Last month of pre-insurance stuff and I've changed my mind

I think if you are fully informed on both processes you need to listen to your gut.  So many peole say they are ok with the slow weight loss and then so many people come on here crying about the slow weight loss, then you look at their numbers and they have average the 1-2 pounds per week, which doesn't make sense.  So, dig deep and decide if the slow weight loss is really OK with you.  It will be SLLLLLOW in comparison to RNY.  You will have to work harder then RNY  to get the weight off.  The band will control your hunger, once you hit restriction 1 to 10 months after surgery, but it will not control your head, want and desire for food.  However, neither will RNY and I know a few people with RNY who still struggle with that as well. 

I was originally RNY bound and then decided to truly get informed on the band.  I was one of the "ew, I don't want to get shots".  LOL  Then, I opened my mind and listened.  It just felt comfortable FOR ME.  I never felt comfortable with RNY and was scared to death.  I also was TRULY ok with the slower weight loss, in comparison to the other procedures.  I just knew I needed change.  I actually thought the band would be best for me cause I would need to be more active in the process which would help me learn and process what I've been through and maybe give me the best chance at long term success.  I also read so many books, hundreds of posts on here and got informed on the whole process.  I also read about obesity and healthy lifestyles so  I could truly learn and be prepared to make that change.  I feel I really have.  I have dieted and lost so many times and this time it is different for me.  I am enjoying the new changes, the new cooking, the healthier life not just for me, but for my husband and kids.  I am so proud of myself for what I am now doing and passing on and it feels so good.  I hated being the big fat mom knowing I very well could pass that on to my kids.  They are still very young so I know they will grow up knowing a healhthy and fit way of life and that makes me so happy.  If you have kids I am sure you understand and if you don't you will be one step ahead and will be all the better for it, whether you do rny or band. 

My advice is to become as educated as possible and then listen to what your head and gut are telling you.  I never got rid of the sick to my stomach feeling when thinking of rny, it just really was not for me.  When I finally got educated on the band, process and what to really expect...well I got excited and that feeling wasn't there.  So, I picked the band and won't look back and I am only 4 months post op, but so far I am very happy with my choice.  If I don't hit my ultimate goal for 2 more years, I am OK with that...as long as I am moving down, pound by pound.

So, it's not a matter of which one is right or wrong or which one is better.  It's what you truly want and expect from your weight loss surgery and which process you think you need to truly succeed with.  Dig deep and decide, but I have a feeling you probably all ready know which one it is you want to go with.  Say it, do it and tell everyone else be it band or bypass to mind their own business.  Be positive and know that you can, you have to believe in yourself.

Boo

Thank you so much for your words.  They really mean a lot.  I do have kids and I want to pass on some healthier behaviors to them.  That's really important to me.  How much weight have you lost post-op?  I know it's slower, but I just really am uncomfortable with the RNY.  I just want the weight to come off.  I think your success in anything really depends on your commitment.  I may not lose weight as fast as RNY, but I will be developing some healthier alternatives to pass on to my kids.  Thanks again for your encouragement.

I have now lost 42 pounds since surgery.  I lost 33 pre-op from the end of April till surgery.  75 pounds off my body and it feels so good.  I dieted and tried to really learn the new strategies and make the changes pre-band and I wish more people pushed that because I think it was huge.  I went into the surgery with a sense of accomplisment and it had me feeling so gung ho.  We're all differen though.  I also follow all the rules.  I still weigh, measure and count my foods.  Some people don't and have great success, but I need to do it.  Once I get to goal, I plan on stopping that and seeing if I can maintain.  I really do measure though every meal.  I also have been exercising, nothing crazy, but I take walks, ride my stationary bike and this month I have been doing a DVD (The 30 Day Shred) 6 days a week.  It is work, but I just feel so good.  I was so sad and upset at myself when I was at my highest it feels so great to take control of my life back. 

As a mom, you fear passing on bad food choices, big heavy meals, sodas, juices.  I was always aware of that with my 4 year old, even when I was still heavy.  She don't know any different and she loves talking about healthy foods.  I never make it about dieting, weight or looks, just that we are eating healhty to keep our bodies healthy.  The only thing we've banned from our house is soda and high sugar juices from our house.  We don't buy any bad snacks, cookies or chips or anything like that.  I do believe we need to rid our house of them foods or else they are just there for us to fail and eat them.  Plus, if we don't want to eat them why do we buy them (so they are there just in case).  Nope.  When I have a craving, my only options are healhty.  I do treat myself here and there and if I really want something bad and that urge don't go away, I eat it.  Not a lot but I do let myself have it.  It's controlled though and that is the huge difference.  I think of the mom that my daughters will have in comparison to the mom they almost had and this is so worth the hard work. 

Also, after years of beating myself up, calling myself names in my head and just hating myself for letting me get so big and super morbidly obese I decided I needed to revamp my mindset.  It was hard at first, I felt silly but I started saying "I CAN" in my head everytime I struggled.  I started telling myself I was worth it, my family deserved it and I CAN.  I stopped berating and judging myself.  I stated that I needed to be proud I recognized the problem and made a choice to get help.  I wanted to stop the negativity that I put on myself which only wore me down and set me up to fail before I even began.  It took a couple months to REALLY take, but it has and I now know and believe I CAN and am worth it, we all are.  If we don't do it for ourselves, no one else can or will and a healthy you is the best thing you can give yourelf, your spouse, family, children.  So, we need to do it.  Also, I had read in my obesity and band books "if you do the same, you get the same".  I decided to try and be positive and believe in me and see how it went.  It's going great.  I don't know if you have struggle with them things, but if you have...start now and change your outlook.  It will help you and get your through some tough times ahead.  :)

Boo