Regrets

As Luanne stated, this is not a diet, and if you look at it that way, it will never work. This is a lifestyle, and you pretty much have to throw all you have known and believed about diets, out the door. I did not have the band; my surgery also allows restriction only and at first I was amazed at the small amounts of food I could eat..today, I feel pretty normal and the portion size that my stomach allows is what I consider a normal portion (I can only eat about 1/2 to a 3/4 cup of food); however, it has become "my lifestyle" and I don't feel that I am depriving myself. I believe that any person going through with WLS needs to be emotionally and physically prepared for the best outcome - and asking questions is absolutely normal; however, please make sure this is something you are prepared for....a lot of emotions surface after surgery and the best way to deal with those are preparedness! Needless to say, I have absolutely no regrets! I wish you the best of luck and feel free to ask anytime you have a question...

Anna

 

My only regret....not doing it EARLIER!

I'm not a bander but a VSG'er and I'm thrilled with my tiny tummy!  A full stomach is a full stomach whether it takes 1/2 cup of food or 2 pounds!  The tiny tummy is in control and that's a good thing.  I wasn't doing a very good job of making decisions for myself but it's easier now with the small tummy.

But HappyCat is right.  (she usually is - she's my older sister!)  There is a strong mental component to wls.  You really should be positive this is what you want.

I, too, wish that I had done this sooner!

Hi there~ I am with the other guys and gals on this board.  I didn't have the lap band surgery either, I had RNY and an open RNY at that.  There is definitely a strong mental component involved with any WLS that you have.  I know that, at 4 years out, I can eat more than 1/2 cup of food.  I am also getting the majority of my proteins from food sources and not from liquid drinks.  My doctor prefers I do it that way.  I failed at every "strict diet" in the book... and to me, this feels like normal eating more than before my WLS when I was obese and I got looks for eating what I did.  I understand your nervousness and your cold feet as it IS a life-changing experience, but my only regret is not doing it sooner than I did.  Good luck to you and we're all here for you!

I have absolutely no regrets , the purpose of the lapband is to give you the feeling of being full , you are satisfied with an smaller amount of food therefore you are able to lose weight , this is not a diet it is a lifestyle ......i personally tried and failed many times with so called diets , so the lapband for me has been the answer for me .  If you are hungry then you need more restriction , what is called a "fill"

I am a VSGer.  I love my tummy.  The reason I choose the VSG over the band is VSG is more effective with diabetes, costs, and my lifestyle.

Since the band is restrictive with no possibilities of dumping, I knew that it wouldnt keep me from making the wrong eat choices.  Costs, my surgery wasnt alot more than the band and once it was complete, i knew that i didnt have to keep going back to doc for the fills.  lifestyle,  I know that I am a grazer, and with the band(for me) nothing would change.

The best thing to do is get as much info as possible and make the decision for you.  Your doc will guide you in the right path.  But it is a complete lifestyle change.

Good luck in your journey

I'm a RNY and the only regriet I have is that I didn't do it sooner.....like 15 years ago! I feel great for the first time since I was a teen. I didn't know I felt bad till I felt good, if that makes any sense.