HeatherinCA

Don't test it. I read something today and I think it rings true. The goal here is to see LITTLE you can eat and not be hungry, NOT how much you can eat. It's not there to stop you from eating, it's there to help you be less physically hungry. Not everyone gets stuck, or sick. I've been banded a year and not once have I thrown up, I've had some discomfort, but nothing ever got stuck. Ultimately it's all up to you and the choices you make. Like Dulci posted, it should be easier to make good choices because you won't be hungry eating less food.

Of course those numbers reflect that, and they should. It's important to know how many people fail, give up, gain weight as well as succeed.. It's just the reality of getting banded. I think it says a lot about the band. I know it works amazing for some people which is great, but it also says, most people can only manage to lose 60% of their weight.

I've been banded a year, not near my goal yet, but I notice the amount I can eat changes. Somedays something will make me ultra full and it's painful, and other days it goes down fine, no gas, feels ok. Who knows!

Nope. But, we are all addicts basically.... The band is a lot of work to achieve success. For me it's an everyday mental struggle.

I think it depends how you react to it. For me, I eat normally, I don't have stuck episodes. I could easily hide it. I got a new job about 6 months in, nobody knows except the people I've told. I have a lean cuisine for lunch, it's not that weird. BUT, ultimately it's good to have a support group.

Between the pre-op liquids and stuff, I lost a good 30lbs pretty fast. But then it slows dramatically once you start solid food.

Well, it all depends on the person and how dedicated they can be. The average weight loss with the band is 50lbs. From my experience, I've been banded a year, somewhere around 5-6 months, I had some distractions, I gave up. I started eating more normally (I'm lucky, or unlucky that nothing gets stuck in my band). I had lost 60lbs at this point, now I've been putting on weight. Honestly, it's all a matter of how you go about it, if you have willpower and can stick to the plan. For me, I stopped being afraid of my band. I'm working on a restart, but it's hard! Not gonna lie, the initial love affair with your band wears off.

Not satisfied, but not physically hungry. The goal really, is to see how little you can eat without being hungry.

I've thought about it, but I can't physically force myself to do liquids. I'd give up after 1 protein shake haha.

#1 rule of the lapband, it won't stop you from eating... The fills don't hurt, to me it was just extremely awkward. Poking a needle in your belly. Then I felt extra full for a few days. My doc said light meals the day off, and i think liquids after for a day. Every doc has a different recommendation.

I lost a lot of hair for about 6 months, it has seemed to stop (for the most part) now.

I generally don't.. sometimes I do a few sips. Mostly, it's just uncomfortable, makes my stomach feel weird. The food goes through pretty quickly I wouldn't worry too much about "washing it down." I try to eat, then I drink when I'm done. I've just gotten used to not drinking.

There is no such thing.. at least for me. My hunger is gone. It's working, but I still need willpower to do the rest. Which is very hard. You have to learn how to eat the right amount of food.

Gotta track your calories. You'd be surprised... also it's surprising when you "think" you are eating good, but you aren't. I eat "a little too much" every day and I'm not losing. It's my own fault. You have to have a calorie deficit to lose weight. Also a lot of exercise causes you to gain muscle and lose fat, but maybe not pounds. The fills are used to control your hunger! Nothing else. That's all the band does. Shouldn't be making you sick, and you shouldn't have trouble eating.

Well, isn't it different for everyone though? I mean, I can eat as much as I want (well with in reason obviously), I feel full because I eat a good amount of food... I struggle mentally, forcing myself to eat less, because I know I wouldn't be hungry with less food, I know the band doesn't know how much food I eat... I'm never hungry at all. I just can't be mentally satisfied with 1 taco... or a baby size sandwich. Should I be? I still have cravings, but it's really not that bad. I feel like every person uses the band differently, and their body reacts differently to it. I have 5.5ccs. I don't really think I need more fill. My hunger is gone, full for 5+ hours.