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I also thought I was going to mourn food more. For some reason, after the surgery, a switch in my head just went off. I think maybe the surgery was my rock bottom. The fact that my eating and lack of exercise got me to a point where I needed to have surgery to correct it. I have a few friends with the lap band and I have seen them fail. Go back to bad habits and not go to follow up appointments. I didn't want to be that person. I used to love junk food and fast food. What is not to love. It is easy, quick and tasty. But then you have surgery, and then you start counting calories and looking at labels and you realize how much crap you are putting into your system. For me, it was a wake up call. This surgery saved my life, but I know it is now all on me to see the rest through. You can do it. You are already doing it. Good luck to you.

This October I will be banded for 5 years. I realise that this is a mechanical device, and as a result, I keep in touch with my specialist, because they maintain my band. If I were to have a problem like a leak, well it's up to them to fix it, and sometimes it's done with a acrylic that is shot into your port to plug the leak. You don't always have to get opened up. That's why it's Maintenance. I am in this for the long run ! Why would I want it taken out say in 10 yrs. ? You hit your goal, then maybe a slight unfill so you don't continue to lose past your goal. Instead,,, you just maintain your weight.... Hope that helps, Shirley.

I went through that same thing. Between my consult and the start of my pre-op diet I gained about 4 or 5 lb because I felt like it was my last chance to enjoy some foods and that for some things I would never ever taste them again. Well, the only thing I've never gone back to is the soda, haven't had a drop since the day before my pre-op diet started in December. I didn't really hoist in the fact that after the liquids and mushies that it would take quite a while to reach restriction and that I would actually be able to eat many things I thought I was saying goodbye to. Anyway, I've discovered that I can eat most things, even with a reasonable amount of restriction and what I love about the band is that I can't gorge. I do cheat but look at me, I've lost over a hundred pounds since December so I feel a bit silly for being so dramatic in those pre-op days. Just to let you know, you will be able to have some of that stuff you think you're mourning after the pre and post op diets are done. The band will help you to NOT gorge though and that's the lovely thing about it in my opinion. Congrats on the 50 lb and good luck with your surgery!

I cant tell you how much the lap band has changed my life!

I would love to know how having been obese for a while makes your bones heavier? There is a lot of scope within a normal BMI. There is no way that at the top end of that range that a person would look skinny, gaunt or like a starving refugee! You have to aim for a couple of things. A weight that is healthy. A weight that makes you happy. A weight that makes you look good. Having said that though to not aim for a normal BMI after going through the process of being banded is selling yourself short - I think fear is what keeps many people from achieving this goal. I believe that a lot of the people that say they will be too skinny don't really think or feel that - they just don't think that they will be able to achieve it. Mimi , you are the same height as me - I am sure that you can get to your goal. Rest assured that maintaining with a band is really a lot easier than you think. I have been on an extended overseas holiday where I didn't worry too much about what I was eating. I came home weighing the same as when I left. Yes my weight does fluctuate but not much. It seems to go up and down within a 1kg(2.2lb) range.

I think ppl didn't post because they were at work or didn't want to hurt your feelings. The story and the facts don't match human anatomy and physiology. You might want to think about journalling and weighing and measuring your food. Mimi