Bandsters:

We all know that getting the lapband comes with alot of adjustments with your eating and overall life in general. One of the keys (it appears at least) is to getting through the learning/unconfortable curve phrase of adjusting to life with the band inside you.

As many of you know, my brother went from 429lbs to his current wait of 165lbs. Since my brother thinks these type of discussion is "too deep" (and basically thinks my quesitons are stupid), I have resorted to asking all of you.

The following are my 3 Questions:

1) How long after surgery did you finally settle down and eating with the band became normal? Specifically, no worries of throwing up or getting stuck or worried that you may eat to much ect... ? Yes..I know you can never be 100% worry free in terms of being stuck...but how long did it take for you to settle down eating with the band and where it became second nature?

2) Is there anything you did to improve or quicken your adjustment of living with the band? Obviously, those of us who haven't gotten the band yet, want to hopefully quicken our learning/adjustment curve. Any advice out there?

3) Looking back at your decision with getting the lapband, was there anything that you wish you would have known (or done differently) to quicken your rate of adjustment?

So In Summary

1) How Long ?

2) Anything to Quicken Your Adjustment Period for normalcy?

3) Anything you wish you would have done differently?

Many thanks in advance for your advice as many would benefit greatly from it.

Like a young kid touching a hot stove, they don't do that again once they get burned. I long for the time when I don't have to think about this kind of thing when eating, but I haven't given myself a time table for when that will happen.

You see this is at the heart of the matter. I'm wondering how long it becomes VERY NORMAL (to where it really hits your head) that you won't even try eating too much. Kind of like that hot stove....it only takes a couple of times....AND YOU KNOW not to even go down that path.

I know a stove is much more painful then the pain of eating too much with the band. But I'm wondering does the pain of eating too much EVENTUALLY register with you head that you really don't want to go down that path. And if/when it does.....NOW LIVING WITH the band is now becoming normal where you won't even have to think "am I overeating".

It appears...once we get to that point...living with the band will become much more normal.

Thoughts/Opinions on this?