Where did you have your lapband surgery done?

I have not talked to my doctor about this yet but I have been wanting to get it done and we finally have insurance that will pay for it.  Only a $500 out of pocket!  My friend looked into the other surgery and where ever she went they were going to make her wait 18 months before they would even send it in to her insurance company. I am not sure if I would be approved by a doctor, here is my background let me know what you think.  In January 2006 I started Phentermine and exercising and went from 230 to 182 in 6 months.  My doctor put me on Lexapro and  I got so tired that I stopped going to the gym in June 2006.  I didn't really start gaining it bac****il January 2007.  Since January I have went from around 190 to 240 and I am only 5'4.  I know I can lose weight with exercise and the phentermine but if I am just going to gain it all back as soon as I go off the phentermine is that really a good thing?  Will they look at my history and see I have lost weight and not do the surgery? ANy suggestions and advice would be great.

Personally, I think it's not a matter of losing weight as it is keeping it off.  I'm sure everyone on this site will tell you that they have lost weight at one or many times before, but our inability to keep it off is the problem.  We don't fail diets, they fail us.  And if you're like the rest of us, you probably can lose it, but end up regaining it plus more.  I know you have to be at least 100 lbs overweight, and a BMI of 40 I believe.  Your BMI can be lower if you have other health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, and so on.  You may also have to have a history of weight problems.  Hope this helps some.  I know some others on here probably can help ya out a little better than I can, but I tried.  Good luck.

Well just know that you can gain the weight back even after surgery.  Lap band is also the easiest to cheat with.  It does not restrict what you can eat only the amount of food.  You can eat a candy bar every hour with a coke and put weight on.

Losing weight with Weigh****chers is good.  Learning new eating habits is the best.  My wife is using Weigh****chers rather then surgery and has lost 46 lbs in 26 weeks.  Great job.  I am the cook in the family and I no longer make large meals.  We eat off of smaller plates and our protein of choice is 4 ounces of fish not a burger.  Soup is a blessing in the cooler weather and helps fill you up with less calories.  You will read that eating slower is a big help.  Let's your body tell you it is full.  Work on head hunger vs. real hunger.  I can tell you I lived on 2 ounces of instant potato for each meal for 90 days and did not die.  That showed me exactly how little food we need as long as we supplement with vitamins and protein powder.

Surgery lap band or RnY is nothing more then a tool and is NOT THE EASY way out.  There is no quick fix. 

Sorry if I have bummed you out but I would suggest get back on the exercise program and restrict calorie intake.

Learn to like healthy food.

E

 

Leanne,

I would think that you'd have a hard time with getting approved. Most insurance companies require that the person was a minimum of 100 lb overweight for at least 5 years. You weren't for most of 2006. The phentermine should be viewed as a tool to help you lose the weight. If you don't adapt healthy habits while on it though, once you are off it, yes, the weight will come pouring back on. It sounds like it helped you to gain energy to evercise. You may want to try another round on it only this time, start eating healthy. Get in the routine of exercise...and one you enjoy and can live with for life. You don't have to go to a gym...walking is free! Be strict with yourself. Don't allow yourself to go to Rally's, BK , or Mickey D's. Start thinking 'thin'. Measure your food out. Keep a food journal. Join SparkPeople.com and track your calories, liquids, exercise. If you do all of this..and keep it up, then your weight will stay off long after the phentermine script runs out.  Easy for me to give this advise since I'm post-op? No. Weight loss surgery is also just a tool. The first year post-op is the honeymoon stage. You're gonna lose weight no matter what. Just like you do when on the meds. After that though? If you haven't developed some good, healthy eating & exercise habits, either your weight will maintain right where it is...or you will regain the weight. We ALL know someone who has regained all their weight back and then some after having WLS. Why? No healthy habits were established. I have gone through MANY complications as a result of WLS. Do I regret having WLS? No. But I do regret not listening to the advise I was given when I was young...the advise I am giving you right now. Sherri

I am getting my lap-band done in Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville, IN; it is just north of Louisville.  The band has been my choice because I like the way God made my anatomy so I will just get something that works with it instead of altering what He gave me.  Plus, I can be back to work in one week or less.  :)