because I needed it to lose----it helped seriously though! I began because I was feeling GOOD! I had energy, and I no longer felt like everyone was staring if I went out walking, or into our local Curves. I do not spend hours a day exercising now-----but I try to spend enough to keep my heart healthy----and the weight loss follows.

We ALL wanted to lose weight here. But you do have to seriously make a decision to get healthy! And for ones like you bearcatgirl---it might be a slower process, as you have less fat and more muscle---but the goal is to get healthy! If you are already well muscled then you are already healthier. If you are not carrying a lot of your weight in your curves--then they will likely stay. I began this process in a 48 DDD bra....and am now in a 38DD--still plenty of curves. Depends on the make up of your curves currently as to how you will lose them or not.

I too was a self pay so this was not a decision I made lightly. I was on several prescriptions each day for blood pressure, and blood sugar, and cholesterol----and now I do not take a single prescription medicine! My blood pressure is normal, my blood sugar, and my triglycerides are normal, and my cholesterol has dropped so far my Dr. is in shock! It is even now normal---and he wants it yet lower (?!) Surgery was a serious step. It cost a lot of money, and it has taken me working with the band and my Dr.'s to have the success I have had. I did not sit back and it just happen.

But I have gained soooooo much! I have my life back! I have control! I am not embarassed by myself anymore! I am not afraid to meet my DH's co workers! I run and play with my grandkids! I go to public swimming pools! I cross my legs!

The list could go on for pages!!!

It is not easy, and no one can make the decision for you----but it is NOT destined to fail!

Good Luck in making a well informed, well thought out decision concerning your life, and your health.

Kat