Been away from my computer for few days. Opened my e-mail and down came a long list of new posts from this website, and ALL were NEGATIVE!

WHAT A DRAG!

Then I find a post from a person who is considering the surgery but having 2nd thoughts because of all the info he/she is reading here. THAT got to me!

So I need to vent.

First, I have to give disclosure that what I say is only from my own personal experiences, and of course, everyone should follow what their Dr. says, not a stranger.

I LOVE my band. It is the best thing I have ever done, and without a doubt has changed my life and probably saved it too.

It is doing everything that I had hoped and imagined it would do! And I can honestly say I do not have one single complaint or problem!

People say it is a "Tool" that you use and with a little hard work and determination you can make it work. Well, sorry, I have been on more diets that I can remember and this is the EASIEST weight loss

experience I have ever imagined. I have undergone major bariatric surgery and had a foreign object put inside me to change my eating habits...and that is exactly what it is doing. The main discipline for

me is making wise food choices. And for that there is a learning curve!

First, it has controlled and curbed my hunger. There are times when I know it's time to eat and I just don't feel like it.

Second, when I do eat, the amount of food I can eat is very, very small! I could not overeat if I wanted to!

Recently people here have stated they dread the thought of Thanksgiving and not overeating and ruining their progress. My only anxiety is that I WON"T be able to eat my favorite foods! I've thought this through and think I am going to at least have a "Taste" of everything on the table. But I will have to save the stuffing for last because that's not going to work at all.

I still go out to my favorite restaurants. I drink coffee all hours of the day. I enjoy an alcohol drink now and then. I don't measure/weigh my food. There is just so much that will fit in my pouch. If I did weigh/measure what I ate I am sure I would find it to be proportional to what I should be allowed. In other words I can't overeat no matter how much I may want to!

My Diabetes is completely reversed! At one point I was taking 60 units of Lantus at bedtime, plus oral meds during the day with meals. NO MORE! GONE!

I now go to the gym and workout like a madman. Not because I have to, but because the things I can now do are amazing (to me) and I can't wait to get back and do it again!

I wear clothes that are "Normal" sized. Bought 2 winter coats that are MEDIUMS!

I have not had a fill since May. I tell my Dr. everything I am doing. He says I am in a good place, exactly where I should be, in the Green Zone. Go and enjoy your life and I will see you in 3 months.

I have to say it continues to get better every week as more old habits die away and new habits are learned and become second nature.

I get up and go to work and come home everyday. There are days I do not even think about being banded. (like having bridgework)

I need to say it took me 4 months from surgery to get to this place, where things started to fall in place. THAT was when my weight loss journey began. NOT when I had the surgery.

And like I said, it keeps on getting better.

There. I'll get off my soapbox now.

Wish I would have done this a long time ago. I love my new life. Wife loves my new life. I actually help around the house, whereas, I was always tired and hurting and grumpy all the time and wouldn't even pick up after myself. My yard is now full of compliments, including the alley - holy smokes! The house is getting improvements that I never thought of before. Wow!

I've had a weight problem all my life and lost and gained and lost and gained - we all know the story. The band keeps me in check and I'm at a point where I've learned to "eat to live" and yes there are head games with food that I deal with at times but I'm back on track quickly. I don't intentionally try to be a band cheerleader, but, man what a difference the weight loss has made in my life. Yoyo dieting just did not work for me and if one day I lose the band I am thrilled that I got the chance to begin to enjoy life to it's fullest at 52, the Golden years.

Almost last but not least, the couch misses me and pay-per-view is no longer making a killing $$$. I'm embarrassed to say, but, we actually have left overs in the fridge. Lastly, the washing machine is working much better! lol

I am only 2 weeks post -op and i find myself struggling because I am hungry and have no restriction... Please advise