I'm so glad I found a group of real ppl to talk to. I have been thinking about lapband for a couple of years. My gut instincts tells me it's the best thing for me BUT I'm scared to death. Went to my 1st appt & now I'm very nervous. I don't want to eat boiled eggs & string cheese for the rest if my life & I'm scared to death I'm gonna throw up at a corp. dinner with exes. Can someone who has had the band for awhile please tell me the truth about eating with the band. I know it sounds silly but I have tons of exec dinners for my job & it's a big part of how I provide for my family. I've heard a variety if things & not sure what to believe.

Thank you;)

Well sweetie it's all really individualized. What I can eat, which is pretty much anything except bread and hamburger, other people may not. As for the throwing up, from my experience if I go slowly and take small bites that I chew up really well I'm fine. Another friend of mine threw up everyday for a year, but that was because she didnt listen to her body and work with the band. And no, it's not a silly question. I asked my dr the exact same thing, I told him if I was going to end up like my friend there was no way I was doing it. 10 months out and so far so good. Hope this helps you...it's a tough choice, but it's a great life on the other side of the band...

Kelly

Thanks Kelly. Yea I'm beginning to see the experience can range a great deal. The dietician really really freaked me out. I certainly don't want to spend my entire day thinking about throwing up vs now thinking about weight. Trading 1 obsession for another. Ugh...I really need to keep praying about it cause I'm just unsure. So many variables. So glad it worked for you. That's awesome. Thanks for the honestly I really appreciate it!

Tina

Not a bad question @ all. I think most of us that have made this decision to take this journey had similar concerns. I haven't had my surgery yet, I have mine on 12/22. However I know people that have and basically you can eat some of the same things just in less quanities. You will probably want to stay away from bread and carbonated drinks. I would research and definitely get info on this site. As far as vomiting, from what I have researched and from what my doctor has told me, you won't vomit unless you eat too much, too fast, or do not chew up your food. Hopefully this helps you and makes you feel better about this.

I was a slow learner and did my share of throwing up but I was always able to hide t from dinner companions. I am two years out (its the best thing I ever did) and now I hardly ever have trouble unless I do something stupid. Like get distracted and eat or drink too fast. But I can easily keep it down and excuse myself to a restroom. The most noticable thing is that I eat very small portions, I take a ton of food home from a restaurant...but no one has ever even commented on it!

I dont and have never eaten and low cal or diet food and I dont and have never exercised...I wear a size 6 now and I have my B/A pix on my profile if you want to see them.

You are right to get all the info you can, this is a great site for that!

I can certainly understand your concerns with having to eat in front of people and not look obvious. Ok, I've been banded 11 months so I'm probably not an expert but I've been in a few circumstances in a business setting and you just have to be careful. First, string cheese and boiled eggs are not in my diet...ok, maybe the cheese but not the boiled eggs. You get to eat a very wide variety of foods but in the early stages, you have to try some things based on texture, size, moistness, etc. Some foods just don't work. For me it's untoasted bread, tortilla's, rice. I drink a protein shake for breakfast (Premier Nutrition from Costco). For lunch, if I'm at a business lunch in front of people, I stick with soup or chili. Still need to take slow bites but it's usually a safe choice. otherwise, I have tuna salad, chicken salad, turkey burger, beef burger (open faced no bun) and maybe a little green salad. If I need a snack, I eat a palm full of nuts or a piece of fruit...again, small slow bites. Dinner is pretty much whatever everyone else is having except a very small portion. Meatloaf, tuna casserole, chicken breast, turkey burgers, etc for my protein and then a little green veggie and/or a little green salad. I still crave things that are bad for me because the band it a tool, not a fix all. I just have a different view of food now or 95% of the time. Around my period, I graze like a cow which usually shows up on the scale but that's the way it is some months. I still eat a cookie or a little chocolate, I just don't pig out on it like I used to. The band was a fabulous choice for me but I still have to work at it every day. It's just gotten easier as the last 11 months has gone by. Good Luck. Get the book titled Band Wagon.....tons of great info!

As my 13yr old daughter would say OMG;). I feel so much better. Thanks you guys I love the honest info I really need it. I have to see a dietician for 6 months do I'm just starting. She really freaked me out & gave me a list of like 10 item. And kept talking about slimming:(. I know she's just doing her job but I was like Whoa...so glad to hear what ppl really eat. Work stuff is going to be hard, it's alll bread. So glad I won't really b eating boiled eggs. Thank you Jesus;). Good Luck V...I wanna hear all about it when you up to it!

X I can't figure out how to get to your pics. Still learning the site...

Work stuff is going to be hard, it's alll bread.

I have managed catered work lunches with vendors and clients quite well. I just take a meat sandwich and remove the bread. And then just eat the meat, cheese and tomato. If there is a side salad, I make a little chef salad with the protein. No one notices.

Dear LOve, thanks for friending me...you can just click on my name and my pix are right on my main page...PS My feet are tan not dirty..LOL!

I eat what ever I want! I choose not to eat bread and pasta and have no problems. The only time I had trouble with pbing was the two weeks I was to tight. Any other time I have gotten that stuck feeling it is because I did not chew my food well enough. Your life will go on like normal, you just take a little more time to eat.

I have been banded since August and knock on wood have not ever thrown up or PB'd. I am in business meetings and traveling for business all the time and I eat whatever they are serving and have never had a problem. I am very conscious though of how much I eat and I do chew well. I have not tried to eat steak yet but I have eaten everything else that ppl mention on here that causes them trouble. I eat a boiled egg at least 4 days a week. I chew well and have not had any problem. I eat bread sometimes but break off very small pieces at a time. I dont eat it often though simply because I like to limit my carbs.

Good luck! You will be fine if you follow the rules.

Thank you guys so much. I feel so much better. I have 6months so excited to follow folks on the site. So glad I found this site & asked my silly questions. I'm sure I'll have many more. Still have alot to do for insurance coverage. Not as freaked out as earlier.