I was banded on 1/5/09 and I thought I was CURED of being overweight. I lost weight and fast. But last year I gained back 9 lbs so easy when I stopped dieting and started living again. I forgot that this band was a tool for weight loss and not a magic cure. The minute you stop watching what you eat and counting every calorie you put in the pounds WILL come back. I have full restriction and I still slime so there is no trouble there, I'm just grazing and eating all the wrong foods. Now I need to get back on track and lose the last 20 lbs!

yes you are right.i did the same thing i was thinking i can,t eat big portion so if i eat every thing its OK ,but i put on back 6kg ,thanks God i lost that one and try to lose more in this time ,now i am watching what i am eating,so we have to control food and exercise as well best of luck

It is a diet and I dont know why people get that misconception. You still have the same head they didnt remove that with the band. We all got fat because we can not control ourselves with food the band helps to fill you up quicker but it in no way prevents you from gaining your weight back if you do not STICK TO THE DIET YOU ARE GIVEN FOREVER FOREVER FOREVER AND DID I SAY FOREVER PEOPLE. I gained some weight after I quit smoking have I lost it NO AND YOU KNOW WHY BECAUSE I GOT OFF THE DIET. ITS FOREVER PEOPLE IT REALLY AND TRULY IS FOREVER NO KIDDING NO BEING SMART ABOUT IT. IT IS FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER. THANKS FOR POSTING THAT.

I totally agree. There are many times, that I really want to just keep eating, but I don't. I have to remind myself that I can't. It is an adjustment and the band is just a tool to help us. I'm so paranoid that I might do something to mess it up, that I really try to not eat more than a cup of food. I don't think of having the band as a diet; it's a lifestyle change.

^{Well said...I am 5 months out and already If I start slacking I dont lose a lick...and start gaining...its definitly not an easy way out..I read all about that before surgery but still in the back of my mind I thought it would be easier...it definitly is helping me more than if I didnt have it . I dont think you really know until you have it done for yourself and expeience it...plus everyone is different with this band...that has always been strange to me....defnitly still a challenge but a good one!}

This is YOUR experience and may not be true for others. I, for one, am not fooling myself.

I don't think of it as a "diet". I think of this as a life-style change.