This week I read the story of a patient who “failed” her lap band surgery on one of the message boards. I get really disheartened when I hear about people who have “failed” with lap band surgery, and I also work really hard to learn, to see if I can understand why. Failure can mean many things: failure to achieve average weight loss; failure to achieve your goals; failure to achieve someone else’s goals for you. I talk with hundreds of patients; in my experience, the most successful lap band patients are those who go in to surgery with “their eyes wide open,” with realistic expectations and a plan. All too often, as was the case in this particular story I hear something to the effect of “I had a weight loss surgery; it was supposed to work. I didn’t know I would have to…or, if I could have done that, I wouldn’t have needed this surgery…”
So, I think back to the days when I was researching and preparing for lap band surgery. I was very confused. I didn’t know which surgery was best for me. I didn’t really understand what everyone meant when they said the surgery was a tool. I’m a planner and I NEED data, so I spent nearly a year seriously researching weight loss surgery, even longer lurking on message boards. If you’ve read my early exploring blog entries, you know that I was very confused about whether I wanted a lap band or gastric bypass. Reliable, unbiased information was hard to find, and long-term successful lap band patients were even harder to come by. Eventually I met Sandi, as well as other lap band patients, my peers, who helped me make sense of it all. Sandi helped me understand what she did to be a successful lap band patient. I went out to dinner with Sandi and other lap band patients from the support group. I learned by listening, and I learned by seeing. I learned that different people ate differently, yet they were still successful. Each one of these successful lap band patients had a plan and knew what they needed to do. They were skilled at using their tool. My peers helped me go into lap band surgery with my “eyes wide open,”
with realistic expectations, with a plan and a support structure that could help me achieve success and reach my goals. (If you are interested in reading more about my goals for lap band surgery or to post your own goals, click here).
I was so very lucky to find Sandi and Dr. Billy and his team who were all intensely focused on helping me understand what I needed to do to be a successful lap band patient. Let’s face it, after all the diets I had been on, the hundreds of pounds lost and re-gained, regardless of what I said I was still hoping for that magic wand. I could have easily fallen into the school of expecting the lap band to do all the work. I could have been the one saying “it (the lap band) was supposed to…”
I have the opportunity to talk with a lot of people who want to learn, who want to know what it takes to be a lap band success. If you are one of those people you may want to check out some of the articles written for people preparing for lap band surgery , or to understand how I use my tool, click here. As part of our commitment to pay it forward, Sandi and I are trying to share what we’ve learned, and what we continue to learn on this journey.
There are a few members of our Banded Living community, who are getting ready for lap band surgery this coming week and are planning, reading, asking questions, and working hard to prepare. You know who you are; we’re all here to support you!
We also have some members who are struggling and looking for support and inspiration to go back to the basics of using the tool. It’s not too late. You may want to visit setbacks, regain and plateaus.
I think planning to be a lap band success boils down to some key points:
- Do your homework so that you can go forward “with your eyes wide open.”
- Surround yourself with people who can help you on your journey.
- Understand what YOU need to do to work your tool and achieve YOUR goals.
- Have a plan to work your tool everyday.
So, tell me what you think about this?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Gloria,
Great post.
There are times we all get discouraged with our journey. It’s important to look at where we came from. Ask:
What would my weight be without having had surgery?
Would I have been able to lose what I have (no matter how large or small) without the Band?
Has any aspect of my health improved?
Do I feel better?
Too often I have seen people literally jump into most WLS as a “quick fix” without thinking about the long-term effects. This has resulted in some fairly disastrous results.
When I went into this surgery there was no need to reroute my insides, and once I reach my goal I will have this tool that will help me maintain a healthier weight.
I was glad to see a family of bandsters on the View on Friday with their doctor who emphasized that the lap-band was a safer, healthier option.
I think a lot of people, sometimes including myself “fail” because they are too hard on themselves. When i last weighed myself i had lost a little less than in previous weigh ins. At first i was kind of disappointed but then i remembered that i still had lost. I also had a bit of a think and realised that i had gotten a bit cocky and careless particularly with the exercise.