I just found out a friend of mine had this surgery, she had complications...she used the terms too busy for the gym and a need to change her eating habits she quoted the advert word for word..its freaking brainwashing...want to know an easy way to lose weight...eat for your blood type...and walk everyday...its as easy as that, I lost 12 pounds of fat just fat in 2 weeks...and I dont have ANY dietary issues anymore...I have been eating only whats on my blood type list and walking everyday...I sleep better, feel better am never bloated, eat better than have ever...

I have the Slimband, going on my two year anniversary next month. My starting weight when banded was 364 pounds, today I am 189 pounds. Slimband saved my life and I have NEVER dieted or been to the gym once sincebeing banded. It is a total lifesaver and I find your alternative suggested to it very rude and offensive. The surgery is expensive, yes as it is a SURGERY but how much money has the average person wasted on gym memberships, dieting pills, meal plans, meeting with nutritionist, weight watchers, jenny craig, nutrisystem only to gain it all back? Enough said.

Now the Slimband surgery is down to $16000.00! or $0 down and only $89.00 a WEEK for 5 years!!! wow! I cant believe i actually thought about this! This has encouraged me to join a quality gym and hire a personal trainer, a good one that will motivate me and kick my ass!!! and all for a fraction of the slimchance, i mean bands cost!!!

p.s. after speaking with someone with a slimband, the only way they will gain the weight back is if they have the band removed.

Hav you ever met someone who has had the Slimband procedure? Probably not based on your opinion. I have the Slimband, Ive had it for 6 years now this coming April. I went from a lonely, miserable and fat person to a happy, life loving and healthy person. I lost a total of 128 pounds which brought to my goal weight and have kept it off. I had to work after the surgery, this isn't a miracle surgery. This is a life changing surgery. I was ready to do what I had to do to lose the weight and be healthy. You can't sit on the couch eating twinkies and expect this or anything for that matter to work.
I only wish you would have taken the time to research this topic fully before writing such an opinionated and harsh article.

hay fit jerk! i love your jerky personality, rock on !

Took my time reading all the posts regarding this slimband stuff. I have been curious but never gave in. For me its always been the cost, $$$ just can't do it. All in all, the real way to loose weight is to face yourself in the mirror, and be honest with yourself. What happened to you years ago to re-direct you into this way of feeding your emotions that has become out of control that has now caused a whopping basketful of medical health issues and well as a closet full of clothes that are too small from just last week. What is going on inside ones head that is so powerful that you are paralized into doing nothing and seeking a quick way out? why not just face your fears and anxieties and get real with yourself. if your so-called friends are not there to support you in making a healthy new life?, then they are NOT real friends, drop them like a gernade. Losing weight is a journey, and so was gaining it. It didn't happen over night, so why should the loss be so easy? No, stop and listen to what this guy "FitJerk" says... its all about exersize and food choices and not giving up on yourself.

and on that note I need to listen to my own words
thanks
T

i appreciate your comments, slim band was something surgery was something I was considering. I have been struggling with my weight for 30 years. Recently I have broken 2 discs in my back and have undergone surgery. I cannot work out in an appropriate way to lose weight. So I feel stuck and desperate. I will try to look for alternatives. Dieting works to some degree but I have lost and gain the weight many times. Take care, keep it real.

Your so hooked In the money factor. You have every right to your opinion and freedom of speech, but really you just sound like an asshole who cant afford it.

There are a lot of overly provocative messages and replies in this blog post. As an impartial physician and surgeon, I felt it was necessary to chime in. Although surgical interventions should not be undertaken without considering alternatives, they do provide some benefit to certain individuals.

While it is true that some individuals seek gastric banding as a means to attain, cosmetically, a more optimal figure, not all clients follow that template. Unlike other forms of bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, roux en y, etc), gastric banding is (relatively) less invasive (surgically speaking) and provides only a catalyst for change. That in itself is the beautiful part of the operation. It provides some physiological limitation to induce restraint and weight loss, however the large majority of weight loss need be mediated from behavioural changes (i.e., dietary adherence and physical activity participation). Unlike other forms which simply limit caloric absorption and ultimately remove parts of the stomach and GI tract, gastric banding (which can be removed post-operatively by the way) provides only light-moderate pressure, to induce satiety.

