JillDisney

I have to say I an very happy with my decision to get the lap band, but it has been a lot of retraining my brain. It is very different than I thought it would be. You still have to make good choices. Believe me all the stuff that's bad for you and is tempting (to me anyway) like frosting, cookies, m&ms, cream cheese, dips, and chips all go down fine. The thing is if you eat those you won't lose the weight. The lap band really is a tool to help you. It has taken 4 fills to feel any restriction. In the beginning I would get frustrated because I thought I should have felt more, but I really have had to change my thinking and form new habits. For me it's one day at a time. I'm mastering my eating lifestyle and soon I will begin the fitness part. I knew I just couldn't take it all on at once. I formed new habits gradually. The biggest one that works for me is that I don't eat after 7:00pm. When I used to stay up late preband, I could probably snack 1000-1200 calories nightly. Thats like my daily intake now. Of course there are special occasions or situations that are out of my control where I have to eat dinner past 7:00pm, but if I am home or at the movies, etc I just don't eat after 7:00. If I get hungry and I'm up super late I may have a protein shake. I also used to be a huge diet Coke drinker 6-12 cans daily. Yikes! I never drink it now. I drink tea (usually herbal) and water instead. Once you replace old habits with new ones, you really don't miss them. It is still hard at times to stay away from the bad things, but it's a choice. Would I rather lose weight or eat this ------- (insert whatever there)? Most days I'd rather lose weight, but on occasion I let myself have a smalltreat. Its life. The difference is I may share a dessert if I even decide to have one with my entire table, where I used to have my own and then maybe stop at the drive thru on the way home to have something else. I also try not to eat fried or fast foods. It's still all about choices and forming new habits and letting lap band be a tool. It isn't going to be a cure all and it probably isn't going to be the "magic" tool you think. I think I thought it would do more. But if you do your part you will lose. I am actually greatful now because I know my choices are helping me live a healthier lifestyle. My sister, mom, and I have all done it and are all successful! My sister has lost a bit over 100lb. in 2 years. I have lost 57 lb. in a bit over 4 months and my mom has lost 33 lb. in 3 months. None of us deprive ourselves or do the drastic 500-600 calorie diet, but we still continue to lose. My sister looks fabulous and it doesn't matter that it's taken her 2 years. She's happy and eats things she enjoys, just less and healthier most of the time. Good luck!

Best of luck. You will be happy you did it, though it is different then I thought.