DeboraY

I got my lap band April 23rd, 2010. So far I've had 1 fill, 4cc's, and I've lost 22lbs. So far I've basically been eating most of the same foods that I ate before the lap band, except for breads and meats that aren't ground (such as steak or pork chops) because those things get stuck and hurt me! I think that I'm losing weight simply because I'm eating far less than I did before, and what I'm wondering is if anyone has had long term success this way....or am I just kidding myself? I'm waiting for the idea of a nutritional, structured diet to kick in with me, but so far it hasn't. Before I got the lap band, I thought eating a healthy diet would be easy because I wouldn't be hungry...but I am still hungry. It doesn't take much to fill me up, but the craving for the "old" food is still there in a much bigger way than I thought it would be. Will this pass? Am I still just getting used to this? That's the excuse I give myself...but I need to hear from others, because I don't know what is normal. As I read on this forum, it seems like everyone is SOOO into the nutrition part of it all, and they always eat the right things and do exactly what their doctors tell them..and I wonder if they were like that from day 1 or if it took a while for the lifestyle change to really kick in. I would appreciate any input on this, I want to really know what everyone's experience was in the first 3-6 months.. Thanks, Debora

One thing I keep thinking about with this "lifestyle change" I'm supposed to have is that if this was a change I was capable of making and sticking to..then I really wouldn't have needed the lap band. My doctor wants me on a diet very close to the Atkins low carb diet, and I know that works because I lost 50lbs on it once. However, if I had been able to stick to it as a lifestyle, I would have lost more and kept it all off. They keep saying the lap band is a tool...but it's only a physical tool, not an emotional one. I guess I was thinking the emotional part would kick in at some point..I'm just wondering where that point is, and where it kicked in for those further down this road...

I ate a lot of canned Soups, pureed in the blender. Campbells makes a Cream of chicken Noodle that was really good, and Campbells Bean with Bacon pureed nicely and was still very tasty. I found that Chunky Soup, pureed in the blender, wasn't very good...kinda tasted like gritty brown gravy. Mostly the cream soups turned out the best. Also one time I pureed some refried Beans and thinned them out with beef broth, melted some cheese on the top and some sour cream...it was really good. I know, not the best food choice, but at that point I was really craving something "substantial." Another not so good choice, but something that tasted really good was Stove Top stuffing thinned out with chicken broth and pureed.

I'm so glad I found this forum. I just got my band 4 days ago, and as excited as I was to get it (even paid my own hard earned cash to get it because insurance wouldn't cover it) I am now suddenly feeling very scared! I had to do the clear liquid diet for 3 days before surgery, and have been doing the liquid/pureed diet since surgery, and already I am having so many cravings. I am counting the days until I can eat "real" food. I feel just like I used to feel about a week into another failed diet attempt, except this time, I can't just say "to heck with it" and eat whatever I want. I am so committed to this, but am scared about how I am feeling right now... Someone please tell me that this will get better!!

I feel your pain! lol! Just got my band 4 days ago..insurance wouldn't cover it. I finally decided to take the $10,000 that it cost out of my retirement account. I figure that if I don't get my weight under control, I may not make it to my retirement to enjoy that money, so I may as well enjoy some of it now.