As an outsider it's easy to call this intervention an excuse or "easy way out". However, for those who have physical/mobility limitations or suffer from extreme obesity, it may be (the only) ideal alternative to regaining their independence. Moreover, being forced to learn and adhere to lifestyle interventions (a facet typically only associated with gastric banding versus other forms of bariatric procedures) can also provide life-long weight management skills necessary to extend both life expectancy and quality of life.

Remember, not all individuals have the ability to just get up and work it off. As someone who is comfortable enough to pose for photographs shirtless and post them online, you may not understand the issues underlying many patients seeking these types of interventions.
Although I try to promote understanding of the surgery, I am an advocate of physical activity as being the best medicine of all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo

#1 intelligent persons do not need to use foul language to get their point across..I am about to have this procedure done and have been struggling with my weight for years and health issues related to it..and have tried everything including lypo, low fat , atkins , you name it I've been there..but try to maintain the loss ..hah thats a different story.. when the message does'nt reach the brain that your full till you've eaten too much...and slowly you are back to square one .. not good that roller-coaster ride...

These sort infomercials are everywhere. Shocking that people actually go for this, and pay that sort of money. Great disclaimer by the way :)

hi there i was banded with slimband just 4 months ago ..YOUR RIGHT ITS ALL BS ,i havent lost any weight they lied to me when i had my consultation .which for ur info was a former patient not a medical expert and to top off i made sure i explained i was never on a diet before and could not stick to it .she clearly said no worries that the band would reduce me to a cup of food bull shit again ive had all my fills to the cap of 10ccs its designed for only that amount .i dont feel restricted at all and now they are saying they can TWEEK IT add more to my band ,which concerns me because its not desinged to hold more than 10 so why would u TWEEK it ..anyhow they only people loosing weight on this surgery are people very obese as they cut themselves down to 1 cup of food .but why pay slimband to tell you to do that .u will have to diet forever and wht the dont tell u is theres 15 percent arent succesful .i wish i was well advise and i encourage people to write honest reveiews .i would like to make contact with as many people as possible who have had the surgery and no results or lil results or who were lied to or misinformed ,so we can stand together and get all our money back from slimband and make others aware .

I also tried to loos my weight but could'nt .Because I was trying it by just reducing the my food,but I felt weakness.

If you make 22 bucks an hour this surgery will cost you 982 hours (if you make $22 dollars an hours. And this is after 26% tax) to make you thin.

I am starting a juice fast this week and my food bill was $160 for the week. People dont eat healthy because it costs more (which it doesnt). For me it was because I thought it tasted bad. And my excuse is "oh nothing works"

Go on a straight RAW veggie and fruit eating plan and tell me you CANT lose it. Fuckin horse shit excuses I have and I am sure the rest of the fatties have.

I have never seen anyone NOT lose weight on a juice fast and then MAINTAIN eating Raw afterwards.

I think people should loose weight how they want to.. Doesn't matter if it's through surgery, eating healthy, personal trainers...... We should just all be supportive of eachother in whatever process it is.

I think for some people food is a struggle and Slimband is a great way to lose weight permanently when you have tried all other things. With obesity comes depression, insatiable hunger and all kinds of other things that thin people may have no idea about. If you are obese you SHOULD get this surgery- OBESITY is killing us! If we covered this surgery by OHIP then we'd save SOOO much money in the end. Ask yourself this- How many seriously fat people do you know that dieted and KEPT the weight off? Very few. No one chooses to be fat.....no one. Thin people do not understand.

I would have to agree with laurie. I am a 24 year old overweight women, now dont just assume I am some couch potato. I have 2 boys and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after my 1st child, my family and I eat healthy, and are very outdoors people, I enjoy zumba and do that and my daily excercise, however.. I have no gained NOR lost any weight, and I am still 198lbs. dur to my condition and not being able to loose weight I was considering the slimband, and then I found your article.. and I would have to say it did make me rethink my decision.. again however.. after the several \"fucks\" I read in this article makes me wonder if you my dear sir know what you are talking about. You should have takeing the time to express yourself in a more healthy manner,,, instead of sound like a ranting 12 yr old. too bad !!!

Good article, too bad you lost me at the 1 st Fuck. If you were creative enough to find information and write an article one would think you could have found a better way of expressing yourself. The way it is now it sounds like a child raving, lacking the necessary expressions to get his/her point across.

Thank you for this clear and concise summation and critique. I found that these services are often intentionally vague to avoid revealing the flaws and persuade the reader to focus on the conceptual weight loss.

