I've got to ask this ...

[BgB9 9]

I think this is an individual question. For me, it hasn't really been what I eat, just how much. It's like my brain has no off switch for when I'm full. The band helps me feel full, and stay full. But there is a pyschological impact in getting the band, to me. Going through the suffering of the pre and post-op diets, the band hell of hunger before the fill, and the sugery itself makes me want to follow the instructions. When I don't want to exercise, I ask myself why I went through all that suffering and expense to not do what I need to lose weight.

[hope2bhealthy 2]

I was banded 9 months ago. At first, I was losing steadily, and lost 20 lbs after about the first two months. However, my problem was that I moved away from my surgeon, got really busy, and only had one fill. During the summer, I was going to school and eating poorly, and I had no restriction so I was eating a lot. I gain the weight back. I had issues with finding a surgeon in my area because I have a realize band and none of the surgeons around here will fill me because of it (something to think about if your doc is going to band you with a realize band). So I really wanted to get filled, but I couldn't. And I wasn't eating totally horribly, but bad enough to put 20 lbs back on.

A couple of months ago, I go frustrated enough to make the long drive back to my surgeon (gas prices went down!), and he filled me. I started losing again. I got filled again a month later, and continued to lose. But even though I started losing, I think it is harder for me because I don't have the momentum that I had in the beginning. My metabolism has also slowed from the band, too.

And now I'm pregnant, so I won't be trying to lose any more right now.

So, the moral of my long convaluted story is that you need to take advantage of the band at the beginning. If you let yourself become complacent, if you don't get your fills REGULARLY, then the band will probably be a waste of money. But, even if you slip up, once you decide that you are ready to get back on track, all you have to do is go get a fill and get going again.

[jfc193 719]

Before I used to eat a great deal of food and drink lots of diet cokes with my meals and normally eat the entire meal in less then 7 minutes as a matter of fact, the quicker the better. In a few hours then I was hungry and started snaking on anything that was available.

As a result of the band I cannot eat a huge amount of food, I take smaller bites and chew my food usually a minimum of 25 times and Not drink with my meals the entire process taking 25 to 35 minutes. With the exception of evening I usually do not snack and if i do then it is generally 1/3 of what I would eat before the band.

For exercise I do a minimum of 2 hours of walking 6 days a week. My own personally quiet time.

Before the Lapband I used to be successful on a diet for 4 to 6 months and lose anywhere from 30 to 45 pounds but then I would gain it back plus 10 more in 3 to 4 months.

While I have had extended plateaus with the band where I did not lose weight at times I have even have gain some of the weight back which later I have lost again. The important fact is I have not gone back to binge eating or lost my focus for an extended period of time.

You could of course eat 10 tiny meals and gain not lose weight but like others have already mention food is no longer my main focus.

One of the interesting thing that happens to me is when I start to get full then I either get the hick ups or my nose start to run so this is my signal to stop eating regardless if my food is finished or not.

Best of luck on your upgoing life changing journey.