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10/24/11 8:25 A

1 more week. Best of luck to you. YOU will do great.....Yay

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10/23/11 9:13 P

Thanks to everybody!! I am more determined to put the negative comments aside and not let it influence my thoughts. I have one week to go and then I am getting banded. October 31st is the date and I will keep you guys posted.

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10/23/11 12:15 P

LPILGREEN, I really like what you said at the end of your post: "Also, I'm 52 and still very influenced by what my parents and relatives say and what I "think" they'll feel or say. This whole weight loss journey has helped me see that I am a separate person, an adult, and I can make my decisions. :)". That really resonated with me!

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10/22/11 3:13 P

Beth, I won't repeat what others have said, but they are right! :) I will add that my Dr. was happy to have someone come with me to all appointments. My mom was the most reluctant, and a nurse, so I took her with me often. She was able to learn from the Dr. and ask questions. With less that a week ahead, you may not be able to do this, but at some point you may want to invite your aunt to go with you.

Also, I'm 52 and still very influenced by what my parents and relatives say and what I "think" they'll feel or say. This whole weight loss journey has helped me see that I am a separate person, an adult, and I can make my decisions. :) Go for it!

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10/22/11 10:09 A

Beth welcome to the band team. You are getting ready to begin the journey of a lifetime. I had my band placed four years ago and have never regretted a day since. I actually reached my goal last year after losing 125 pounds. However, things happened during the year that really messed up my life and I have regained about 40 pounds. However, I know the band is there to help me get back to my goal if I can get my head back in the game. I know that if I hadn't had the band I would probably have regained all of my weight back. I have done that before when I was just dieting. As others have said the band is a tool. It does not keep you from eating chocolate, cake, cookies, ice cream, or anything else you decide to put in your mouth. The good part of it is you won't be able to eat as much of that junk. The only thing it has kept me from eating a lot of is pizza because the crust gets stuck in the band.

By the way I never have to stand up to eat. I have never heard of anyone having to do that. Maybe since she eats so little food maybe your relative just eats standing in the kitchen instead of sitting at a table. If I was you I would contact her and just find out what she does. If she has regained all of her weight back then you will know what not to do.

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10/21/11 11:30 P

Beth....lot of great ideas and support...
we are here for you.......
by helping others we help ourselves......
i have been banded for quite a while now....my level of success is not that of others that you have heard from but i feel i have achieved a smaller level due to several health issues that have come up after the band have held me back and thus slowed me down........this is life and for each one of us challenges come our way some take longer to reach while other challenges can be very easy................we must remember this is a tool that will last a lifetime so that we can continue to achieve further loses or maintenance or at whatever goals one is seeking.........for some of us the journey is easy,difficult,problematic,short or long......but either way and through it all we can succeed and reach our goals it is of course our own choice how when we do it ....etc
wishing you all the best with your goals..................
blessings and hugs............lita

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10/21/11 8:18 P

Whoa, Bethers, hold the phone. I'm going to go on at length here, because this is going to be fun for me. Apology in advance, as I'm sure I'm repeating what some of our esteemed colleagues have written.

The simple answer is: Don't talk to your aunt about lapband. She loves you and she's lovable as anything, but.... Further, and I hate to say this because she is your favorite and you may sock me, a person who is forever delightful may one day have a surprisingly negative response or just see a topic through different eyes.

I've never heard of anyone who stands to eat. Moreover, I've never heard of anyone who stands to eat and has regained weight. I'd think that, if such a person exists, all the regained weight must settle around his/her ankles.

If dear Auntie Alarmist has heard anything about the other relative's having a bad experience, she misunderstood and/or didn't understand (same thing, huh?) and/or truly is an alarmist and/or embellished the information to make a better story of it. (Here's an idea -- you call the relative yourself and see what she has to say.) Even if your aunt has some of it correct, there are plausible responses.

You've been informed by the surgical practice abou life with a band and the changes that must be made to have a successful experience? It's necessary to eat slowly, chew thoroughly (about 25 chomps per bite), take small bites and pause between bites. Eating fast, not chewing well and bites that are large may prevent the food from passing through the band. This is commonly called getting stuck." It's miserable and often preventable by, I repeat, following the eating-technique guidelines.** One thing people do when they get stuck because it may make the difference and, perhaps, partly from instinct, is stand and pace a bit. That's about the extent of standing.

A band that's been adjusted too tight will also make it difficult to eat on a consistent basis. The solution is to go back to the surgeon's before long to have a tad of the saline extracted.

