Hello all,

I am currently at around 292lbs and am debating about whether to get the Lapband surgery or to go with gastric bypass. I would really like to lose around 130-140 lbs. Do ya'll think it is possible to do that with Lapband in one to two years? Any one who is living proof or has suggestions, please share your story!

I have 130 pounds to lose and I am doing the lapband. Gastric seems so much more invasive. Someone at work had the gastric bypass and he really has a lot of problems with gas odors. Both of my sister-in-laws have had the lapband and do not have those problems at all. One of them has lost almost 200 lbs and they both are doing great. Hope that helps.

niecey

I had over 140 to lose, 143 I think. I was banded in February and by my 6 month mark I had lost 80 pounds. I think it'll be close to a year, no more than 18 months by the time I'm at goal. It's certainly do-able, but you have to work at it. You have to make good food choices and you have to get active and healthy. If you make a lifestyle change, the band will help you do so. It's been such a great thing for me!

At the start of my journey, I had exactly 140lb that I wanted to lose (from 275lb to 135lb). I'm working to an 18 month plan and so far am right on target. It will be the 9 month mark for me in a couple of days and I'm hoping to be within a pound or two of 70lb down on my weigh in day. I believe that losing the full 140lb is absolutely doable! Go for it!

The band in not the question my friend. The question is are you going to accept a new lifestyle or maybe go back to a lifestyle that you use to have before gaining the weight? I lost 80+ pounds in 6 months but I am an athlete that got fat and lazy then gave up and piled on the pounds. Can you really give up large meals and the social aspect of eating? I have gone from a 46 waist to a 35 inch waist and am happy with my decision. I on occasion still order food like I am not restricted and then just throw it away sadly.

I am definitely ready to embrace a new lifestyle and way of eating. I was hating the fact that my insurance company requires a 3 month diet program, but I am beginning to see that it is the best thing for me. In just a few weeks I have already adjusted my eating patterns into much smaller portions and healthier, balanced meals and can't wait to get banded! After reading through forums and blogs on this site, it has given me newfound confidence in banding and I have decided to stick with my original plan for doing Lapband over bypass. Thanks to all of you for your input!

I chose the band over gastric, and boy was I happy. I figured you can always go from band to gastric but not the other way, lol. I must say I LOVE MY BAND, and I have lost 90lbs under 10 months, and only 1 fill. I have another 21 pounds to go and I know I can do it by the end of the year, 14 months in total. I am loosing quickly, but slow enough that my skin is bouncing back too. No sagging! I take a exercise class once a week and walk. My only regret is, I didn't do it sooner!

You can lose that much, you just need to stick with the diet restrictions you are given at the start. There are so many success stories on here, have a look through the site. At the end of the day, its up to you if you lose the weight. Gastric Bypass or Lapband, if you choose to eat the wrong foods, you won't lose the weight.

I have probably 160 lbs to lose. At first, it did not seem feasible(due to an extra large hernia I have around my belly button) to have any surgery. I said that's it - I am going to start being healthier. I have worked with a bariatric specialist(essentially, an MD who treats obesity as a disease), and he developed a diet for me - lots of Protein, lots of fibre. Nothing magical...though I have used Protein shakes as a way to simplify the process for me. We don't eat fast food just because it tastes good...it is also easy to get at!

Long story short...I just was lapbanded, and I had already lost 48 lbs. I think I came out of the surgery easier, and my pre op diet(Optifast shakes and vegetables ONLY for 3 weeks) was easier than it would have been if I had already not started dieting.

I am now down 54 lbs. The fact that I have almost a third of the weight over off already is a real incentive, and the fact that my lap band will prevent it ever coming back on...magical!

But it is a change...but a good one. We moved away from restaurants and beef to more chicken, fish, vegetables, just a little carb...still need to have that carb input. My husband lost 20 lbs, my 16 year old daughter lost 10...with enjoying their meals tremendously.

I have just started walking...previously, my weight prevented me from doing anything physical. That should help out, too.

All the best on your journey!

Hi claire. I have not yet been banded. I had to do the whole 6 mo nutritionist thing and psych and all for my insurance. I am currently awaiting my 2nd seminar and surgeon consultation. I wish it would happen sooner but then again I embrace the extra time to learn how to eat better. When I took the first step toward weight loss surgery I was ready for anything, throw it at me. Then I started the nutrition. From the beginning she told me baby steps will help you toward your goal. I lost 11 lbs the first month. The following month I gained 7. Through the process I have had the time to realize that I need to work at this. Of course I need the help from the band to make me less hungry but I need me to stick to it. You know making the right choices. I had a friend years ago have the vertical band and she lost around 80 lbs with it she kept it off for about a year. Then she started eating all the garbage she used to. She ate ice cream, sodas, chips and booze. Her band became eroded and later had to be removed. She is now heavier than she was before. I have accepted that I don't love the food more than I love myself. I won't let this thing take me down and I will get the weight off. I say go for the band, because like everyone here says it is less invasive, reversable and no malabsorbtion. Your goal is totally doable and if you really want it you will achieve it. You just have to begin making and accepting the changes now. Sorry I talk too much. lol. Good luck with everything.

I have been banded for just over a year (September 25, 2007), but I really started the journey the June before, when I committed to making the changes in my life.

Keys to my success:

1. I do not look at this as a diet to be endured, but rather a new lifestyle to be embraced. I do not diet per say (I do count calories), but I eat the way that I plan to eat for the rest of my life. Hopefully when I am done, I will be able to eat a few more calories, but I recognize that I can't go back to my previous lifestyle - that was the ticket to lifelong Morbid Obesity. I refuse to count carbs, and I still consider pizza, chocolate and Cookies basic food groups (only to be indulged in small quantities and not all the time). There are no bad or forbidden foods - just choices to be made.

2. I have taken control of my eating, rather than letting food control me. I am not a victim of obesity but a strong woman controlling MYSELF for the first time

3. I have incorporated exercise as a necessity in my daily life.

4. I write down everything I eat and make myself accountable for my choices. If I want to eat everything in site, I do it, acknowledge it and move on

5. I rejoice in my successes and relish the new me by treating myself to new clothes (or at least new to me clothes) that fit. When people compliment me, I smile and say "thank you" and I recognize they mean it.

6. I rely on the band to help me eat smaller portions and keep me from being continuously hungry. I don't rely on the band to make my eating choices for me or to keep me on track. I have to do that. The band hasn't made me lose the weight. It is just a tool that I have used to my advantage.

Good Luck to you in your journey. I am proof that lots of weight can be lost in a relatively short period of time - but only with really hard work and strong committment.

Jacquie

PS You can see some pictures of me if you go to my profile (click on my avitar) and look at my album in the lower right hand corner. The pictures aren't in order, but they show different dates and weights.

Thank you all soo much. It has been an extremely rough week. I fell off the bandwagon today but after reading your posts, i am ready to get back on. I do love myself more than food. I just have to work a lot harder at not eating emotionally and this week's emotional roller coaster was the hardest. I'm trying to train myself to go to the gym instead of eating comfort foods, but its harder than i thought. Any suggestions there??