I just want to say this is a great article, and you have a new avid reader.

I come from a place where I've been fit, athletic, as well as a place of being over-weight and sedentary, back to a place of self perceived health & fitness. I have both a natural fitness perspective and a education/professional background in health care.

Everyone has their own reasons for having a higher body fat % and there are varied pathways that will bring them to a point of having body fat % that is closer to the health/self perceived range of "healthy" or "ideal".

Let's remember to come from a place of not judging anyone for the paths that they personally choose to take for their own very reasons. Some may try this and find it doesn't work for them... and some may try and have amazing successes with it.

Being a personal trainer and health care professional, I understand that some live with metabolic disorders or are on treatments that inherently cause uncontrollable weight gain. In addition they may have physical barriers to being able to engage in fitness activities to the intensity and level that is required for the level of fitness training you are referring to.

I'm all about prevention, but what do you do when prevention is long passed and now it's time for interventions?

I get where nutrition and fitness activities fit into a "healthy lifestyle" but many live with chronic diagnoses and illnesses.

Would we deny anyone the opportunity to try to use different tools and means to reach their goal? Would we deny and judge a person who has a morbidly obese diagnosis and wishes to look in the mirror and perceive themselves as healthy? Would we judge someone simply because they choose to use their financial means in a way that differs from our own values & beliefs?

I think people are using Slimband more and more for optional intervention as opposed to medically mandated treatment because Personal Trainers are unaccessible, they don't deliver what they promise, and they aren't education/experienced enough to help EVERYONE with their weight concerns.

The number of people who are using alternative/surgical weight loss methods should actually drive trainers/nutritionists to keep up and be better, market ourselves more honestly, be further educated beyond a weekend course of "how to personal train", and seriously... Corporate gyms KILL any trust clients can have in trainers. Clientele pay a corporate gym 90-100$ for a "no-body trainer" with no real experience and legitimacy. They aren't motivated by desire to see people acheive results, they are motivated to demoralize their clients just enough that they have to keep coming back.

We've made fitness such a complex, financial, emotional, difficult pathway... the health & fitness industry HAS to own that.

If anything, personal trainers, nutritionsts, independent gyms/studios need to step it up to better meet the changing needs of this population.

ps. the "hate/profanity" approach has completely removed you from having any ability to have a positive influence on anyone considering weight loss interventions. You've cut yourself off from a population who still think they can't "do it" with nutrition and "fitness activities". You've actually proved the reason why personal training has very little legitimacy. Personally, I wouldn't want to receive training from you no matter how may credentials, how much experience, or how many successfull stories you have. You simply wouldn't be sensitive or supportive to someone in a vulnerable place and would do more harm than good and create a barrier for your own cause. Please consider this as peer feedback intended to be constructive and not demeaning. However perceive it however you will. :)

I never cease to be amazed at the bigotry towards people who can’t loose weight. I quit smoking and broke my pelvis dislocated my left knee and broke my left foot in an accident not 3 months after. In one year I was up 110lbs. overeating you bet I was I was.

As a smoker I did not ever need to watch my weight happily going along at 120. I have tried so many things and most of them fitness related. I canoe, hike walk the dog 3 times a day do aerobics every Saturday morning and Yoga every Sunday.

I could be a crack snorting steroid pushing anorexic and get more respect. I have a problem I do not know how to fix – I have seen the doctor, no thyroid problem, no other health problems either so basically a healthy fat person. I could give a shit about being skinny, unfortunately the world around me convicts me like the snotty little comments about “how fat people just don’t want to do the hard work” you want a load of BS well that is it. I work my ass off at staying fit and eat basically a normal diet. I don’t drink pop don’t eat chips and hate ice cream. The truth is for some of us you are the problem and this insanely drastic measure people turn to is because of the way you treat them.

You are the problem not us – you are a racist but we are every color – I have pity for you that you are so vain and shallow that you are ignorant to your own hate.

So I'm going to reply in the same manner you have posted and use free speach-your're an asshole and don't know shit about what you are talking about. Before you cut the procedure down perhaps you should have done more research with actual patients having had it done. Is it expensive yes, is it worth it, yes and it's a hell of a lot safer than having bypass surgery! I will challenge you to something, try putting on a fat suit, so you look as tho you weigh 300lbs and tell me if you can do any form of exercise, try doing a burpee or a squat and let me know what you think. Walking up and down a flight of stairs was hard enough and you think i'm lazy for not trying to do a zillion squats! Fuck you asshole! The lap band saved my life, I have dropped 110lbs and now that I can actually move I do workout-vigorously but wihtout the band that would never have happened. I say take down your pathetic website and get a fucking life!