If your relative eats chocolate like crazy, that's her doing and not the band's. The band doesn't prevent us from eating things that aren't conducive to weight loss. In fact, chocolate, cookies, cake, ice cream, potato chips and other crunchy things all go down easily without giving the feeling of fullness. No one knows why as far as I'm aware. People who get stuck on any regular basis and lose motivation often resort to quantities of the high-cal, high-fat, non-nutritious items just to get something in. The person who wants to continue losing weight will get the assistance that will facilitate it.

If the practice has a band support group, go to the meetings as often as you can. If it doesn't, find another in your area. Our online group is a great help and greatly supportive. In-person contact with others is a nice plus.

As I've looked back at your post several times to be sure I'm not missing anything I want to ramble and pontificate on, little details keep popping out. I think your aunt must be an older lady, in her 70's or more?

I've run into some difficulties with my band (this week is my second band anniversary), but, all in all, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Laurie
P.S. There's nothing wrong with a treat as long as you figure it into the day's nutrition and calorie intake and can control the portion and the frequency. Maybe I shouldn't tell you this so early in your game?

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10/21/11 4:29 P

BETHERS99, I was "banded" on 9/28, have had NO issues to date, and am down 23 pounds since I started the pre-op diet one week prior to surgery. My genes are from the "big" side of the family, but what has amazed me already is just how satisfied I am after a nutritious yet small meal and how long I stay that way (in my days before being banded I could eat a big meal and an hour later I'd be looking for something to eat!). So don't let the "gene" conversation sway you! BTW, I haven't even had a fill yet!

I know there were a few folks questioning me, but I pushed on, because deep down I knew it was the right thing to do. I have not changed my position on it, and some of the naysayers are starting to see I was right.

Hang in there and keep moving forward!

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10/21/11 4:08 P

This is awesome Stew! You had it done 6 years ago and you are keeping it off. This is the encouragement that I needed. Sometimes people while trying to be helpful can be negative Nellies. I have not had a chance to talk to anybody that is more than a couple years out from surgery that is really keeping it off.

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10/21/11 4:00 P

thank you so much. This is what I needed to hear. I have been so excited about the procedure and the comments just kinda took the wind out of my sails. I knew their were people out there that have been successful and I just needed to hear it. Thanks again!

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10/21/11 2:26 P

I have zero regrets about getting my lap-band! Without it, I'd probably be closer to 400lbs instead of what I weighed on the day of my surgery which was 300lbs. The band is a tool to use to help you but you do have to exercise too. I've lost 100lbs with the band and need to lose more and am on track to do so because I've started keeping a food diary again, took up running and am exercising. You do have to watch what you eat but you can be successful if you use the band to your benefit and exercise. Good luck!

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10/21/11 2:23 P

i will be the first!!! I am 63 years old and had surgery 18 months ago. I happily state that I am 89 lbs lighter. I exercise, I eat the right foods. I drink water, I don't eat bread, rice, pasta.

I am now thin and healthy. I had to pay for my surgery out of pocket.

I don't eat chocolate or sweets, I don't believe that it is in your genes to do that either. I sit down to eat. I only have about 17 lbs to lose for goal. I am planning and lowering it since my body is happy the way it is. The band will NOT stop you from eating chocolate, it is only a tool. You are lucky to have an Aunt who loves you however, I think she is wrong. Sorry! please feel free to friend me. You are correct in asking us our opinion on OUR choice of getting lapband. WE CAN TELL YOU FIRST HAND; Best of luck to you.

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10/21/11 1:43 P

I am one week from getting banded and I spoke to my Aunt on Wednesday and told her I am having the lap band surgery. She is my favorite Aunt but I got a little discouraged because she was questioning whether I had talked to others that were banded? I stated only one or two but I have researched and I have SP. She stated that their is someone else in our family that can only eat standing up because of the band and has gained all her weight back, etc. She said, "I just don't want you to regret it". That freake me out a bit because I have had to do a one year program for my insurance to pay for the surgery and jump through so many hoops to get here, now one week from surgery I am questioning my decision. Don't get me wrong I have come too far to back out now but do you guys have to stand up to eat and have you managed to keep the weight off? I know that this is a tool to help with weight loss not a magic pill. She stated that the family member eats chocolate like crazy and she knows what type of genes I come from and we like to eat so blah, blah, blah. I just need to hear that there are people out there that does not regret doing this and it works.