Sept 2005 bandsters post here!!

[TheGh0st 9]

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My questions for all of you in 2005 are..

Has it given you the edge you hoped for in order to retrain your eating habits even after 2 to 3 years?

Your eating habits do change as over time you find there are certain foods that just aren't very band friendly such as heavy breads. Not to say that we all can't eat bread, some can like myself. But I find that the amount of time I have to put into chewing it so it doesn't stick makes it not taste nearly as good as I once thought it did. But if you are speaking to bad habits. I think most of us will say that unfortunately the band is only around our stomach not our heads. Meaning it does restrict the quantity of food we eat but not necessarily the desire or emotional triggers that drive us to make poor food choices. On the bright side when I do fall off the proverbial wagon I tend not to gain much if any weight at all and can get back into the game without as much of the guilt previously associated with having regained all (plus more) of what I had lost like I use to pre-band.

What was the most serious complication you had?

So far the only complication I have had has been a spell when the band was filled too tightly which caused me to have some severe heartburn and GERD at night. It wasn't really the docs fault but my own for not going back to get a slight un-fill even though I knew what was wrong. I kept thinking if I just lost a couple more pounds the band would loosen up on its own, but it didn't and I finally caved and got the necessary unfill.

Is there ever a day you "forget" you have a band in your body and live "normally?"

Sorry have to ask, what is "normal"? Normal is what you make it and yes after all this time I no longer have to think each time I reach for food what is or isn't band appropriate as it has become habit. Even my cheats have found new levels of normal.

Any other words of wisdom?

Its been said before but the band isn't a magic cure and it doesn't make losing weight easy for most of us. It just makes what use to be an impossible task, possible. Hard, but possible. Oh, and though I know it will be hard to impossible to believe this try not to go on a prolonged farewell to food tour as I did pre band. For the months running up to getting the band I remember thinking at each meal that I had to try to eat all the foods I might have to give up post band one more time before it was too late. After I got the band realized it was really unnecessary as I was still able to at least taste everything I liked even if I didn't eat it in the large portions I use to.

Thanks from someone struggling to make the right decision!

Good Luck to you on this journey what ever decision you make.