The LapBand is a tool

I have a complaint that drives me crazy.

I just hate when "TheLapBand is a tool" is told  to people who are thinking about having a lapband.

I don't think they have a clue what this means.  As a matter of fact I think we all have different ideas of what this means.

What is your idea of  "The Lap Band is just a tool"?.  It does not work like a diet pill, it is not something that will stop you from eating certain foods, it doesn't stop you from being hungry (at least not in the way you felt full before) It does not stop head hunger. What is it?

I think there is a much better way to describe what the lap band does.(Or doesn't do for some)  I also think this would help people from being disappointed in the surgery.

How would you explain this to a person that has not yet had a lapband?

This is just my opinion but I think saying The Lapband is a tool is falling on deaf ears to someone who has never had one.

I have lost my weight with the LapBand but I am not a real fan.  "The LapBand is a tool" did not really mean anything to me.  I think a better discriptiion could help people make more informed decisions. 

Eating a certain amount of food and then not being hungry for 3-4 hours is not a good discription because some people never get there.  Also the newly lapbanded do not have a fill so they don't know why they are getting hungry and using that tool as they were told to.

It is just not a good choice of words for this and causes lots of disappointment and failure IMO
.

I agree! It will be hard to explain because it so different for each person. This tool does not offer any help with ice cream, candy, chips or cookies. So if that was your eating habit, this tool might not help.
If you look at dieting as eating lots of veggies, salads and fruit, this tool might not work for you.
If you are looking for some help with hunger control, this may or may not work.
I have had my lap band for two years now. I worry about what damage it may be doing. But I apperciate that has helped me be able to maintain what weight I have lost. That is the most significant thing I have found with the lap band. It has helped me keep off every pound I have worked so hard to lose.

To ME, the meaning of any WLS as being just a tool, is like, I'm building a bookcase and the screwdriver is just one of the tools that will help me build it. So the lap band is just ONE thing that will help someone lose weight. ALL the lap band does is make you full on less, that's it. The rest is up to you, to choose the right foods, to not overeat, to exercise. For most if you choose the wrong foods you will still be hungry, if you are too tight and rely on the band too much, it will hurt you in the long run, if you do not exercise your metabolism will slow and you will lose slower or stop altogether. If you graze all day, you will be consuming too many calories. I think all WLS types are just tools. Definitely not a miracle cure or easy way out.

Thank you for this post.

 I too, worry about what damage is being done, but appreciate that my band has helped me DIET and maintain weight loss...even with my band unfilled, I'm having difficulty eating what I should.

EVERY weight-loss surgery is a tool, when you get right down to it. Each will help you with some things, but none will keep you from

- eating the wrong foods
- eating at the wrong times
- grazing
- not eating healthily (protein first, veggies, low carbs, etc.)
- not eating what you're not supposed to
- stress eating and other emotional eating

Every tool has its own job. You can't screw in a nail with a router and you can't cut wood with a C-clamp. A reciprocating saw is a GREAT tool, but if you are just looking to prop up an uneven table leg, a shim does a better job. All the saw will do is force you to shorten ALL the table legs!

We have to use the tools we have in the ways they were intended.

No matter what method we choose, we will have to get our heads in the right place or ANY tool will fail us or, rather, we will fail it.

 Bette, after reading this post, it is no wonder you are a success. 

Betty your post hit home.  You are so right. Thank you for still being her for all of us.  Those who are starting out   Those who have come back after they have slipped up You are an inspiration!!!

 Oh, stop! 

Bette:
I am not trying to argue with you at all.  It is just everything you mentioned we know if we have ever dieted. It doesn't matter if you have had any WLS you know you should not do those things. 

That was my point.  Saying that the lapband is a tool is not telling a person that never had one anything,

Have a great day!
Pickles