hello BAF- any BANDERS with success?

Hello BAF- I'm new to OH and I'm just trying to meet folks. My story is on my page but basically I am in process of getting ready for LapBand. I am a sloppy eater- meaning I am the snack monster- for real....Anyone out there who has had the band or is also getting the band? I have done WW, Jenny, and Medifast- and still have remnants of all those diet products in my house. Any suggestions for getting ready before the doc puts me on the 2 wk pre-op Optifast? I am about 322 and would like to have the surgery in March or April- it wold be nice to drop 20# by then. Any suggestions would help!!!Should I do WW (I am registered for WW but dont show up for weighins) and I have a bunch of MF stuff in the house but I dont feel quite disciplined to do all shakes at this point....

I would also love to meet BANDERS in the Philly/NJ/DE/MD area too!

Alright BAF...holla atcha gurl

Hey 
I am 4 years out and havent had any problems. You can read my profile. But my inspiration cames from this lady http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php ?N=B1061853329 Good luck!!

Thanks! did you put yourself on any diet before hand? And how is your eating now? 4 years out--are there still off limit foods? I am sorry to ask so many???? but I am very curious...thanks again!

I only had to do clear liquids and MOM 48hrs prior to surgery. I eat whatever I want just in moderation. I have a problem with some foods going down, but nothing I cant handle.

your page is hillarious...still laughing at grandma. I am in Mount Vernon Ny and considering wls options. I am willing to work hard, justg need some help. From what I have read, I prefer the band but I am pushing 270 (you almost fell off the chair, imagine my horror)  and I need to loose 100 pounds. I too consider myself to be fabulous, but honestly I am feeling like a foreigner in my own body. So how long did it take to loose 85 pounds?  

Hey there.  I had the band a little over a year ago.  Unfortunateely I've had a bit of a bumpy road.  I relocated and had a bit of a hard time finding a new dr and my port flipped so I'll be having surgery again next week to reposition my port.  I dropped almost 15 lbs doing my preop diet.  I didn't do the Optifast, my doc had his pts do Unjury (www.Unjury.com).  Prior to surgery I weighed about 365-370.  After surgery I'm down about 50 lbs and hopefully will finally get to my goal weight once my port/band is working properly again.  When I was new I spent alot of time on the LapBand board for more band specific help.

Good luck!

Welcome to BAF.

I have the band. The band will work for you if you have the patience for it, however if you are looking for fast weight loss, you may or may not achieve that.

Most days, I consider myself a success.

I live in Maryland.

I have had the band for 18 months now.  I have lost 74 pounds and want to lose about 30 more.  You have to be careful with the band because you can still eat those snack foods (which is called eating around the band).  I did not lose a lot of weight pre-op.  But it's coming off slowly but I am happy with my choice. 

Hello....bandster here......

I'm 30 something months post op and I'm down about 75 lbs. 
I lost close to 30 lbs prior to surgery and the rest since surgery..which beats a blank anytime of the day. 

Somedays I feel great  depending on my mood,  positive feedback from others,  and of course what Im wearing.   Other days, I feel I failed at this thing miserably  

I think that this is a great tool with the potential to really help someone change their lifestyle over time and get their weight under control,   but....and there always seems to be a but........you have to truly be disciplined to work it  to the max. 


Meaning watching your intake diligentlly, eating protein first,  working out faithfully and  drinking the water. The snacking is a major slow your roll with the band...it will take you waaaaay off course because you consume so many calories eating the snacks - and they go down much easier than anything else.  Trust me I know.

Do I still feel as if Im dieting ....yes    ( especially now with so many months out) 
It was easier to be motivated when I just had the surgery because I wanted so desperately for this thing to work.   In fact I was doing it without any fills.  It seems once I got the fills - I got lazy and started relying on the band to do most of the work for me.

But again,  I have to consider that I may have never lost this weight entirely on my own without the aide or assistance of the band.  

Its what you make it...think long and hard about your choice and lifestyle before you decide to go with this procedure or any other because as they say.....the surgery in itself is just a tool. 
Not a quick fix. 

Best wishes !

I could have written this Plum...exactly.  I'm determined to get these last 30 off and start exercising regularly for the first time.