Getting Nervous about the band

Hello guys and gals,

I am being banded on June 18th. My sister and I both were scheduled for the 17th but she elected to switch to the sleeve after reading poor band reviews. My sister is 330/5'9" and was worried the band would not curb her snacking and love for "sliders". I was dead set on the band until I started doing more and more anti-band research and now I'm feeling undecisive. I am a volume eater. I'll eat a bagel, and then a yogurt, and then a cookie, and then another bagel...all within 20 minutes..but I am not a snacker and don't eat too much sweeties over the course of a week.   I have around 75 lbs to lose. I am 5'7".

Is anyone similar shape/eater who had success with the band? I will use the band as a tool to help stop this volume eating, and I plan on working out as well.

I will be getting the Johnson and Johnson 10cc band.

Hi there,

I'm exactly like you I am not   a  snacker or a sweets eater.  The only time I really snack or even eat  chocolate is when its that time of the month and then I crave the sweets . Other then that I can have chocolate, donuts, candy all around me and not even touch the stuff same thing with chips and snack foods.   I got plenty of it around me due to son and hubby lol.

I just did not know how to control my portions at meal times that is all I needed help with.  I just keep telling myself if I overeat then I could cause a slip or get throw up and that is enough of a reminder for me .  Now, dont get me wrong I have my days where I eat the wrong foods or I eat to much of a certain food but it dont happen very often , mostly just a week before my period is when I have my problems and my struggles other then that I'm just fine :o)

I have done very well with my band and very pleased.  I just needed something to constantly remind me that I dont need to eat that much and I dont need to eat fast and that is what the band has done for me

I have lost almost 60 pounds and 30 inches off me since Nov 22ND 2010 and this has been done without a fill.  The doc said I would be a excellent candidate for the band because of my eating habits and so far he has been right .  I still eat all my favorite foods but Im learning how to eat them foods in moderation and how often to eat them foods :o)  That is what I wanted and that is exactly what I got with the band .

, I just needed a reminder of what I should be doing with my meals :o)

Keep researching and make sure this is right for you. I thought the same thing going in for band surgery. I deeply regret it.
Read the revision and failed weight surgeries boards. The majority of ppl on them have the band.
Also read the sleeve boards.

I never really analyzed my eating behavior pre-banding.  Looking back, I realize it was mainly volume.  Like eating toast.. one slice of buttered toast was so good, I'd make another one.  Before I knew it I had eaten 6 slices.  I like sweet things, but they never "called" to me.  I can take or leave them.

Banding has worked well for me. I'm now satisfied with a reasonable amount of healthy food.  Tonight I made Asian glazed chicken.and stir-fried veggies.  I had a 4oz piece of chicken and about 1/2 cup of the vegetables and have had enough!  Before banding I would've eaten 2 or 3X that amount.

I have the Allergan 10cc band.  I workout 5 or 6 days a week.   I've lost about 200lbs (varies a little between 198 & 203 lbs lost depending on various factors) in the 2 1/4 years I've been banded.  

Do research both the sleeve and the band.  My surgeon didn't do the sleeve 2 years ago.  Would I have the sleeve now if I was starting this process?  That's a very hard question to answer.  My best reply is maybe.  I do know that if my band should cease working for me, if it should need to be removed, if I couldn't maintain my weight loss on my own.. the sleeve would be my choice before a malabsorptive surgery (RNY or DS).  While malabsorption works well for many, it's not a route that I think is feasible for me at my age and other health issues.  JMO.

Best of luck on your decision and know that you will do well whichever you choose.

Lisa, you are an inspiration, as are several here on this forum that continue to teach and share with all of us newbies.  You are appreciated for your insightful, unbiased, shared information.  THANKS!

I am 5' 6" but had a bit more to lose than you. I still have another 75 lbs to lose and have already close to 90. Keep in mind that I'm slowly losing and pushing 4 years out. I can tell you that I have a wicked sweet tooth that I battle every freaking day. I didn't realize just how bad it was pre-op because I was ALSO a volume eater. Thats a double whamy!

If you are not a snacky- sugary lover, I think the band is an amazing option. I've seen so many woman, one's i've actually met in person, drop 100 lbs in the first year. It's amazing what can be accomplished if you get your fills, watch your food and get your booty moving. If you are motivated to do that, than it's going to be a fantastic ride.

If you click on my recent posts you will come across a long post I posted today sharing my lap band experience.

Well, either surgery will require a change in those eating behaviors and both are restrictive procedures so the fact that you are not a snacker will work in your favor.

I've had both the band and the sleeve and in my experience, the sleeve is more effective and life is much more normal with the sleeve. The band has a high percentage of post-op complications and often requires follow-up surgeries in the first 5-10 years for repair, removal, or replacement. But, since you've been doing your research, I'm sure you know all of that.

Keep researching, check out the stats and then make your decision. Best of luck to whatever you decide.

I would encourage you to come post your question on the sleeve board as well and check out some VSGers, their weight loss, and their lifestyle. Tell your sister to come check us out too!

Lindsey

I had the lapband In November of 2010 and Ive lost 40% of my body fat and 65 pounds so far!!! I only have 18 pounds till my GOAL!!! I LOVE MY BAND!!! I would do it all over again!!! I'm a heart patient and its helped me to get off several medications already!!! Its a tool!! If you follow the rules, you'll do fine!!! Keep me posted!!! Joyce :)

Hi,

I think you would do terrific with the band, only needing to lose 75lbs and not being a snacker!

The main reason I chose the band was because I used to eat like you mentioned above. Not a big snacker or sweets lover mostly just waaay too much food at 3 meals a day. With a band it is impossible for me to eat like that. Now, it takes me 20-30 minutes. Here is a real life example: Yesterday I was in a luncheon meeting and had a Panera Thai Chicken salad. Preband I would've polished off the entire salad in 5 or 10 minutes and would've wanted to eat a sandwich too. Instead, because I have the band, (and it is adjusted properly) it took me 30 minutes to pick at it, eating all of the chicken and about 1/2 of the lettuce.  The band forces me to eat that slow because everything has to be chewed very well and I had to wait a minute between bites instead of shoveling in one bite on top of another.  


It took a lot of mental work and practice to get used to eating smaller meals and not eating so quickly. There are times when I only have a quick minute to eat and it is very inconvenient to have to take my time. BUT I am so happy I had this surgery -- the band is working for me exactly how I wanted it to.