I haven't had the lap band surgery yet. My first appt is Tuesday. I'm scared and excited. Could anybody out there tell me what you wished you would have known before you had the surgery and what questions you wish you would have asked?

Congrats and good luck. I have to be honest and say that I was pretty prepared for all of it. I did a TON of research before my surgery. The biggest thing I noticed a lot of people don't necessarily realize is that the weight doesn't just "come off", you need to work at it. That means follow an appropriate diet and EXERCISE! So many people seem surprised to find out they actually have to exercise to get the weight off.

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I suppose I would have also like to get a better understanding of what people's reactions would be to my weight loss and the surgery. (I tend to get frustrated by those who think this process was easy.) I thought I could keep the surgery to myself but losing 100 pounds in a year is pretty obvious. I would have like to have been better prepared for the reactions I would get.

All in all, it's been an incredible experience and I know I made the right choice for me as I feel great.

Best of luck to you!

I don't have too much to add. I had also researched a bunch before my surgery. You may want to ask what type/brand of band your surgeon uses and their opinions/experience. There are several different types and from what I understand, some are better for different body types than others.

Libra is absolutely right about the exercise. It is a MUST. I workout minimum 45 minutes everyday (6-7 days a week). I know that I wouldn't have lost this much or look as good as I do without it.

My mom is a good example of not exercising. She has lost approximately 40lbs since Oct 07 which is great, but she hasn't changed her diet and she hasn't exercised (she has a bum knee so it is hard and she works 20+hours a day---not kidding). She is happy with the weightloss, but knows it could have been more and she could be in smaller sizes if she had exercised. While I can tell she has lost, I can't tell THAT MUCH. I still love her to death and wish her well, but I wish she would work less and exercise a little. She doesn't regret her band at all though because she says that she has LOST 40lbs that she wouldn't have and might have actually gained some over the past 9 months.

Lane,

Congradulations on taking the first steps to a healther you. I am not as far in the process as the other two gals, but I do have one thing to add. I wish I had understood that it takes many fills to get good restriction. I just had my 5th and now have restriction. Until about my third fill, I COULD have ate the same amount as before surg. Notice I said could... there was no restriction. I chose to only eat certain amounts and be very picky about what I did eat."healthy".

I now understand what so many people mean by "working with the band". You have to control what and how much. The band is your partner in weight loss, it makes it soooo much easier.

I am so glad I was banded and look so forward to being part of the onederland club very soon. I have 23 lbs until I reach 200.

I could have never done this without my band.

Lois

I haven't had the lap band surgery yet. My first appt is Tuesday. I'm scared and excited. Could anybody out there tell me what you wished you would have known before you had the surgery and what questions you wish you would have asked?

hi there I was just banded May 16, 2008 yesterday... im healing.. don't b scared and good luck...

Hi and welcome to LBT. I am pre-op with surgery scheduled for June 18th. The best piece of advice I can give is read, read, read. There is a load of information on this forum, so look around and educate yourself. Good luck!

hey congrat I am also a newbie so i know how you feel. My surgery date is April 13,2009 so good luck

that is something am going to do for sure is research as much as I can..