I'm shocked by some of the people on this board who are pro-slimband.

I like how the Slimband representative said that the clients ONLY go to Slimband after they have done every diet, and have tried everything to lose weight on their own.

I think that is bull crap. I used to think I couldn't lose weight and I tried everything...atkins...the cabbage diet...not eating....and guess what1? Those things didn't work. Do you want to know why? Because #1 - I wasn't mentally ready and thoguht things would change overnight and #2 - they're not supposed to work.

Slimband is the same. Once all the people who have used slimband realize and possibly gain all their weight back, it will be the same company trying to sell them something else.

Today I have lost 40 lbs just by changing what and how I eat and exercise.

Another thing...this Slimband thing says you can eat whatever you want. Soooo...these people still want to eat high fat/artery clogging foods...but as long as they're skinny their happy.
Well guess what...just cause you're skinny doesn't mean you are healthy.
Have fun having a heart attack.

After reading the informtion, I am now scared for my son. He is 16 years old and 370 lbs. After years of doctors, nutritionists and trying to get him moving and eating healthy, my doctor says when he turns 18 he can have the "stomach band". Thinking this would be a solution....until I read about it. He has such a hard time exercising. I don't know what to do for him?

I cannot help but nearly cry when I read this article. I have about 50lbs to loose till I get to my "goal weight". My weight got out of control after having 2 beautiful children and 2 miscarriages. I did get on the right track for awhile and did the P90x program, I lost 12 pounds, 6% body fat and felt completely empowered. It was a big deal to try to work out over an hour every day with two children to manage under the age of 4. Since graduating the program I have went back to my stupid ways, stopped exercising and started eating poorly again. I gained all the weight back, feel like a failure and like ultimate crap. I have been desperately seeking a way to gain control again and have been consulting with a Slimband Consultant. She HAD me sold. Trying to find a way to come up with the down payment, possibly getting an evening/weekend job to pay the monthly payments and CONVINCING my husband who is hell bent against it that it is MY solution. (He has dropped weight exercising and eating properly, started by P90X) He feels doing things the right way is a no-brainer, but I reassure him he has never walked a day in my shoes and this is the solution for me....
The reason I even stumbled upon this site was when I was looking for links to send him on why Slimband was so wonderful and how it was going to solve my problems...
WELL, All I have to say now is, Disgruntled Slimband Client just saved me $16,000!!! (And Fit Jerk of course.)
I started reading Fit Jerks article and things were brought to light to me that I was too blinded to even consider. I didn't even REALLY know what I was getting into, kinda, but not.
After reading the numerous blogs I was still wishy washy that the procedure was still for me. HOWEVER, after reading Disgruntled Slimband users post I without a doubt WILL NOT do the surgery!! I have had problems in the past with things getting stuck while eating, and have been quite scared from it. I have even had tests done to see why that problem was occurring. In the back of my mind I was worried that it might make it worse and now know that it would.. I also was looking for a "quick solution" drop the 50lbs and feel great, but I am facing the reality that I now just need to do things the way I should have been for the past 6 months. Buck up and eat right and exercise! I AM going to do it!! And I THANK YOU, THANK YOU for posting what you did. I honestly Thank God that I ran into this site.

I am going to share this with others... I really enjoyed your article. The reality is that with proper (common sense) fitness and nutrition work, none of this is necessary (and it is entirely too dangerous.

OMG - I wish I had come across your post BEFORE I went to Slimband last September. There was so much hype surrounding lap band surgery and Slimband itself and their sales person on that "free consultation" call caught me at one of my weakest moments and I said yes. There was no turning back. I had to make a $4000 deposit and if I change my mind, I'd lose it. I selected to pay up front for the surgery, instead of a payment plan, so the cost was $16k. Ugh...

I wanted to chime in here to add some additional food for thought for those thinking about going ahead with the procedure...

Be aware that their website and ads constitute false advertising and completely plays to people's emotions. I have about 85 lbs to lose and since September (that's almost 6 months folks) I'm down a whopping 13.5 lbs.

I believed the claims on their website:

"...immediate and drastic results."

