Lap-Band Diet

I'm thinking of having the lap band as my choice of surgery.  But I'm slowly gearing towards the RNY.  Let me tell you why.  A "person" I know just had the lap band  and doesn't seem to be restricting her diet at all.  She figures as long as she chews her food well and it goes down she's fine.  She's eating things high in fat.  Spinach with cream cheese.  Is this on the diet plan.  She also has plateaued on her weight loss .  I'm just confused.  I know that the RNY is more restrictive. But I like the recovery time after a lap band.   What is the minimum about of time for recovery for RNY?  I know everyone is different but if I could get some examples it would be great.

I personally opted for the Lap Band because 1. it is less invasive and 2. You have control of your weight loss. I didnt like the idea of my insides being rerouted and it not being reversible. I know some have said that lap band is not reversible either, but it is. If you have complications where your band needs to come out, then it will get taken out. I have lost 46 pounds since my surgery on April 18th and it has not been easy. You definitely have to work at it. It is true that you have less restriction with the band, but that is why you get fills on a regular basis. I LOVE MY BAND!!   By the way....spinach and FAT FREE cream cheese is excellent for someone with a band!! As a matter of fact that sounds delicious...lol Good luck and remember is ultimately your decision, talk to your surgeon and see which surgery will be the best for YOU!!! Take care and by the way I have a "BANDSTER" cookbook that one of the members of OH put together for us, if you want it, let me know..you can get an idea of things we can eat...lol Take care Jullee

Lap-band has a much slower and healthier weight loss, most don't get good restriction until about 3-5 fills in.  The diet consists of real solid foods, if she is beyond the mushie stage and still eating a lot of mushies she will be working around the band.  It is not uncommon to plateau.  It typically means that she needs another fill or needs to evaluate the foods she is eating.  WLS is not a cure - it  is just a tool.  This goes for the band and RNY.  With the band the issues popup early, with RNY it results in weight gain later.  Good luck in your decision!

 I do not believe that RNY results in weight gain later. The weight gain later is only if the person never learns to use that tool from the beginning and if used from beginning, they don't use it in the future of their weight loss or maintenance. Yrs. ago, my real sister had the rny and did just that... sigh... foolish women. Haven't seen her in yrs either... but I hear she is still as heavy as she ever was.  I see her as that 1% vs. 99% that follow through. Spinache and fat free cream cheese??? OH YUMMM!!  You can really have that?? Here's one to try with scambles egg... (if scrambled egg is on the list)  Scrambled egg with fat free cream cheese (tiny bit)and a dash of chives, please put one of those beautiful chive flowers (yes, they are ettable) in, you will be amazed of the flavor. :) YUM YUM YUM!!

That is exactly what I ment. With the lap-band you are forced to learn to use the tool or you will not lose your weight...but with RNY you can lose weight just by getting the procedure done and if you never really learn how to use the tool it is easier to gain the weight back.

No matter what surgery you choose, you will be able to eat around it.   I have had two friends that have had RNY.  Both of them have ate crap since day one.  One did lose a great amount of weight and one only lost 60 pounds with the surgery.   Neither of them worked out or really tracked their food.   In order to make any surgery work you need to put in some work on your part.  Neither one of them expierenced dumping.  And one and half to two years out one was able to eat 4 slices of pizza again in one sitting.   The point I am just trying to make is just look at you and not what someone else is doing.  What surgery will work best for you and what surgery do you think you can work with better.   No sugery is fail-proof.  If my body had been rejecting the band, I would have leaned more to getting the gastric sleeve.  I am anemic and I didn't want to aggravate that even more so. Good luck on choosing what is best for you.

Thank you everyone. I love this board.  Everyone's tip is really helpfull.