Regrets

Anyone have regrets of having the lap band?  Is the slow weight loss worth it to be on  such strict diet.  Will you ever be able to eat like a normal person or with the weight loss surgery you must eat 1/2 cup of food from now on and take special protein drinks.  I am getting cold feet about my lap band upcoming surgery. 

It just seems like the most strict diet is easier than this.  Am I right?  Help!!!!

I didn't have lap band but RNY and I have no regrets.  I am 5 months out and I eat anywhere from 3/4 to 1 cup of food at a meal.  Except for things high in sugar or really greasy I eat just fine.  I find that I just make better choices and pay attention to what I am eating.  Since I cannot eat that much I find that I am picky about what I eat.  As for being normal, I feel like I am closer to normal now than I was when I ate all the time and had no energy to do anything.  Also on the protein shakes, I have not had a protein shake since I was 3 months out.  I am now able to get all my protein from food sources. 

The first couple of months can be difficult.  You have a strict diet to follow while you heal, but the goal is to eat food that is good for you.  The surgery for me was the easiest part of the journey.  My doctor has given me a tool to help be successful - it is now up to me.  I made a chose to change my life.  I do not feel like I am restricted now.  For once I feel like I am in control of food and food is not controlling me.

Sherri

We have a couple of folks who post that have a band.  Hopefully one of them will chime in.

I had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) 10 1/2 weeks ago.  I am not sorry in any way that I chose a surgery that would forever limit the quantitiy of food I could consume.  Large quantity is what got me in trouble imn the first place.

However, if your head is not in the right place having weight loss surgery is not a good plan.  You are going to lose your best friend food and have to find other coping mechanisms.  Visit with Dr. Gornichec's psychologist.  You need to make sure you are making the right choice at the right time in your life.

I did meet with Dr. Gornichec's psychologist.   Thats probable one of reasons I am getting cold feet. 

I was where you are as far as making a decision to go for this. I realized that sure,  a strict diet might work, but I have been on a million of them and I am still in a war against the bulge! In spite of all my efforts to lose the weight , it has all come back and brought with it diabetes, High Blood Pressure, 3 stents in my heart, and many more health issues. Now it is  a life and death choice for me, not which diet to go on......A year ago, I went to a seminar and walked out saying I can't live without a diet drink or a slice of bread, pasta or rice ever again! I can do this on my own!!! I came back one year later to a seminar with a totally different attitude. I decided I could do it! I just had to make up my mind that it would be worth it. Each lb lost would never come back...my life would improve. I could live without bread or a diet drink or rice. If it means saving my life....I can take a drastic step that will force my body to live right. It was a hard thing to realize that I was not strong enough on my own, but then I had to realize that the insulin doses I'm on make it harder as do the hormones and my body in general at my age....I am making a decision to do the sleeve and I think that it is the best decision I will make in my life!! Have you gone to a support group?? Maybe you need to talk to someone before going on....Í hope you will find peace about this soon.....I will be praying that for you... Sherry

Thanks Sherry.  Sounds like we are both in the waiting stage.  I guess its just scary not knowing how we will adapt to a new lifestyle.  I have been to 2 siminars and 1 support group.  My med. tests are all finished .  Just lots of questions and fearful I will fail this new lifestyle change.
Suzanne

With the band, or any other WLS you DO eat like a normal person, some of us for the first time in our lives.  Normal people don't eat entire cheesecakes or live on junk food-at least normal healthy people.

Any WLS requires you to change your relationship with food-but the good news is that it is doable with the help from the surgery.  Before surgery, it wasn't doable for me or I would have done it.

When you get restriction, the smaller amounts are actually more satisfying than the big amounts I used to eat.  Until you get restriction, it's a bit more of a challenge.

I love my lap band and don't regret it for a minute.  Any struggles have definitely been worth the result-a healthier me.

ditto deb!!! the key with the lapband is being satisfied , or feeling full ,,, i absolutely feel i eat completely normal just healthier smaller amounts , when you diet you have no control , and i was always hungry

Was it hard for you to eat different foods and the tiny amounts?  The small opening to the stoma scares me.  How on earth can enough nutrition get in there?  What are your sample meals?  Seems the more I learn the worst it gets.  Do you ever wonder why you couldn't do this before the band?  I guess it shows us that if we are forced we can do it.  Excuse me, I am just full of questions and doubts.  Thanks for your response.

Nutrition is important, and I think bandsters need to consider supplements just like any other WLS-but the thing that's hard to comprehend is that you are truly satisfied with the smaller amounts.

It's pretty easy in my case, before the band I wasn't satisfied with a small amount.  Now I am.