I do not have a lot of faith in this diet. I got the surgery about five years ago and I had nothing but complications afterward. It does not teach you ways to eat well unless you have a nutritionist on board to help you after the surgery, which I did not. Also, I had to be very strict and rigid with what I ate because my stomach was literally a quarter of the size of what it used to be. I could eat very little after surgery. It was mostly liquid to begin with as well. Even when I was able to stomach solid foods, I could barely eat a whole meal before my stomach started to hurt. I think that this surgery should be a last resort. There are so many other ways to lose weight, before turning to surgery. Only get the surgery if other methods have not worked and you are seriously obese. I was immensely overweight. If being overweight has become unhealthy for you and other methods have fallen short, that is a better reason to look into getting the surgery. This surgery should only be for the prevention of bad health because of obesity, not because you want to lose a few pounds. No matter what you hear, this is not an easy surgery. I could barely stomach anything afterward and I could only consume mainly liquids for about two months after I received the surgery. The pain can be intolerable. My incision became infected (and I followed all the rules afterward to keep it clean). If you do not follow the rules, the lap band will have to be taken out because it can seriously hurt you. I had mine removed a year later due to serious complications (not because I did not take care of myself) and I have lost more weight on a regular diet system than I did after my lap band surgery. Effectiveness Lap band surgery is only effective if you have incredible self control. I quickly found that eating too much with the lap band can cause serious problems.

Fairyrhi

USA

After a life long struggle with my weight, I made the choice to have a LapBand completed both for me, AND my children. My goal was simple, be the healthiest ME I could be. Effectiveness Like any weight loss program, there are rules to follow. With the LapBand, It WILL tell you when you've broken a rule. Over eat, you'll know it. Same goes with eating food you shouldn't. this can be a mixed blessing. While frustrating at times, it serves as a reminder as to why you chose the LapBand path to begin with. Side Effects There are side effects. Mainly the pain and discomfort of the actual surgery. Once that has subsided, the worst side effects are learning when you've eaten too much of something or eaten something you shouldn't. The port is not painful, and the band itself is a surgical implant, and therefore made to feel 'invisible'. Ease of Use Its a learning process. The band itself is simple. Adjusting your eating habits, and learning what you can and cant tolerate are the most challenging. Sure there are soem foods that you should avoid, breads and such, but almost everything else is trial and error. What one person can eat, another cantm and vice versa. That's what makes the LapBand a customized solution.

JamieBesore

USA

OK, bottom line, there are some minor adjustment to be made, OVER TIME. Namely, you will feel a vague emotional loss following your breakup from "mass quantities." And you will learn to adust--via mild negative reinforcement--to smaller quantities. However, the trade-off is just unbelievable, as I feel like 20 years have been taken off (and added to) my life. Yes, when I eat solid food it sits in the new upper stomach and it doesn't feel as good--I'm 30 months in. However, the good food I am able to eat makes me feel GREAT. I have not eaten a hamburger, cheesburger, or steak in almost 2 1/2 years, and my cholesterol is off the charts (literally), in a good way. Find a very good doctor and get this done. My doctor was Robert McKeen and I had the procedure done at Good Samaritan in San Jose, CA A terrific, wonderful experience, I traveled on business the day following surgery and only experienced mild nausea (OK, the doc was not wild about the travel plans). Do it and change your life NOW. Very Best, Mike Viall, Soquel, CA

MikeViall

Soquel, CA

i was overweight and depressed nothing fitt me and ididnt not like the plus size section at the department stores ihad the gastric lap done two years ago iwas 250 and now 150 lbs iwent from size 20w to a size 10 its wonderfull my life is changed ilove my self now im sorry to say that being fat is ugly and ithink iwas ugly but now im beutifull and sexy so idvise any women to do it asap its worth it and worth every penny.

nattalie

Richmond, VA

Lap Band Surgery has got to be one of the only realistic ways to lose weight, especially for people who have had such a difficult time trying to lose weight. The best one I have heard of is the one which does not require surgery, it seems to be the safest, least dangerous method. I have researched this for my husband.

