I am getting my surgery in June. I am disappointed because I feel that I have put so many of my hopes on this magic date to change my life, but all of the posts for those who have been banded already reveal that you are really on your own for WEEKS after the surgery - swimming in a sea of food cravings and the same compulsion and that got us in this boat in the first place. So - the surgery is not the magic date - that date is weeks later and if you don't hit that "sweet spot" for your first few fills - it could be months and months before it starts to work. I am feeling very discouraged - I can't stand the thought of being this fat for another minute longer, and yet, dieting has never worked for me, which is what I will have to do for months now, even with the band! When will I see results??????

If you want it to come off fast you are having the wrong surgery. The band is a tool to help you control yourself. With the band you will not lose weight unless you work with your band. The bypass is the surgery that requires you to do nothing. With the bypass you will lose the weight without much work however with that surgery its harder to keep it off cause it doesn't teach you how to eat right which the band does if you listen to your body. With both surgerys you can eat around it so its really about self control and learning what you can and can't do. Or you can and can't do in moderation.

I lost a lot of weight during my 5 week liquid diet, so you should see a quick drop during that period. That bump on the scale and the drastic difference it made (I felt sooooooooooo much better) was very motivational. Your stomach will also shrink and you won't be able to eat as much, even before your first fill. I also think it varies quite a bit from person to person. I did not start getting "hungry" until right before my first fill. Eating nothing but liquids for 5 weeks also did something to my brain and at some point I just stopped obsessing about food. But, for the most part, you will have to do the work to get the weight off. I have successfully lost large amounts of weight in the past, I just gain it back x2 everytime. I am looking at the band as a way to keep me from gaining, the losing is up to me! Good luck to you!!

Edited May 21, 200818 yr by TxChelsey

I agree with the person that asked this question. I, too, am scheduled to have the LapBand surgery on June 6th. My doctor assures me that I WILL feel a restriction after surgery. Most folks here say that you do not.

My brother had gastric bypass 2 years ago. He has done great. I just don't want to go that drastic. BUT, trust me when I say... YOU DO have to work at losing weight with gastric bypass. You say it requires you to do nothing but that is simply not true.

You have lost 60 something lbs in 4 months? You don't think that is fast? That is tremendously fast and great. I will take those stats anyday!!! :biggrin2:

Hugs,

Karen R

Louisiana

If you want it to come off fast you are having the wrong surgery. The band is a tool to help you control yourself. With the band you will not lose weight unless you work with your band. The bypass is the surgery that requires you to do nothing. With the bypass you will lose the weight without much work however with that surgery its harder to keep it off cause it doesn't teach you how to eat right which the band does if you listen to your body. With both surgerys you can eat around it so its really about self control and learning what you can and can't do. Or you can and can't do in moderation.

Yes it is fast cause i am working really hard to lose it that fast and with bypass in the begining you will lose alot of weight with little to no effort is what i was trying to say. I know many people who have had bypass and don't have to work out, and can eat what they want just not the amount they want minus sugar cause that makes most bypass patients sick. Both surgerys do require alot of work in yourself cause it messes with everything we have taught our selves. But generally this surgery works very slowly. Thats why the statics are as bad as they are they are based mostly on people who just did the surgery and nothing else. The only reason i have lost the amount of weight i have is first of all i am really big so it comes off faster in the begining and i work hard i eat between 800-1300 calories and i work out hard five days a week. I have gone three weeks at a time and lost nothing.

You will feel alone in the weeks after the band, but you are not. Trust me coming here realy helps. Days after my surgery I was literally considering outtin my hand down my throat and tearing the band out (I know it is physically impossible but trust me I was not rational at the time). It is true, I was on 4 weeks liquid post-op and never felt better in my life. I have lost great, but hit a plateau in March and list nothing for a month and am now at another plateau and the scale hasnt moved for 2 weeks. I must admit I am lazy and havent been exercising so to not put the weight back on before my first fill has been a challenge.

