I thought I knew everything I was getting into until I came to this site (no offense.)

I didn't think that after surgery, having a band would be so much "work." What I mean by that is all the dieting. I don't get why anyone here ever got a band unless I don't understand. Most of what everyone says is they still watch what they eat, exercise, etc. Why get the band at all? Why not just diet like normal? What's the point of the band. I've been through my 6 months waiting with monthly visits to the physical therapist, nutritionist and program coordinator and they haven't prepared me for what I've read here. My surgery is in less than two weeks and now I am scared.

I knew I would need to change my life, but honestly I just thought that mean't less eating. Isnt' that the point of the band? If the band doesn't help you from overeating, what's the purpose of this over just doing say Atkins or Weight Watchers? I know it's a tool.

Maybe I am just freaking out. I think I was expecting to eat whatever I wanted (with exception of things that will get stuck) but just eating like a 1/4 of what I used to.

My problem has always been overeating. I thought the band would help with that.

I'm freaking out now.

I've been "dieting" since I was 15 years old, failed everytime because I am an over-eater and a binge-eater. My band has been the only thing that has every worked for me. Honestly, I don't even feel like I'm dieting at this point because I can't eat all that much anymore, and I have my eye on the prize. Cheeseburgers don't appeal to me as much as shopping in a normal sized store does.

With the band you still have to watch what you eat, your doctor should have told you by now that your meals should consist of, low fat proteins first, then veggies, then carbs if theres room. For alot of us we gain restriction over time through getting fills gradually, your band might not start working overnight, it could take serveral months or several fills to feel a comfortable amount of restriction and as weight comes off the band may become loose, requiring more fills. All of us can drink milk shakes and eat "slider foods" til the cows come home, just because we have a band that doesn't mean we are magically going to lose weight. We have to work at this a little too. The band does alot of the work, but we do too, we have to work WITH our band, not against it.

The band is not magic, if you think you'll be able to eat whatever garbage you want and still lose weight, you might want to rethink that. If you're serious about a life change, you should WANT to be eating healthier. None of the weight loss surgeries are magic, people that do not work with their bands, or their re-routed organs will either not lose or gain their weight back (most of them anyway). This is life changing, old habits must die in order to be successful at this.

I doubt anyone is perfect when it comes to their eating, but we do what we have to do to get where we want to be. I didn't give up all the foods I love, I have them all from time to time just in moderation and in very tiny amounts. 90% of the time I eat how my doctor and nutrionists have told me too, but I'm human and I still love food, I just know how to eat it now. My band keeps me from overindulging when I do, from time to time, indulge in "bad" foods.

Please get more educated and talk to as many banded people as you can about this before you make such a big decision. I really am finding that ALOT of doctors are either misinforming patients or leaving out alot of details. The band is not as scary as you might think, but you need to know everything before you jump into this.

I guess I thought it would be more about eating in moderation the way we should anyway and less about "what you eat." I hope that makes sense. I believe I have failed at diets because I always want what I can't have. I thought with the band, knowing I could have it would make me want it less. I will go years without a certain food and then when I can't have it, I want it.

From what they told me with the band, I could have whatever, but I should make good choices and have healthy foods instead and that the band would make me fuller faster and longer. I thought it was a tool to help me not overeat.

I think you need to do a little more research before you get the surgery so that you feel your decision is the best one. The lap band is a tool-exactly what you said. It doesn't make you lose weight, you still have to work for it. Most of us (if not all) are at a point and have been at that point for a long time now where we just simply cannot lose weight on our own. Surgery is such a drastic measure; if we could lose the weight on our own we certainly would. The band creates a pouch with your stomach for your food to sit in to make you feel full faster. Most of us do not have that sensor that tells our brain we are full. This will do that. Eating smaller portions of whatever you want are not going to help you lose weight. This is a lifestyle change; there will be exercise and dieting for the rest of our lives. If we let ourself just eat what we want, we will end up to right back where we started. If you don't think the band is for you, please do not make the mistake of getting it..but the band is right for us. We need this in order to achieve success in a healthy life.

Good luck to you!

