I am pre bandster and went to a support group last night. One of the nurses leading the group was talking about how when you reach your goal weight, the band really doesn't do anything for you anymore and its just there, that hopefully you have modified your behavior over the weight losing process to where you make good choices. So, once you lose your weight you go back to being hungry all the time but you've just got to deal with it?

I don't think that's quite what she meant--or she expressed herself poorly.

When you reach goal, your band will still be in place, and will provide restriction. This will prevent gain.

Some people have theirs slightly unfilled, to permit them to eat a bit more. Why? When you no longer are aiming to lose, some people find they need more calories in order to maintain. For these people, easing restriction a bit is important; they achieve the balance they need to stay at their goal weights rather than continue losing.

Your band will be there when you are at goal. It will be repurposed as a weight maintenance tool. This may or may not mean that it needs to be tinkered with a bit, in terms of adjustment.

But it won't be a useless noose around your stomach :thumbup:

(I wonder whether the nurse was attempting to give proper "credit" to the patients for THEIR contributions to the loss. The band is just a tool, and perhaps she was trying to acknowledge the big behavior changes that DO take place as you work toward goal. You will change your behavior a lot. But dang, the band makes it a heck of a lot easier, since you're not dealing with the ever-present hunger! Don't worry, you won't be given that hunger back at the end!)

Edited June 18, 201016 yr by BetsyB

Believe me, my band is in there doing PLENTY.

I have learned some really great new habits that would stand me in good stead were I to lose my band. I wont give up exercising like I do. I have kicked the sugar habit to a large degree.

But I've done a lot of reflection on this. I think there's parts of my body and my psyche that wont ever be "fixed". I still have body image issues, I still think I'm fat when I'm not, I still think eating something doesnt count if I do it standing up or in the car or somewhere nobody sees me! I would still eat more than my band allows me to. I still have not broken the the pattern of using food as reward and punishment and linking how I eat to my worth as a person - ie. if I eat well that day I am good, if I give into the piece of cake in the staffroom I'm a bad person.

Its such a complex issue, and if I were to lose my band next month or next year, I wouldnt be seeing how I go without, I'd be straight in for another band or even a sleeve.I wouldnt hesitate to replace it immediately.