Constance

I really appreciate your honesty. When I first started reseaching the band I felt like much of the comments here reminded me of chat boards from Weight Watchers or Body For Life. I thought, "ok, great, so this is just another 'rah rah, make good choices and only then will you succeed' ". So at first I thought, well, I shouldn't get banded, these people have mastered some self-control that I don't have. So before even getting banded I've already said "Yep, I will fail. I can't live up to this discipline". I'm not saying I don't or won't try. I'm saying I am honest with myself about the level of discipline I have. Reading some of this stuff I feel like I can never reach the "appropriate" level of discipline required to make the band work for me. That is a depressing thought. Hi, if I could have just "made good choices" I wouldn't be nearly 100 lbs overweight! It goes deeper than that. I am starting to wrap my mind around that. Yes, the band will help me with the physical condition of overeating but mentally I have to do my part. I know it isn't going to happen while I'm under anesthesia and BOOM I'm cured! So thanks for being honest loopylou. I feel I am not alone! And kudos to those of you who have expereinced an internal makeover. I hope to get there someday too.

Ok, I want to know, in detail, about PBs.What causes them for you? How often? If it happens at a restaurant is it a mad dash to the bathroom or do you have some warning? What does it feel like? What kind of quantity? What was the first one like? How is it different from "slimeing"? (And what is slimeing?) If I am going to do this, I want to know exactly how bad it gets. So bring it on!

This is a cheesey phrase but I think it can help when you have the 'clean plate' or 'people are starving' guilt. food will go to this waste, or to this waist. Either way, more than you need is still more than you need. I'm not banded so I can't speak specifically about how to manage big restaurant portions. But I know I have an especially hard time leaving food on my plate when I've paid for 100% of it. Maybe you could try to think of restaurant prices as an admission price rather than attached to the food. I know it's all mind games - sometimes that's what it takes.

I thought about faking to diet part, too. I certainly know how to blow a diet! But then I thought, what if they say "Well, then let's have you try for another 6 months"

My BMI is 39. If I want to have Cigna cover the lap-band I need 6 months of supervised diet and exercise. Well of course I can probably take off 10lbs, (it's keeping it off that has been a life long struggle) but then I'll have lost some of the BMI - making me less of an "appropriate" candidate for coverage. You need to have a BMI of 40 to qualify. Or, do I just suck it up and self-pay, assuming I may have to pay anyway even after the supervised diet? Any advise or suggestions? edited to add: I have no co-morbidities and am very healthy.

So you can or cannot have sugar in the liquids phase?

Newbie here. I have scoured the posts on this board. It has almost an addictive quality as I'm trying to absorb as much info as possible and make a good decision. One big question: I've read so much of irritating foods, PBing, fills, slime-ing and other unsavory side effects. I understand that can be the risk you take. But is that forever? Do you reach a point where you can comfortably eat, dare I say, like 'normal'. (I don't mean big portions, I mean the freedom to enjoy regular food in smaller quantities). Can you go to Starbucks now and then? Maybe have some Indian food? Have something a little exotic on vacation? I'm not looking to go back to my over-indulgent ways -- just wanting to be a part of many social events which include food without having to obsess over what I can or can't eat. Be honest in you replies. Please know the I understand the need for healthy choices, however, I have suffered with the diet mentality for years and I want to feel like I can be freed of the 'bad vs. good' food obsession. Another question: Does banded fullness feel like unbanded fullness? Is it a 'fake' full? Or is it just like, 'yep, I'm full'. Meaning, I have read people talk about a tightness or a throat fullness. Is that what the band provides? Or is it a genuine sense of being full and not needing to eat anymore. That is what I would like...to simply be satisfied with less food. Thanks - this forum is great!

I'm interested in Dr. Kirshenbaum, too. I will likely end up being self-pay and he has a fair price. Unfortunately, I can't find ANYTHING on the guy other than his webiste and some stuff about him do laser hemmerhoid removal.

Do you think there is a correlation between sucess and failure and self-pay vs. insurance? I'm not judging or inferring anything of the sort. But if that is what you are examining, I think it is an interesting topic.