I think you need to do a little more research before you get the surgery so that you feel your decision is the best one. The lap band is a tool-exactly what you said. It doesn't make you lose weight, you still have to work for it. Most of us (if not all) are at a point and have been at that point for a long time now where we just simply cannot lose weight on our own. Surgery is such a drastic measure; if we could lose the weight on our own we certainly would. The band creates a pouch with your stomach for your food to sit in to make you feel full faster. Most of us do not have that sensor that tells our brain we are full. This will do that. Eating smaller portions of whatever you want are not going to help you lose weight. This is a lifestyle change; there will be exercise and dieting for the rest of our lives. If we let ourself just eat what we want, we will end up to right back where we started. If you don't think the band is for you, please do not make the mistake of getting it..but the band is right for us. We need this in order to achieve success in a healthy life.

Good luck to you!

But this is what I don't get. I totally understand the lifestyle change I really do. I am totally ok with this. However, I don't get how just eating less won't work. If I ate 1000 calories a day of Twix only I would lose weight. I definitely wouldn't be healthy and wouldnt do that, but I would lose weight. So how does the band not just work on it's own by making you eat less. I am not talking about the sliding foods though. I get how those go right through and you are never really full. But what about whole foods? I guess I just hoped and from what they've been telling me for 8 months is that I just would eat way less than I used it.

Your question has a simple answer. Can you keep it of ? If not,, then there is a good reason for the Band.

Allot of other people have medical reasons, and that Band has helped

But be honest with yourself when you answer that question. That means Yo Yo Dieting.

Your question has a simple answer. Can you keep it of ? If not,, then there is a good reason for the Band.

Allot of other people have medical reasons, and that Band has helped

But be honest with yourself when you answer that question. That means Yo Yo Dieting.

Oh I can definitely answer that with NO! I lost 55 pounds on Atkins a few years ago and I rocked it! but then I got married, had two kids and now I am up 20 pounds more than when I started. I need help. I know I do.

the band is about portion control. it is a tool to help you eat less and believe me, when you have a fill and you eat crap, you will not like the feeling and the end result. it is not just about portion control, it is about what you eat too.

i too think you need to do more research before making your decision. my friend's husband has had it 2 years and does not eat like he should, meaning he eats crap all the time yet wonders why he has not lost any weight. hello! it is not an instant fix. if we could all just eat less and eat healthy all the time, then there would be no reason for the band. but that is not the case, we all got here by eating way too much and eating crap.

I just want to be like every other (well a lot) thin person in the world who can eat things in moderation, work out and stay in shape. That's all I want in life.

Oh I can definitely answer that with NO! I lost 55 pounds on Atkins a few years ago and I rocked it! but then I got married, had two kids and now I am up 20 pounds more than when I started. I need help. I know I do.

Not knocking it ! And I know kids play a big part in weight gain.

But if you can't keep it off, then this is where it comes in, and works.

I lost weight, kept it off then one day gained most of it back.

Old habits are hard to beat.

If this is you then give it a thought.

If not ! You are very lucky.

Good Luck with your research, Shirley.

But this is what I don't get. I totally understand the lifestyle change I really do. I am totally ok with this. However, I don't get how just eating less won't work. If I ate 1000 calories a day of Twix only I would lose weight. I definitely wouldn't be healthy and wouldnt do that, but I would lose weight. So how does the band not just work on it's own by making you eat less. I am not talking about the sliding foods though. I get how those go right through and you are never really full. But what about whole foods? I guess I just hoped and from what they've been telling me for 8 months is that I just would eat way less than I used it.

And did that work for you? If so, great, maybe you don't need the band. Like most folks, I dieted many times, I probably lost 1000 lbs over the years(I am 63 years old). I never met goal. I got bored after a few months. Then I started eating again. With the band, 1st you see a nutritionist, and get a pysch consolt, then you have your band, supposedly by then , you should be ready to admit that you have an eating problem and you need this tool to help you loose weight. I have been at goal for about a year. I must tell you it hasn't been all easy, but I was able to continue on to goal and now I am in maintenance. You too can do it, if this is your goal. But, you have to be ready to work at it and give up some of your favorite foods. I can't eat Iceberg lettuce which comes in most salads, steak, and sausage with a casing. These are a few of my problem foods. Good luck on YOUR decision. Karen