Hmmm... Does 13.5 lbs in 6 months constitute dramatic? I think not.

"Unlike a diet, the Slimband Program doesn’t require you to actively manage your weight loss. No counting calories. No watching what you eat. No more worries about “cheating.”

Woweee, I was excited to jump on board. I'm a junk food junkie (obviously, I need to lose 85 lbs) and run a few online businesses - meaning I'm sitting on my butt all day and all night long too. Truthfully, I was looking for something easy and a no-brainer. Apparently, I needed some more brains.

There are a number of complications that I've run into since being banded:

Food Gets Stuck
Yes, because you're restricted, food does often get stuck going down. You know how it feels when you're eating and it just doesn't seem to go down? Hurts huh? Now, think about feeling like this for up to 1/2 an hour. I learned that purging alleviates this much quicker than waiting for it to pass - but how good for you can this be?

Their mantra, small bites, chew, chew, chew. I do this and still, food gets stuck. Sux.

Fills Hurt
You have to have the band adjusted, via saline solution added to the band around your stomach by way of a long needle inserted into the port which resides just under my skin on the left side of my torso at the front waist. (Thankfully, the needle is very fine and doesn't hurt at all.) You have to reach what they call your "sweet spot", which is the optimal restriction to begin to lose weight. Obviously, I'm not there yet.

With my first fill, the doc added A LOT of saline solution, as they were trying to get to my "sweet spot" as fast as possible. Well, let me tell you. I thought I was going to die. This procedure left me over-restricted, to the point where I couldn't even swallow my own saliva. I threw up my own foamy spit about once ever 20 minutes or so until I could get to my own doctor for an "emergency de-fill", which was about 14 hours later. Then things subsided but I sure wasn't at my "sweet spot". That was in late October.

Of course, I was a bit shy about getting another fill but hell, I'm not losing any weight and after 16 grand, I want to see some results damn it. So, I went in Wednesday for another fill - this time a relatively small one. Once again, I'm having difficulties. I haven't eaten since Wednesday (it's Friday now), because I can feel the band around my stomach, I'm having difficulties sipping water comfortably and I wake up sputtering and coughing from what they term, reflux. Basically, I'm throwing up in my mouth and then choking on it. Gives you a good visual? Yuck.

I'm completely disillusioned, annoyed with myself for getting so sucked in, and desperately want to get this excess weight off.

Oh, and what was mentioned earlier - one of their slogans, "Say goodbye to dieting forever..." Don't even get me started...

I'm sure that if this does start to work and I do find that elusive "sweet spot" and start dropping the weight, my opinion might change but right now, I simply feel like I have "sucker" stamped on my forehead.

So, once again, if you're thinking of lap band surgery as an option, please, please, please do your research so you can know all the facts before you proceed, and think long and hard before jumping in. Don't call them for an exploratory conversation first - their sales tactics are hardcore and completely play to your emotions.

BTW, I've joined a local gym and have hired a personal trainer to get on the road to a healthy lifestyle. I'm going to use the nutritionist I paid all that money for at Slimband for all they're worth. Wish me luck! =)

To be honest, I was curious about what it was...the name alone made me think wrist band type thing....lol..was I ever surprised to learn it was a 20 k surgery...just to have metal/plastic stuck in u...EWWWW! Creepy!....ur comments are funny and the fights/arguments hilarious!..people should research this before getting it done, I've seen people spend only $1000 for year long support/food/exercise through herbal magic and lose weight and keep it off...that's still crazy to me...if I had a thousand bucks I'd get a trainer n personal dietian/chef...lol...
Thanks for the fun read...

oh another thing....im 50 pounds down and have 50 to go
if i can do it, anyone can BELIEVE ME!