Bona

Spring Hill, FL

When i first heard of the lap band sugery i was a skeptic like most others. I had a few friends who actualy went threw with it and i saw a huge difference in thier weight loss and thier self esteam so, i descided to give it a try and let me tell you after just a short few months my life was much better. I could walk up stairs again without getting out of breath, i could walk down the streets faster and with more ease. My self esteam went threw the roof i was feeling better not only physicaly but mentaly as well i feel so much better about myself.   I totaly recomend this surgery for anyone who wants to lose alot of weight safely and easily in my opinion it is much better than the gastric bypass surgery for many reasons. 1: it is not permanent 2: you lose the weight alot slower so you dont wind up with as much loose skin hanging around both figuraly and literaly lol 3: you will deffinitly feel better about yourself thanks to the people who came up with this wonderful surgery -Josh

joshuaKnapp1974

Delhi, CA

I had this done about 2 years ago...It was the best idea ever made...there are some cons to it but in the end it pays off....I dont drink soda anymore..i have a sweet a week to not binge which is bad for you....i eat less and feel great...i have lost 50lbs and still need to lose 50lbs more...but hitting a plateu happens to many people...but i have never felt better...

Nekochan25

Anchorage, AK

My husband had the lapband surgery about four years ago now. He has lost over 125  pounds. i was almost afraid the weight loss wouldnt stop on its own -- but it did. he looks and more importantly, feels, amazing. his health problems have all disappeared. he doesnt have a long laundry list of pills to take now. all of his medications have been stopped by his doctor as well. now all he takes is vitamins...he is so happy. this surgery has changed his life for the better. actually, it changed all of our lives because now he can do things he couldnt do before. i suggest you research this surgery on your own!!

maddysmom

Englishtown, NJ

Death to adipose tissue.  A most welcome death to those who suffer from it's outrageous growth.  I personally have suffered from excess weight since I was 13, and have jumped on the band wagon of every weight loss fad and trend since 2001.   There are 10 tips to loose fat, and 13 days to a slimmer you, and everything else out there, the unfortunate thing is that if you don't have the tools to make these things work, then how do these weight loss scheme really help.   The Lap-Band is a solution to the tool that is needed for successful weight-loss.  Lap_Band is a band that they put around the top part of your stomach.  For most it is a out-patient procedure, that allows you to limit the amount of food that you take in at a time, allowing you to still feel full and get the nutrition you need.  Granted you'll never again be able to go to an ALL YOU CAN EAT and get your money's worth but the tool is there to be able to loose 2-3 lbs a week till you've reached your goal weight.  You can spend thousands over the years and not get anywhere.  Or you can invest in a procedure that give you the tool to be sucessful.  Lap-Band is a wonderful tool, and it works.  

IccaBaby

Titusville, FL

My mother had the lap band surgery almost a year ago.  About four years earlier, she considered getting the classic gastric bypass surgery, but she felt it was too evasive.  Later she found out that it could have killed her due to her iron deficiency.  With the lap band, there's no cutting, stapling, rearranging the organs; just an adjustable, fluid filled band secured around the upper part of the stomach.  The process isn't easy, there are no quick fixes, and you still have to change your lifestyle/habits, but it does work, and it's completely reversable if something goes wrong.  Since having the surgery, my mom has lost 102 lbs, and hopes to lose about another 100 lbs (she was almost 400 lbs).  She has so much energy now, and her obesity-related ailments are disappearing.  She no longer takes diabetes medication, and almost never has to take insulin anymore.  A lot of her other drugs have been reduced or eliminated.  She can go shopping again in a store, go out walking with the dog.  Basically she's become the mother I never got to have until now and it feels great.  I highly recommend looking into getting a lap band if you're morbidly obese and looking at gastric surgery!

Raskalboy

Princeton, MN