And did that work for you? If so, great, maybe you don't need the band. Like most folks, I dieted many times, I probably lost 1000 lbs over the years(I am 63 years old). I never met goal. I got bored after a few months. Then I started eating again. With the band, 1st you see a nutritionist, and get a pysch consolt, then you have your band, supposedly by then , you should be ready to admit that you have an eating problem and you need this tool to help you loose weight. I have been at goal for about a year. I must tell you it hasn't been all easy, but I was able to continue on to goal and now I am in maintenance. You too can do it, if this is your goal. But, you have to be ready to work at it and give up some of your favorite foods. I can't eat Iceberg lettuce which comes in most salads, steak, and sausage with a casing. These are a few of my problem foods. Good luck on YOUR decision. Karen

Exactly! I totally have an eating problem. I TOTALLY know this. I think that's why this forum has scared me. If food is my problem and I have to change the way I eat will the band really help? I hope that making sense.

And did that work for you? If so, great, maybe you don't need the band. Like most folks, I dieted many times, I probably lost 1000 lbs over the years(I am 63 years old). I never met goal. I got bored after a few months. Then I started eating again. With the band, 1st you see a nutritionist, and get a pysch consolt, then you have your band, supposedly by then , you should be ready to admit that you have an eating problem and you need this tool to help you loose weight. I have been at goal for about a year. I must tell you it hasn't been all easy, but I was able to continue on to goal and now I am in maintenance. You too can do it, if this is your goal. But, you have to be ready to work at it and give up some of your favorite foods. I can't eat Iceberg lettuce which comes in most salads, steak, and sausage with a casing. These are a few of my problem foods. Good luck on YOUR decision. Karen

btw..why was the band different for you than other diets you've done? Why didn't you get bored?

Also if you ate 1000 calories per day of twix you would still be hungry.That would be just over 3 bars per day. 1 for Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even with a band that would slide through really easily and you would be looking for something to satisfy you. If you eat 1000 calories per day of foods your Dr has told you to eat, Protein, vegies etc then you will be satisfied as those foods have a lot more substance, they satisfy you for longer and you won't have the urge to eat as much .

So if you can stick to eating 3 twix bars a day and nothing else yes you will lose weight.

No you won't be healthy.

Yes you will be hungry.

No your band won't help to suppress the hunger as this is not the way it is designed to be used. It would be like buying a chainsaw and trying to chop a tree down without switching it on. A complete waste of time and money.

Also if you ate 1000 calories per day of twix you would still be hungry.That would be just over 3 bars per day. 1 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Even with a band that would slide through really easily and you would be looking for something to satisfy you. If you eat 1000 calories per day of foods your Dr has told you to eat, Protein, vegies etc then you will be satisfied as those foods have a lot more substance, they satisfy you for longer and you won't have the urge to eat as much .

So if you can stick to eating 3 twix bars a day and nothing else yes you will lose weight.

No you won't be healthy.

Yes you will be hungry.

No your band won't help to suppress the hunger as this is not the way it is designed to be used. It would be like buying a chainsaw and trying to chop a tree down without switching it on. A complete waste of time and money.

I was just using that as an example of calories in calories out really. I am just trying to figure out how it's more about what you need and not the amount. I don't get that part of this lap band journey.

Plus I am three days into my pre-op diet and I am STARVING. I feel like crap.

Sounds like Withdrawls to me.

I am a food addict, and your ringing a bell to me. It's not uncommon, it really does happen allot.

You will still be able to eat healthy foods, as far as being stuck ! If you chew it down to the consistency of Applesauce, you won't have a problem. Some things will be more difficult then others, but you will learn what you can, and can't have.

!. Because it is not good in your calorie counting or low in Protein.

2. that type of food causes a stuck episode.

3, Believe me when I tell you you are not going to miss it ! You might be missing it now, but in time, that all goes away.

You will eat out, at home, at work, wherever you need to. Just watch what you eat like Atkins, and keep your calorie intake low, and protein high.

When you add in your exercise,,, you'll go far.

You have to be patient though,,,, and consistency is the key..

So if I didn't need it "realistically" I would not have done it.

Instead,, it was the Best Decision I ever made.

Shirley