I had the lap-band in for a few years I was up and at it in no time. But pre ins. diet I dropped 100 lbs and got the band and it made it so I could only eat the stuff I was not supposed to eat..Only thing that would go down. my meals were spaghetti and meat sauce. But it did maintain my weight at 350 lbs. no more no less with a full band. So I gave up and figured 350 lbs was a lot better then 500lbs but then my teeth got loose hair fell out.. I went back Dr, said it was malnutrition at 350 lbs. So he took out half the fluid and set a date one mont out for the Gastric bypass. So there was no restriction. So I had one last go at it. A final feast or month if you will before the gastric-bypass and gained 50 lbs. I had a few publics cakes I am now 10 years older for I had a birthday and cake every day. few little boxes of little Debbie's many Dunking donuts large with extra whipped cream and chocolate mocha lat tees. and multiple flats of hot glazed doughnuts and few boxes of mixed ones too. I had every kind of Oreo's they ever made M&M's by the pound.Cant forget the Steak, Rib roast with mashed traders and gravy T' bone Steak ,Mack and cheese fried everything. including elephant ears with powdered sugar just like from the fair. I could go on but you get my drift. I don't miss it at all. I can play with my kid now and not have to be worried about breaking peoples chairs. I no longer use the good old' C-pap machine. Just yesterday I thought I had a tumor on my upper left back and one on my upper right back.....Turns out it was what the doctor said was some kind of "shoulder blade" what is that all about.