We are here for you, chin up, if I can do this you can to. So many of us have self doubt, times of weakness and days you just want to throw your hands up and quit but you will be motivated by your initial loss, and remember... loss is loss, no matter how fast or slow it may be.

I have lost over 50 pounds in three months as I "struggle" to find my sweet spot. The first couple weeks after surgery I had no appetite at all and lost a bunch. Steadily losing since then as I learn to use this pretty cool tool and approach my sweet spot.

Gillian,

Trust me, you have impressed me greatly with your stats. I am like you.. I am going to work hard at losing. If I am going to go to all of this trouble to lose then I am going to work hard at it. :-)

Hopefully I will be as successful as you have been.

Congrats!

Hugs,

Karen R

I totally get the wanting to have the surgery and wake up thin feeling, but remember this band is for the rest of your life. Not a quick fix or a short term fix.

Regardless of your fill level, you're going to need to control your calorie intake and work out if you want to lose weight. Might as well start now and just keep going. Most people can stay on a "diet" for a few months before falling off the wagon -- if you can do that, then you'll be putting yourself ahead of the game compared to just waiting for your sweet spot before you really work at losing.

Try "The Beck Diet Solution" for some cognitive therapy ideas for staying with an eating & exercise plan long term. It's quite helpful, and these skills will come in handy even with the band.

I realize this is not a quick fix. I have lost 40 lbs since February. I almost didn't qualify for bariatric surgery. :-( But I do still qualify based on things other than BMI. I am ready for the long haul. I lost 104 lbs in a year once and got pregnant and gained it all back. I am tired of the fight alone. (If that makes sense).

Hugs,

Karen R

Louisiana

My doc used the original lap-band device. he said it tends to give more restriction at first hand without a fill compared to the Realize one. I felt restriction right away. Now granted, some was due to stomach swelling. That is still going down, so as it does, I do find myself being hungrier each day. BUT, at a minimum for right now. After I eat my 2ozs of high protein, that hunger quickly gos away. Makes me chuckle a little...thinking of that Lap-band commercial...the fridge and the lion "roar"!!!!

I was banded on April 25/08, and I instantly saw results. Today I have lost 23lbs and it has only been 3 1/2 weeks. I do feel that I am in need of a fill tho, and the food cravings are becoming greater but I find even tho I am able to eat many different foods I am still only able to eat small amounts, therefore your calorie intake is was less than it was before I was banded. Don't worry that it is gonna take a while to lose the weight, remember we didn't gain the fat in a day so therefore it could take a while to go, but for example if you set your goal to lose the weight in a year or so, while the number on the scale continues to drop slowly your body is changing as well, and let me tell you that my 23lbs in noticable already and i feel better about myself already. Be excited for your major change in life, you can only make yourself happy, losing the weight is just the greatest benefit.

OK Gilliebean so I'm impressed with your weightloss as well. I just saw doc for 1st visit after being banded on 5-8-08 and I've lost 13lbs. Tomorrow will be 2 weeks. I had los 18 but guess once I started to get in all my fluid some came back. I've just started to mix in real food with my soft food and am at a loss as to what to do. My doc said aim for 1000 calories a day. Problem is I don't know 1000 of what. Can you give us a typical day of what you eat. I'm really looking for someone to tell me what they eat each day to loose the kinda weight your loosing. Thanks much will really help a few of us I think. Congrats again on your progress, keep it up!!!

My diet verys greatly. Recently i have decided to throw a day of liquids in a week to confuss my body tho. I try to keep my calories between 800-1300. Some days i eat a lean pocket for breakfast a cheap microwave meal from walmart and then some kind of baked meat with lots of veggies for dinner. My diet really does very i eat most normal things i just really try to limit what i eat. Now don't get me wrong im not out there eating cake and crap i mean every once in a while is fine but not like once a week is probably to much. i hope that helps. Also morning star makes lots of really good healthy options of some good foods like veggie sausage which taste like real sausage and corn dogs and chicken pattys so you might want to look into that.