Question for you longer term bandsters. I was talking to my patient advocate and she mentioned in passing that she doesnt even use her band anymore, that is is just sitting in there. What does that mean? Someone walked in and I forgot to ask later. Does that mean she just learned to eat and doesnt need it anymore???? Can you actually ever get to that point???

I would love to. Just wondering!

That is a strange comment..it sounds like she could mean that since she has reached restriction that she doesnt "feel" she uses her band anymore..?? I mean I cant put words in her mouth but it does sound like a strange comment but if I were her that's what I would mean by it...

maybe that she no longer needs fills to stop her from eating?? maybe she has it down pack now? it would be nice to know though..

Well I am going to have ask next time I see her. Which wont be for a couple of weeks... But I thought it was interesting so I thought I would ask here!

What comes to my mind is that she's been able to get her diet and exercise habits to a point that she's had all her fill removed, and maintained her weight loss without it.

To me, if she has any fill in the band, then she is still "using it." There are also bandsters who have successfully lost weight without any fill. The band itself provided enough restriction to assist in the weight loss process. Does the lack of fill mean their bands are not helping or doing anything? I don't know. Only the individual can answer that.

I'd be interested to know exactly what she meant.

For me, personally, I know I will always need to "use" my band to keep the weight off. Take away my fill, and I'd be a struggling fool.

My band is quite loose and I don't feel like I use the band as much anymore to maintain my weight. I haven't had a fill in a long time but I don't feel I need it. I don't have that love affair with food that I used to, and I don't eat unless I'm hungry these days, and I could eat more but have trained myself to only eat a small amount, so I feel like I'm doing okay at the moment.

In fact, when I'm stressed at work nowadays, my weight drops, and I consciously have to work at maintaining my BMI at 21, so I don't lose too many of my curves.

So yeah I do think you can get to the point where you're not really 'using' your band as your main tool for weight loss/maintenance anymore. I still wouldn't ever have it removed or anything, though, because it's like a security blanket in case something changes. But for now, it's nice being able to eat just about anything I want, and not having any stuck or pb episodes anymore.

Edited October 8, 201015 yr by lellow

Lellow - I wanna BE YOU !!!!!! lol

We shall see, my band will have fill in it only for a few more weeks and then I have to empty it in preparation for a major surgery - and it will probably have to remain unfilled for 4 months or so.

I am "hoping" like heck that my appetite doesnt pick up, I honestly cant tell anymore whether I rely on restriction (my band is pretty loose, I mean I can eat bread) or whether I have just settled with eating habits that suit me and keep my weight stable.

Either way, I will be out running the minute I am recovered enough to do so and I am making more effort to count calories so that I actually know what I am eating calorie wise - it seems to be about 2000 a day. I figure, SURELY I can stick to 2000 a day without fill.

At the moment, I do that by grazing, I figure if my meals get bigger then I ban in between meal eating. That is just ONE rule to stick to.

Either way, I'm scared sh*tless but I think I'm probably understimating myself and overestimating my band.

Either way, I'm scared sh*tless but I think I'm probably understimating myself and overestimating my band.

Good luck Jachut, I reckon you'll be fine. When I got unfilled for my body lift I actually lost a little weight by being mindful of what I ate. I was only unfilled 2 weeks tho, but I'm sure the hunger won't come raging back, and if it does, I'm sure you'll handle it, just as you're doing now with your band loose.