I was just banded on 2/21 so I understand that it is very soon but I wanted to get some feedback from long time banders. I find that this whole process is totally consuming my thoughts. Before surgery it was with thoughts of how I would do things after and all kinds of "what if's". Now that I am banded I think constantly about my food/drink intake for the day, what I can put in my mouth and what I can't, am I getting enough protein, and on and on. I'm sure this is normal at my "stage in the game", but my question is: Does this continue or are you able to eventually move to a somewhat normal lifestyle where your band does not consume your thoughts?

Great question! I'm in the pre band stage of ever consuming thoughts and know that after banding I will be the same as you describe. Anxious to hear from the experienced....

I am curious about this too. Prior to all of this though, my days were consumed with food as well though. I'm sure things will settle down once you get more comfrotable with things and knowing the ins and outs of what you can and can't eat and how much. We are totally retraining ourselves. It's going to be hard, but we can do it!

I agree with everyone of course the lap band is your thoughts pre operation, for me this is one of the biggest changes I will make in my life. I want to fast forward to when I know how to cope and follow the plan and listen up my body. I am pre op with my surgery planned for the 13 march. I know that following surgery for s little while it will be all about me getting started on the next road of you journey, good luck to you all x

I think its good to go through the 'always thinking about the band process', it helps u formulate a sort of routine/plan whereby after a certain length of time u begin to think less and less and the band is not in the forferont of your thoughts. I sometimes even forget i am banded now, but as i have a set routine then it doesnt matter, if i eat out or eat something new then i do think of the band and make decisions based on that. The main thing is that for general day to day thinking the band is in the back of my mind and sometimes im not even concious of it, so dont worry the thoughts do change the longer u are banded good luck to you all who are having surgery !

To otters, I agree with you and actually came to that conclusion after I made this post. Before surgery I was also consumed with thoughts of food and dieting so I guess it is no different. Maybe that is why I am in tune with these thoughts, because it is different from the usual diet, binge, etc routine some of us have been on.

Especially when you're first starting out, for sure it's on your mind. YOu have to change your way of eating, and if you forget and do something like take a big bite, wow you will know it and feel it! So don't worry, as you go along you'll get more used to your new way of eating and it won't be such a big deal, I think!

I have been banded for 4 1/2 weeks and I have already gotten to the point where sometimes I forget I am even banded. It has not been hard to take small bites and to chew, chew, chew, but I am still eating too fast. I think it will be this way for you as well...you start feeling good, losing weight and you stop obsessing about what you are eating, etc., especially when you get on regular foods.

I agree with everyone of course the lap band is your thoughts pre operation, for me this is one of the biggest changes I will make in my life. I want to fast forward to when I know how to cope and follow the plan and listen up my body. I am pre op with my surgery planned for the 13 march. I know that following surgery for s little while it will be all about me getting started on the next road of you journey, good luck to you all x

im the same... im pre op. im finding that im on computer a lot of my time and reading up on this forum. and as well as, the thoughts are there all the time. it certainly is one of the biggest life changes.

i too am consumed with thoughts of my band, food portions, exercise and what ifs...i am also still at home! i am hoping that when i return to work it will get better, but i am also thinking about how the band will affect my life when i get back into the thick of things!