So I haven't ever posted on here before but I really need some honest advice from you guys!!! Let me say this: I am 24 and 290 lbs...I went for my initial intake today with the Dr/surgeon...this is what happened:

The Doctor said you know, I'm not going to tell you which way to go...but pretty much you're so young and have no health issues against you (other than the weight!) and if you came to me at 40 and had diabetes etc I'd say, yes surgery is what to do for you. Right now, he's not convinced of that. He says I'm not telling you to work on your weight for 10 years and come back and see me, but if you would really work at it with our team for a year and see where you are...i'd like to see that. I said you know, I am torn...I don't know if I want that kind of device in me for 50 years and have to abide by all it requires...but at the same time, i don't see being able to lose 100 lbs doing this behavioral thing so he said well...we'll put you on the surgery track but i'm going to talk with the psych. and nutrition. people and have them aware that if you are really making progress and grasping it all...you might not follow through with surgery.

So...I don't know. I guess it doesn't hurt to do the behavioral track as a "last resort" before surgery...

we'll see what happens...I'm going to hold off on going tomorrow night though until I know for sure which way I'm going...I figure I still have months to go and can attend that meeting anytime down the road, doesn't have to be tomorrow.

I do have 2 appointments scheduled for October with nutrition and psychological "intakes"-so we'll see what happens.

What do you guys think of all this? Experiences? Opinions?

I had a similar experience with my old doctor. He actually denied my request for a surgery referral because he wanted me to diet and exercise. Here's my thought process...obviously diet and exercise didn't get me to where I am today. Sure I have tried and tried to lose weight but in the end I am unsuccessful. I went along with my Dr.'s plan and started on a prescription appetite suppressant. After several months and no significant weight loss I decided enough was enough, change doctors, and here I am...waiting for my surgery time thats in exactly 8 hours.

If you want to give a weight loss regime one more try, go for it. You always have Lap Band as a backup.

The way I looked at it is I tried to lose it on my own, I'd diet and workout good for a bit, then slip and gain it all back. Since I got the band, when I slip, I can't go back to my old habits because the band won't let me. So, I'll always have it on my side when I slip. We can't rely on it, no one can. But it sure does help you do it on your own.

I agree with both posts above... If you are going to have your insurance cover the surgery you will probably have to go through a 6 month medically supervised diet anyways. You could start the program that your doctor wants you on and after 6 months you can make a more accurate decision on what you want to do. The band requires a complete lifestyle change but it's all for the good. My life no longer revolves around food and I don't even think about it like I did before. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Definitely give it a try! It has been done (the behavioral way) and worked. Not very often, but you never know....Good luck!

I am like you in the fact that I wasn't sure if I wanted this device in my body. But the more I thought about it the more I realized that if I really wanted to lose the weight, then this is what I was going to have to do. I am only 29 years old and have struggled with my weight for many years. I got to the point that I couldn't even look at pictures of myself and every day I constantly obsessed about how big I was. So I went through with it and was banded on Sept. 18th. I am looking forward to my new journey and can't wait to get this weight off. Good luck in your decision! God Bless.

Well you are going to get doctors with all types of opionions! You might find some that don't support WLS at all and think all weight can be lost the old fashioned way. but if it was that easy we would all be skinny. I'm sure he is coming from what he thinks is a nice place and just trying to prevent you from having surgery. Because well it does come with many risks but still..... i would want a doctor more supportive.