So, It's a year later...

[DanBar 0]

How do you really feel? I am just curious of how much the eating thing changes after a year or longer. Do things still get stuck as easily?

What are the biggest changes you notice from the beginning of the journey and a year or more later.

Not having a band yet (but will on June 18th!) It seems like there is so much thought about what you eat. Does it get easier? Do you get a rountine down and just eat the same thing all the time out of ease or fear?

I would like to hear some opionions from some lap band pros!

Thanks :crying:

[silvers320 12]

Well.. I am about 2 months short of the year mark but I am going to answer anyway.

Things rarely get stuck for me. When they do, it has been my own fault. I have eaten too fast or taken too big of a bite. I usually know it the moment it happens. Thankfully in 10 months I think its happened total of about 10 times - so that's not so bad.

There is a lot of thought about what to eat and I struggled with that. I planned every meal for months and then I said "I cant live like this" and I tried not planning. And you know what - it was worse. I know like to think I am somewhere in the middle. I plan, and surround myself with good choices but if something come up - it does.

Eating the same things:

I go in phases - so weeks I am on a taco kick some weeks its yogurt. But I dont think that would be any different with or without the band. I will say that I eat things now that I wouldn't have touch pre-band. I dont know why but I do.

I was worried about my love of good food. But honestly, our love as grown deeper as I have slowed down to actually taste what I am eating. Does it get easier? After 30+ years of dieting and failure this feels like a piece of cake ..... dark choc with fudge ....and ice cream (kidding)

The biggest changes are the mental- by far. But with time - greatness. At this rate, I should reach greatness about a week after I die!

[DanBar 0]

Thanks for the input:tongue: I can't wait to get this started and on the same token I am so afraid that this is going to consume my life. I read all the stuff and it seems like every bite of food is a risk! I would just assume stick to stuff the texture of baby food :crying:.

I know this is going to be great, I am going to be fantastic at it... I just can't wait to get to the point of knowing what works for me and what doesn't. The way everyone makes food getting stuck sound, just scares the crap out of me:eek:.

i just picture a lunch meeting and something flying out of my mouth that got stuck!

If you have any more words of wisdome, please feel free to share!

[NiceWillSuffice 0]

Hey DanBar,

Start at the very worst case...that you hate the band and work backward.

If you hate it..

1. Its removable

2. The fill can be removed

If you sorta hate it..

1. Its adjustable..search the forum on "the sweet spot". Lots of talk about people changing fill loads to find it

As far as food choices..you can still eat crappy food with the band once you are all healed up. Just chew or stick to milkshakes. Bottomline is you will still consume LESS than you probably do now and may even still lose weight...of course your bllod pressure and colestoral and all that will still be bad. Remember that thin people can be unhealthy too.

For me, im investing the effort and am going to keep trying to eat well but if the things you are worried about prove true for me there are still options. thats why i went for the band..options and tunability.

Loven it.

Thanks for the input:tongue: I can't wait to get this started and on the same token I am so afraid that this is going to consume my life. I read all the stuff and it seems like every bite of food is a risk! I would just assume stick to stuff the texture of baby food :crying:.

I know this is going to be great, I am going to be fantastic at it... I just can't wait to get to the point of knowing what works for me and what doesn't. The way everyone makes food getting stuck sound, just scares the crap out of me:eek:.

i just picture a lunch meeting and something flying out of my mouth that got stuck!

If you have any more words of wisdome, please feel free to share!

[kkarryall 0]

well it has been 11 months for me. I have 6.3 ccs in my band and I have lost 69 pounds. I do get things stuck sort of often; but it's not THAT bad. I try lots of different foods, but generally ca't eat bread or any doughy products. What's different about my life now? I began wearing a size 24 and am now wearing a 14/16. I work out 5-6 days a week for 1 1/2 hours per day. For the first time in my life, I KNOW I will get to my goal! I was very frustrated the first 6 months or so of banding. Because I was so heavy, not many people noticed a weight loss until I lost about 50 lbs. It's all about making and accomplishing small goals for yourself and allowing yourself to be proud of your accomplishments (something I am still working on!)

Good luck to you!

[GoneFishin 0]

DanBar,

As one who is awaiting being banded, I appreciate your timely question and have often thought it myself. Is lifestyle change really comfortably possible? It is said that for we who have stopped smoking, it takes six weeks to get it out of our system and six years to get it out of our heads. I suspect that the behavioral modifications we will make in our diets will be similar. But like smoking, as we weigh the positive vs. negative, we will know we are making the right choices. Good luck to all of us...Dan.