Hello everyone,

I have done all the prerequisites and am just currently waiting on insurance approval. I have been thinking through all the rules that I will have when I get this lap band, such as no bread, no sodas, eat mostly protein and vegetables. I am not great at following diets for a long time hince the reason I am overweight. This seems a lot like a diet with rules that you have to follow. Why can't I just follow these rules, what help does the lap band give? I know a lot of you have been successful with the lapband and I just would like to know how the lapband makes it easier to follow these rules and what difference it has made for you vs just doing it on your own. Don't get me wrong, I am all for the lapband, but before I submit myself to surgery I want to know that this will actually help me. Thank you for the input!

Thank you all for your responses. I wanted to share a little about myself and why your feedback actually means a lot to me. I have been big my whole life and have lost substantial amounts of weight 3 times, even getting down to 165 and being 5'10, I thought I was doing well. But I could never keep it off, eventually my eating would go back to the way it was and what I call the hunger monster would return. I finally gave up and have ballooned up to 400 lbs. I am ashamed to even admit it and won't tell my wife how much I weigh. I've been working hard recently and lost a few lbs but not much. This lap band is my last chance to live a normal life and not be fat. I am so excited about the possibilities, but also really scared. Scared about the surgery(I've never had surgery before), scared that it won't work, ect. I have actually been trying to follow what I think I will eat once I am banded with a few cheats here and there but overall doing fairly well. I feel a lot better since I now focus on protein and avoid carbs. I just wonder that since I haven't had the will power to keep the weight off before, why will it be different this time with the band? And how will my will power combined with the band keep me from eating what I'm not supposed to eat? From reading your comments above, it sounds like it will, but I guess I won't know what the band feels like until I have it. I have been seeing the psychologist my lapband doctor reccomended because I wanted to work on why I ate they way I did. It has helped some, and I think it will be more helpful when I am banded so I don't go crazy! I have been lurking around this website for almost a year reading people's stories and this if my first major post so I appreciate the feedback. I really do want to thank you all for these comments because I can relate to them!

I think you'll do just fine. I'm 5'10" and weight 265. I'll be getting banded in early June. This was after researching for the past year and watching my wife who got banded in October 2011. I'm wanting to get down 100+lbs. I'm looking forward to the transformation.

Thank you for all the support, I just found out I am approved and my surgery is scheduled for May 10th. Very Scared and excited at the same time!

I am not on a "diet". I can eat anything i ate before surgery, only difference is portion. I eat less than half of what i used to, and its because the band stops me from gorging and stuffing my face. I know if i eat to much i will have the worst pain, and will possibly throw up, and i HATE throwing up. It is a tool, that if used properly will work perfectly. Love my band and am so glad i got it!

This is my reason for the band. I have always been successful at losing weight, but can't keep it off becasue I get off treack and over eat. The band will be that little extra reminder that I can't stuff or I will be sick...not willing to do that! Just an extra tool to help me stay on track when otherwise I would overeat.

Hi

I love my band.

I can eat just about ANYTHING but my doctor says no carbonated beverages at all.

Many people go into the journey saying... I'll never be able to eat this or that ever again.

I still eat bread and Pasta.. oatmeal... and I still go out for dinner.... the band is for life... carbs are a part of your lfie.

The only foods I avoid are rice and apple skins.

The band is so unique from person to person. Do NOT be afraid to try different foods BUT take tiny bites and chew your food and make sure you swallow what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite.

I have NEVER choked or been sick with the band... rice and apple skins have felt VERY strange going down so I avoid them but ALL other foods are fine.

I still plan my meals for the week. I cook on Sunday for the week and freeze my lunch and dinners for the coming week with the exception of Friday when I go out for dinner with friends...I retired so I"m home most of the time... now I'm not perfect.... If I get an invite to go out for lunch on a Tuesday I go. Just because I'm banded I haven't stopped living.

I still get weighed in every month with my family doctor. This keeps me on track and motivated.

I also host a monthly coffee group for fellow bandsters or people looking into the procedure.

I also talk to 3 phone buddies that I met here every month... I'm in Canada but I call the US... I have free long distance.

For me support from fellow bandsters played a huge part in my success.

My only regret about the band is that I didn't get it done sooner.

Take it one day at time.

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

Started with a 54" waist now 33"