wow....
ok first of all Kacie, fit-jerk was only rude to those who came on this website completely closed minded and acted like they knew everything when they still are at a weight thats unhealthy (obviously since your "researching slimband"), they called him an ass...a joke why? because hes saving us from getting this stupid fucking surgery...informing us of how unhealthy and unstable this product is? Wow how fucking stupid are you? Closeminded, uneducated brats like you piss me off and yea...if this was my site id be rippin you a new hole to.
When i first heard about slimband i thought i would look into it cause i seriously thought it was one of those wide elastic band things that you put around your waste when you work out (cause i cant seem to find them on sale). This surgery is the stupidist thing i ever heard of. First of all to loose weight is not just about loosing weight, its a life style change...becoming more active and energetic, loosing weight and keeping it off, eating large amounts of fruits and veggies, not getting surgery and eating very small amounts of whatever the fuck you want . Slimband lasts 5- 10 years...what happeneds after that? you start eating shitty again...not exercising why? cause slim band teaches you nothing! it lets you loose a measily 1-2 pounds a week while you sit your fat ass on the couch and do shit all but you learn nothing cause your letting a band around your stomache loose the weight for you, as far as im concerned, after the 5 years is up...you back a square one.
Another thing...dont come on this site with your fuckin sob story about how obese you are and that you have tried everything. First of all if your that fat and start eating and exercising (after the first 15 lbs) the weight MELTS off you, i know this from experience. second of all if you tried everything and your still as morbid as you are then obviously you didnt try hard enough. Im sorry but going on a diet for 2 days then falling off the wagon and eating all that shit that made you huge in the first place, is not trying, that is laziness and weakness. So many people have lost weight...i have lost weight, do you think it was fuckin easy? FUCK NO DUMBASS! we worked our asses off to get where we are now. and if your falling off this wagon that easy then you were that serious in loosing the weight in the first place. you fuckin lazy people piss me off....fit-jerk? your my hero

I like gold and virgins.

The worst thing you are doing here is insulting everyone who disagrees with you. Can you sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up please. People are allowed to have different opinions. You don't know everything. Maybe people would respect you more if you didn't attack them and call them stupid every time they have different ideas than you.

Please grow up. I'm sure you're an adult which is extremely depressing because adults should not behave the way you do. For fucks sake, I'm only 18 and I know that. Get a fucking grip and stop being so rude. So you think the Slimband is dumb. That doesn't mean everyone else in the fucking world has to agree with you.

I love this article and it is so true everything you said. I actually know someone who had this procedure and i think it is the dumbest thing to ever have done especially when there is an open port in the side of your body (Is this the way nature intended) i think NOT. I just think it's a total babysitter for the person who does not have the forethought to stop shoving unhealthy oversized portions of food in there mouth. Get off the damn sofa and do a bit of brisk walking or something. Instead of sitting there saying OMG i don't understand why i am so fat and can't get it off. It all starts with babysteps and time and effort and no one is gonna argue with me that you can't do it the good old fashioned way with a simple change of your diet, portions and simple exercise. My father topped out at 350 at his heaviest and in a year and a half he lost 130lbs and has kept it off and i myself have also lost 60lbs and am still working on losing another 60. It is possible to lose weight without a surgical aide such as "Slimband", you have to have the right state of mind and really want it for you, not anyone else. I feel it's more rewarding to slip into a pair of jeans that didn't fit before and know i worked really hard to get there instead of working financially hard to pay off the over sized price tag that comes with such a device as "Slimband."

Have read all of the comments so far and yet there isn't any ONE statement that relates to an actual obese person. Weight is just that... weight. A person who weighs over 300 lbs cannot successfully WANT to exercise and loose that weight, even though they understand, and YES they do understand that that weight is killing them. People who work out and are weight trainers get to walk away from their weight, whereas a person who is obese lives with it 24/7. Not using this as an excuse but when they see that there is something out there that just might get them down to a reasonable weight to exercise they might just do anything to get to that point. Weight is WEIGHT, it brings down a person not just with size but with psychology. YES, exercise is important. VERY important, but for a person who is weighted down it's an absurbed notion that they can just get up and boogy. A suggestion... someone strap on 300 lbs over and above their existing weight and exercise. Was it easy... HELL NO! All that a obese person wants is to get to the point where they CAN move and achieve a success story. Long term, short term, whatever. And plus there are people out there that through no fault of their own, i.e. thyroid issues are obese. What do they do. Health issues stemming from obesity causes damage when they want to exercise. Hell a obese person could die just as they try to do a sit up. I'm not saying that Slimband is the answer, what I am saying is that obesity is a chronic condition that shouldn't be scoffed at. It's not simple, it's a very very difficult situation. And NO, it's not as simple as a healthy diet, exercise and a positive attitude... I'm vegan, have thyroid issues and am overweight, fighting this is ongoing. I walk, bike, swim, hike, skate, a little yoga, and do a workout with assistance, and through it all am trying very hard to be upbeat about it all. It's a freaking HARD. Especially with people out there who reticule people and or talk about them behind their backs, trust me we hear it all. So the end point... for those who are obese, this "Slimband" might be a money crapola but it's something to get them to a point where they MIGHT feel normal enough to get past others perception of them. Remember most people who are overweight are food addicts and it's much much more difficult for them to go cold turkey to coin a phrase then say an alcoholic. You eat to live, they live to eat. To flip flop that is as difficult as them doing YOUR 30 minutes a day. To you I give congrats for sticking to your plans... to those out there that are trying to be what YOU would call normal, I give you strength to continue and a hearing aide to turn off, or tune out the negativity. You are so much more then those others will ever know or try to. HUGS

