Desperate to lose weight...considering Lap Band - advice needed!

[michmike]

it is offered thru hospitals. Involves the use of powdered shakes, powdered soup mixes and protein bars for 12 weeks and then a 12 week period of weaning back to regular food, but better choices. Weekly meetings and weigh ins with a rotating support staff of dietitian, physical therapist and behavioral therapist and then an ongoing support group weekly after that.

Wife and I have been on it since Mar 1 and have lost 72 and 75 pounds respectively and are still losing more. Not cheap... but what a difference it has made in our lives.

I'd try it first.

[Hulalovestocruise]

Good advice I too know a couple that have had the lapband and lost tons of weight at first but now sadly they are even heavier then they were before. It is sad because they make every excuse not to go out and have fun now.

Originally Posted by happysinglemom

Pay attention that that. ^^

I know far FAR too many people that have had these surgeries, and today they weigh more than they did before. It's not an easy out, and you WILL have to develop a new lifestyle and eating behavior. If there's a chance in h*ll that you can do this without surgery, I'd sure take that route.

[riddle]

I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy one year ago. I won't say it has been without issues. I came through the surgery beautifully but I have not had my head together all the time about eating. While I am not able to eat very much at one setting, I am able to snack and that is my downfall.

So far, I am maintaining what I lost over the year (about 75) lbs. but I want to lose another 20 or more. I am and have always been an emotional eater. While I have had therapy I still sometimes snack when I am upset.

This is something I must overcome. I have, however, learned to enjoy some types of exercise (just started jogging and love it). That will be a big help.

I had IBS for years and thought it was gone after the surgery. But if I snack I find it comes back. It is miserable and I do not know why I do this to myself.

Anyway, I am still a great supporter of weight loss surgery but you mind has to be right also. I was a yo-yo dieter. I am so happy to wear regular clothes and be close to a normal weight. There are tons of advantages but there are restrictions as well.


All in all, it is a very personal decision, must be weighed (no pun intended) from all angles. Support from others is wonderful. You will find that many of those around you who are overweight will not "like" you as much anymore. They will definitely not want the weight loss topic to come up. The only people who compliment me (and there are really a lot of them) are mainly people of normal weight who do not have weight issues.

The surgery is expensive if you insurance does not cover it (mine did not) but I now have eliminated diabetes meds, high blood pressure meds, meds for sore joints, etc. That in itself makes it all worthwhile but it is a lifetime change.

[pnut362]

Originally Posted by Tristan

Thank you so much to all who responded!

I have tried SO many diets/eating plans, from Slim Fast, when I was
around 16, to The Zone, Weight Watchers, Flat Belly Diet, No sugar diet
and a diet doctor who had me give myself daily injections of some sort of
"enzyme complex."

I did lose 45lbs on WW, but it was when I was 28 or so.
Now that I am mid 30's, I feel it's harder, and to be honest, I've
become lazier.

I will research the lap band more, but I have an appt. with a nutritionist on
Monday, so perhaps that will be something to try.

I would give every penny I have to be thin.

That right there is part of the issue.. all of those "diets" you mentioned are fads. Slim Fast is chemical junk and all of the others restrict certain types of foods..

Have you ever tried just eating clean and exercising? You don't have to deprive yourself and surely you can find some type of exercise you enjoy. The nutrition part is going to be the biggest part of your success. Transition into clean eating - it is a life and game changer!