B-52

I have not had breads...rolls, cakes, Cookies, donuts, most things made from flour which also includes Pasta, pizza.....for over 5 years and I am the better for it! The band has changed my life!!!

I'm 5+ years out, and have to say, the band is the best thing that I could have ever done....and I have no fear of ever gaining any weight back as long as the band is there.... One thing I have noticed over the years.....many people saying they "Fell off the wagon" or "Need to get back on track" and that they are gaining the weight back. The band is also adjustable and it can be adjusted from one end where the patient is in charge and calls all the shots, to the other end where the band is totally in charge, and somewhere in between. I lean towards the end where the band makes all the decisions....the band has decided I need to stop eating certain foods, the band decides the size of my portions making it impossible to over eat. I read here all the time people talking about eating certain foods that is just impossible for me to eat...so there is a difference, a range of how the band is adjusted. The deciding factor for surgery was the fact that no matter how many diets I've tried, the diet drugs - injections i"ve taken, hypnosis, counseling, you name it, I could not loose weight.... Surgery was a last resort..... I went into this with the full expectations that the band is going to be in charge, dictate my eating for the rest of my life....because I know, if left up to me, I will fail! So as the band got adjusted over time, the thing I had to learn was how to comply and not fight the band....learn to live with it by changing what and how I eat.... And I cannot be happier for it. And no matter how your band is adjusted is not the real issue...if you're losing (lost) the weight, then that is all that matters...

I will have issues if I eat before going to bed....If I don't eat by 7pm, give or take, then I don't eat.

I simply continued doing what I have been doing since surgery....and it improves all the time with discoveries of new and different healthy foods... For me, it has always been about a new lifestyle, change in what and how I eat brought upon me by surgery....I have never had a diet mentalit, there is no such thing as maintenance, etc, etc. 5+ years now and I live every day just like any other day. But that's the way it is for me, many people here have different attitudes towards this.

Thank God I had surgery

Yes I have the band, over 5 years now...110% success!!! My point is, I went in for my fills EXPECTING them to do something, and they did.

Ok, here is my take on this.... I was told I needed to take a 6 month supervised diet also....and I had to go for weekly weigh-ins, exams, and counseling.. Also using their products. I had to pay out of pocket, and it got very expensive. I asked why??? Why do I need this? I was told, because your insurance wants it on record, that you have explored, and tried to loose weight by conventional methods,and FAILED! I told them I have tried every diet under the sun....but bottom line, it was not documented, along with progress notes, charts and graphs, all signed off by a licensed MD So I took the program, and I did try very hard to succeed...however, just like every other diet I have ever been on, I started out great...then cheated a little, then cheated a lot....and by the time the 6 months were up I failed miserably... I did not plan it that way, but it did show that that is how it is for me....that's my M.O., and surgery is/was the only alternative left. Proving surgery was a last resort. So I commented that I am going to pay all this money just to show them it won't work?

I read all the time, people with the band, who say they feel they need a fill because they are not losing.... I agree with that statement, but do people stop and think why a fill will make a difference?

Can never get too much water!!

Why stop? After surgery you develop a new lifestyle..something permenent unlike a traditional diet... I continued on with eating better, healthy, and yes, Less! Add to that daily exercise, and I am a new person. And yes, my body did level out where it want's to be...a perfect body fat% I will be this way for the rest of my life...no more diets...no such thing as maintenance.. If anything, I'm learning to eat healthier all the time, exploring better foods And I do not deprive myself of life's pleasures...again, for me it is not a diet. I'm enjoying myself. But that is me, I do not expect people to do things because I do them...everyone has their own life and lifestyle.

I chose not to tell anyone....people did ask and I simply said I eat less, I eat healthy, and I exercise every chance I get. Fast forward, everyone accepts me for what I am today - skinny and fit. Most don't remember me when I was fat, and new people I have met over the years never knew me when I was fat... So all that has passed, life goes on and my weight loss is a no longer an issue.

The stomachs muscle is meant to expand and contract....I used to have a beer belly so big it looked as if I was carrying twins! But from eating much less and less often, it has returned to normal (flat) Eating too much too fast can and will expand the portion above the band.... I believe this to be normal to a certain extent...not the overeating, but just from normal eating - drinking every day, over time, will stretch it a bit. I can tell when this happens to me when I realize I am able to eat more (portion size) than usual. And I am more hungry than usual. So as preventative maintenance, and this is the only maintenance I can think of with the band, I will go full liquids for at least 3 days...gives everything a rest, and any stretching can contract. I do this every 6 weeks or so. Your Dr. is doing the same thing in essence...removing Fluid to give it a rest, and telling you to lay off solids for a while...give it all a rest and let it contract.

I'm 5 years plus with the Lap band.... I don't have any experience with other procedures...but I can say the Lap Band does have a high rate of unsuccessful results.... Question is, is it the band's fault? (there are possible complications with all the procedures) My feeling is that the patient has too much control over how the band works. If you don't like something, you can change it. If you wish to eat any foods you wish, you can change it. If you want to eat more than you should, you can change that also. You can control what you think is the correct comfort level.... Staff at my Surgeon's office, would tell me stories about people asking for adjustments to the band for all sorts of reasons... They are going on vacation and want to enjoy eating more....their son's/daughter's wedding is coming up and they want their band loosened....the holidays are approaching..they miss pizza, etc, etc. Having a band that is adjustable can be a blessing as well as a curse....from what little I know, other procedures are what they are...you go in, it's done. Now learn to live with it. It is what it is. The lap band is, in many cases, what you feel it should be. Myself, personally, I could not control my hunger, could not control my eating. Tried every diet known and failed. It took surgery..something other than myself, to accomplish where I am today. I needed that thing wrapped around my stomach. Keep in mind, I can go in and get it adjusted if I so choose.... Could other procedures accomplish the same thing? I suppose...others will give their experiences.

