Has anyone had a gastric band that worked ?

[ladypanbanisha]

I am considering a gastric band. Loads of failed diets, bad habits etc etc.

It seems I only hear stories of failed bands but I don't want a bypass or anything major.

Has anyone had a band that worked ? I have about 7 stones to lose.

I know two men who have had it, and it worked very well for both.

However, both of them have piled a lot of the weight back on as they only changed their eating/exercise habits for a year or so. Both of them gradually began eating larger and larger quantities, and resumed their previous 'bad' habits of eating sugar, etc. At first, they both exercised regularly - but now they never do.

Long way of saying.....I think it works physically, but you really must make lifestyle changes in order for it to be effective longterm.

Of course it works but you have to change your eating and exercise attitudes for life after the band is fitted.

If you have to change your eating and exercise habits for life is there any advantage to the band ?

If you have to change your eating and exercise habits for life is there any advantage to the band ?

That's a good question, lady.

I have spent a lot of time wondering this myself. Having a weight loss operation seems an odd thing to do because it does not address the real issue; that you are eating too much for your lifestyle. It just forces you to 'fix' your overeating temporarily but, as Earlybird posted, does not 'fix' your actual behaviour in the long term. You can only do that by freely practicing it on a daily basis, without the restriction of a band forcing you to do so.

I have in the past lost 8 stone using one of those meal replacement diets that are very popular just now. Sadly, reaching a glorious size 10 did not stop me regressing and putting it all back on again. Why? Because I followed the plan perfectly, never deviating, always compliant, always successful. Then, after reaching goal and reintroducing food again bad habits crept in, slowly and insidiously.

Earlybird, you ask your two friends how it was for them. I bet they'll tell you a similar tale.

I think that eating less is the only way to be successful long term. This amount of food will vary for all of us but generally our portion sizes need to reduce. I know I have spoken of this before but I got a lot of help and advice from a book called Eating Less. In a nutshell it tells me to take responsibility for what I put in my mouth, to always make a free choice about what I eat, and to be absolutely clear about the consequence to my health if I make the choice to eat something for reasons other than hunger or nutrition.

If there are people successful in the long term after weight loss surgery, they have made the mental changes necessary for success. Same for long term successful dieters. Most people don't have long term success with dieting though, that's why we have such a massive £multi-billion industry.

lady I haven't had one myself but without outing myself I work in an industry that offers bariatric surgery. It involves life long commitment to keep the weight off. Its not a miracle cure. It is a quick easy way to lose weight though.
Would you go private or NHS?

I am thinking of going private but if I need to commit to diet and exercise I can't see how the band would help when dieting is still required.

Will it reduce my appetite and stop me feeling hungry ?

OP - the surgery is not a final solution to weight issues. You have to make an effort to maintain the weight loss. After the surgery, you cannot resume eating the way that led you to pile the weight on to begin with - the weight will creep back.

Both of my acquaintances had previously eaten significant amounts of high calorie foods, and large portions at every meal. For a few months after the surgery, the weight 'fell off' as they felt 'full' after eating a small amount. However, gradually they increased their portion size and now they are back to eating almost what they ate before surgery.

FWIW, after a 'certain age', metabolism changes and very few people can eat/drink whatever they want without gaining weight (unless they exercise to burn the calories). It is a fact that most people must watch what they eat and do some level of physical activity to maintain a healthy weight (not to mention maintaining habits that are good for your overall health).

lady you will simply be full on a very small amount of food.
Often the surgeon will require you to lose a fixed percentage of weight before he/she will perform the procedure.

some patients eat through the pain barrier and the band becomes useless.

Your best course of action would be to research the procedure and speak to a surgeon. Most will give free initial consultations.