There is only three things you need to lose weight and keep it off 1'st a healthy diet 2nd a exericse routine that you can do on a daily basis even if its only 30 minutes a day and last a postive attitude, all this bs that they try to sell you is just a money grap.

Couple comments, I looked up this Slimband to see what it was due to all the commercials and found your te stupidest way to lose weight.
I am 50 this year and unfortunately I had a job that also included over 3 hours of commuting each day so I sat on my butt on a good day 14 hours a day. Home to 2 children, making supper, school work, house work etc. then mentally tired on the couch. Basically I sat down and spread out, 14 hours a day will do that. Yes the answer is portion control, water and exercise, life intrudes on this as we all know. Kids get older, they are in sports and when they finally are old enough for those of us who now say it is back to my time, it is hard and we find ourselves desparate.
I read all the comments and the conclusion is this.
I will not do the slimband, I thank you for the insight to the cost and I am not that keen about the procedure. Because what is really the point, it is only successful if you eat healthy and excerise. it is really too bad there is the other stuff, I swear like a trooper but I am really trying to stop. The snarky crap back and forth honestly is not needed. Your information is for that 89% of us that should and could be successful "with motivational help". The help from their own household to be successful is really key and if you are lucky enough to have a friend to walk with each day, success is truly within reach. I guess all I am saying Fitjerk and everyone who wrote in, is that there is no question he is right for the majority of the population. Slimband might not be for me and again I am not naive, we have the freedom of giving our opinion but it the reading of all the comments would have been alot easier without the jazz.

Great sharing. I'm subscribing to your site now. Thanks :)

Seriously I don't care what other people say.
Fit Jerk, reading your comments about this Slimband have helped me to make a good decision.
There is not magic pill or magic procedure to loose weight and keep a healthy lifestyle but exercise and healthy eating.
I have not been in the gym since November and I've gained so far 20 pounds.
I used to be 190 now I am around 210!
The problem with me is that when I am hungry I have this HUGE craving for junk food, and these past 2 months have been really bad in terms of eating!
I am planning to go back to the gym in the New Year and going into a really really good diet.
Are there any suggestions you have to handle the hunger?
By the way your comments about Slimband rock!

My mom died when I was 8 from complications after having gastric bypass surgery...she was one of the victims during the pioneering stages of this 'weight loss revolution' back in 1979. She was BORN fat. She had tried EVERYTHING she could to 'lose weight' and nothing worked...for obvious reasons. Some people are not meant to look like that, just like some people are. We need to learn to accept others for their inner beauty and quit focusing on their looks. I'm sick and tired of weight loss companies, Slimband AND yourself included, who continue to steal money from people. Losing weight is EASY...take in less calories than you you burn in a day. There's no big 'secret'. If you honestly and SERIOUSLY try and can't lose weight, then you are not meant to genetically. Plain and simple...

Oh and you can stop spouting off about Slimband, too, you are NO BETTER than they are if you are charging people ANY amount of money for your 'secret'. You make me as sick as they do.

Everyone like to look as fit as fiddle and want to lose weight. Without exercise it would not be a perfect to reduce body fat even if you eat healthy nutritious diet daily. Option to submit yourself 30 minutes daily workout highly recommend.

Ugg...My mom just told me last night she was having it done. My husband and I (he is fit and I'm not) have been encouraging her to get a personal trainer and a nutritionist for years...but she believes she needs to lose weight before she can workout. Sigh. So instead of paying someone to teach her to think about her food and workout, she is paying for a riduculous procedure. Umm wow...I wonder if she'll lose a hundred pounds like she did on Weight Watchers? (and gained it back) Or the Bernstein Diet that she did before my wedding? (and gained it back) I am not optimistic, or supportive of this crap at all.