Hi I was talking to my friend about getting lap band and I told her that you lose 1-2 pounds a week and then she says you could do that on weight watchers then I said but this makes you keep it off then she proceeded to say well what about your legs their not normal even when you were skinny they were big. thats why I tend not to tell many people about surgery

Do not let your friends discourage you. This is about you and what you feel is best for you. I have not had my surgery yet and I know that this surgery does not have the initial extreme weight loss of gastric bypass but, it seems so much safer to loose weight at the 1-2 pounds per week.

So sweetie, there are pros and cons to surgeries vs. regular weight loss...but the bigger problem for all of us with weight loss issues is what will work for us individually. I have lost weight before at 1-2 pounds per week but without this tool I am about to get, I will gain it right back as I did in spades.

DO NOT let your friend get you down.....Okay?

Sounds like to me your friend isn't being very suportive and you should tell her that the band will help you get healthier and that matters to you more than what your legs look like. You have to make this decision for your self and you shouldn't let anyone say something that will change your mind. This is something you will be dealing with the rest of your life at that means you will need to do alot of reasearch and alot of soul searching to be sure this is what YOU want not what others want!!!!

Grammi is right Flower do not let your friends discourage you. Although WW is a diet program I did try it at one point I lost 20 + Lbs but gained double back. Of course 1-2lbs seems little to some people but it is a loss that your body gets use too.

There are pros and cons yes but if a diet program actually worked for us long term I myself would not have gotten the band..

Keep your chin up only you know what is good for Flower:)

After a conversation or two like that you'll start thinking maybe it's better not to mention it at all. We know exactly what you are going through, and the fact is your friend just doesn't understand. THIS 1-2 lbs per week is going to STAY OFF, and that's the difference. That's all that matters.

I agree with Jamie. Keep your chin up and don't let your "friend" try to tell you what is right for you. BTW - Seems like a real friend would be there supporting you and hoping that you do what's best for you. I hope that things will soon turn around for you.

Best Wishes, ~Kelly

People suck! Thats all I can really say bout that........Thats the reason y I have chosen not to tell even my closest friends. We all have eachother here and I have made some great friends here, I think u guys r all the support and understanding I need. Keep on truckin girl...we r all here for u anytime.

I would NEVER tell a friend that and I would expect that a true friend would never say that to me. So you have to ask yourself, is this person a "friend" or just an "acquaintance you are friendly with".

Your decision is your own. I wished I'd neber told one person other than my wife. In one way I feel people think I cheated. Even though they see me running in town all the time or at the gym I still cheated. Oh its easier for you you have that rubber band around your stomach!

If it was me I'd keep it to myself and let the compliments come uninhibited!

I would have told your friend, "well, duh, if weight watchers would have worked I wouldn't be going this route, and I'm extremely excited". Also, is your friend thin?

My DH and I talked at great length about this this past weekend. I got my tax return back and paid off the loan for the band. He called it the best 10K I had ever spent. I sort of cried. I asked him if he was mad at me because I couldn't take it off (and keep it off) with programs like you mentioned.

He then said the following. You never have been "diet crazy with this"; "you're the cheapest date now"; and I know you would not have done it if you didn't think it was the only way".

I know he is right, but I too still feel like a failure. But I never never never could have stuck to a low calorie diet this long!!! My little friend lets me have what I want in just little amounts and I can eat just one oreo now (not the whole bag- never thought that was humanly possible & still don't buy them) or share a piece of cake with my three children at a party in stead of all of getting one so I can eat the extras. We can order an appetizer and I can share with dh and kids and don't need anything elso. I don't urges to want to kill anyone who can eat celery and carrots without dip or Peanut Butter, etc. anymore either

Flower, sometimes others will sabatoge your decision to do something to better your situation. They may not understand, or could be AFRAID you may succeed. I hope the latter is not the case but anyway, go for the gusto. This is your LIFE we're speaking of.

Hey Flower, I really think most of the world just doesn't have a clue, and the clue truck never stops at their house.

When my DH was doing the work-up for his band, the cariologist said he didn't think Mike needed the Band. He actually said to my 600 pound husband "have you just tried cutting out sweets?" *sigh*

One of my friends is on a perpetual diet, and is always talking about how much weight she's lost. But whenever I mention that I've lost X amount of weight, she quickly changes the subject. She's something like a size 4 while I'm something like a size 24...

Your friend may simply be uninformed about the real issues with diets and weight loss/gain. Frequently people we care, and who care about us, don't fully understand our demons.

Plus, haven't we all done those diets? Why yo-yo? This is a decision for your life. For me, I was completely healthy, just fat. So it was more of a cosmetic decison rather than a life-saving one. But it would have come to that I am sure. (I think of it more like getting my nose or boobs done. It helps you feel better about yourself and achieve the results you want permanantly) I just recognized it faster and am more vain I think. I get A LOT of flack about the fact that I am only needing to lose about 70 lbs to be at my target weight. People are CONSTANTLY saying I could have done it myself. I just roll my eyes and say, "been there, done that and tired of it". i have yo-yo'd between my target and fat weights for the last 5 years. Lose it... wait about 4 months, gain it back, then do it again.

YOUR BODY, YOUR DECISION!

Pro-Choice baby!

Hi Jack,

Are you speaking English?

Dear poor Flower.

How conflicted can this all seem when your friends are so-o-o uninformed, hurtful and unthoughtful. Flower, find better friends... like those of us here who care.

Always,

Judy