I have the lap band, so pizza is one of the foods that is very difficult to eat...very easy to get stuck. But with most foods I no longer eat, what is the nutritional value? The more I look at Pizza commercials the more turned off I get...so I feel I am way ahead by not eating it. As far as beer goes, I still drink it. Just not as much as before surgery. As I lost weight, my stomach shrunk back to normal size, so beer makes me feel bloated....but I like to explore and try different craft beers, including the small local breweries t5hat are popping up. Also, how can you go to a ball game on a hot summer day and not have a beer???? It's unamerican!

Depends upon your current weight and physical condition.... IMO, you can do more harm than good rushing into something. I worked out on the elliptical for over a year, got into shape, lost weight. Then I moved up to the treadmill. Now I run every chance I get as part of my normal exercise routine.

Burger commercials, and the pizza commercials....how can people eat that? I know I did once upon a time. but now when I see them it turns my stomach that anyone can eat that crap. The different pizza companies seem to be in competition as to who can make the most worthless pizza, putting cheese in the thick crust? For what? Where is the nutritional value? It's marketing at it's worst And yes, every new burger has to be more colossal than the previous. When I go to restaurants, I marvel at watching how much people eat...buffets are the worst. Fortunately, for surgery, I CAN'T do that anymore even if I wanted to...which I don't. I'm 64 years old, and at this age I do compare myself to other people my age, and notice how many are in such bad shape...they look like their 80! ( the ones still alive that is)

Sorry....not me...5 years plus and love everyday. best decision I ever made. Only regret is that I did not do it sooner. You're not alone. There are plenty of people who post here sorry they had this surgery. For one reason or another.

Love it...best decision I ever made, easy as can be!

Are people saying they definitely had GOOD restriction, and not just for a few weeks, but genuine and sustainable, and then they start to notice they are eating more with less effort? Hunger returning? Etc?? I have been banded over 5 years...had 3 fills, all withing the first 4 months after surgery...never had a fill since. I have very good, comfortable restriction, definitely in the Green Zone....no hunger/cravings, eating does not interest me, and when I do eat I am only able to eat so much. Then I'll notice I am eating larger portions than usual. (I Can't believe I just ate all that!) Then I realize the restriction is just not what I am used to.... So, what I do, is I will lay off solid foods for a few days...go all liquids. Protein shakes, Soups, etc...Give everything a rest. This. for me, usually brings about results...it will not give me something I never had, just let things return to what I call normal. Give it all a rest. I have a theory why this is, but that's a different topic. But this is me, I know myself and how my life is with the band...and my restriction, life in the Green is real, not temporary and has been consistant for over 5 years.... Can't speak for others, perhaps even after a few years it's time for another fill? Up till now it has been more you than your band doing the work and you are getting slack? There are just too many variables, one must learn themselves.

Remember it is a process...do not expect results within the first few weeks, months even. People get frustrated too early on. The band is adjustable and needs to be before it starts to function the way it was designed to do. Also, as the band gets adjusted, so the patient needs to adjust themselves also...old habits will not co-exist with the changes the band wants to bring. It's easy to blame the band while all along the patient is resisting change. Some people insist on hanging onto old things...things that made them obese in the first place I was very frustrated early on, felt I made a big mistake, especially after all the work and anticipation leading up to surgery... But 4-6 months later...Everything started to fall into place, and it just got easier and easier. Best decision I ever made. Here I am over 5 years later...no excess weight or fat, medical problems reversed, definitely a new person and still going strong! Most of the day I do not even think about it that much. Never had a complication, other than the ones I brought upon myself by eating things I shouldn't.

I will add, although I can say I am comfortable in the Green Zone, I have never "Felt Full" No hunger, cravings and no desire to eat, yes...but a physical feeling of being full? Never.

It took me 3 good fills, but it also depends upon how much you get per fill. And keep in mind people react differently. My first fill was 4cc's, and did absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact, after that first fill I began to gain all the weight back from the pre and post op diet regime. 2nd fill was 2cc's...no green zone yet, but my weight did level out...no gain, not much loss. 3rd fill was 1cc...put me over the top...though perhaps I was over filled but my Dr. asked that I stick it out, which I did. Things did improve, along with some behaviour changes on my part. That was over 5 years ago. Never had a fill since, and have been in the Green Zone ever since....it all became very easy after that (providing I changed my eating habits to work with the band) ....absolutely heaven! I don't even think about it all that much anymore. Could not be more pleased with the overall outcome and my new life.

If I don't eat by 7pm, then that's it...I don't eat. Not only did I get what you described, but I also get severe reflux that wakes me up in the middle of the night. Not eating before going to bed was one of the basic rules I learned even before I had the surgery.

If I went by BMI's, I would be considered overweight. However, I have a very low body fat %...in the athletic range. Therefore, there is nothing left for me to lose to reach what a so-called normal BMI would be. To do so would be very unhealthy to say the least. having said that, I am at my goal weight...at least what my body determined where it should be, not me.

I've had the Lap band, so I am in the minority here.... For me, there is no such thing as maintenance. Ever since surgery, I have had to learn to eat differently, eat less portions and less often. I've also learned to give up certain foods.It was never a diet for me, but a new learning experience. So I would say I developed a new lifestyle, in #3...I eat and drink whatever I choose to, but everything in moderation. Overeating the wrong foods is what made me Obese and gave me all those medical problems. Now I eat less (a lot less) and I eat the right foods. It's what I had to adapt to over the years with the lapband, and it is what it will be for the rest of my life. I can't turn it on and off.... I've been on numerous diets that ended with a maintenance phase, and I failed at everyone! That was why I needed surgery, to make a permanent "Fix"