My last fill was on April 17th and I believe I am in the green zone now. Yea! But, I found that I can eat around the band by eating chips and salsa. Not happy. Now that I know I can eat any amount of chips, I have cut myself off. I have little will power when I am hungry.

Chips seems to be an item most banded people can eat. I can eat them but usually only about 5 or 6. I don't buy big bags of chips because I know I can eat them. If I buy some I will buy small bags or a pringles can.

It's all about planning. Keep a supply of low fat cheese sticks at home and bring them with you if you know you will be hungry before your next meals. Lack of planning will be your biggest down fall. It would be better for you to eat 2 cheess sticks at 70 cals each (140 cals )than even one serving of chips also 140 cals.

Chips are also a slider so you are unlikely to get a full feeling no matter how many you eat.

Thanks for the reply. That helps alot. What other foods are sliders?

Any food that disolves in your mouth, or can be chewed to thin mush is a slider: ice cream, candy, cake, crackers, chips, high calorie drinks, protein shakes. Your pouch is just a funnel. Anything that would pass through a funnel will not give you a full feeling.

I have nothing to add about eating around the band, but I love your name!! SpaceGirl used to be an avatar of mine!!!

even chips won't pass through on me - i'm pretty tight - maybe you need a fill? a little one i mean -- that will stop you on the chips/salsa.

yeah, I can only eat a few as well.

Fill level has nothing to do with sliders for me. I have to be almost occluded to not be able to eat slider foods, and that is just not a happy place for me. chips, Cookies, ice cream..they all go down quite easily for me.

The only time they didn't is when I was overfilled and could not even get yogurt or mashed potatoes with lots of milk in them down. Even now, while I am in the green zone but considering a slight unfil, I can eat silders with no problem. It is the good for me foods that are a challenge. I have to choose not to eat the sliders. It is way easier to grab some chips than to sit and slowly eat a salad that may or may not go down. And the chips taste soooo much better.

It's a shame they cannot band the brain along with the stomach.

I am trying to figgure out why anyone would go and have the lapband put in and want to "eat around the band", "& cheat" . Was it so easy to pay for the surgery? Was it so easy to go under with anesthesia?

Was it easy to walk and get those darn gas bubbles out? Was it easy to do a 2-3 week liquid only diet?

Was it easy having the pain pills cause constipation? Is life better living in obesity city? For me I am going to say NO to all these questions. And then I ask this: Why do you want to sabatauge your weight loss for some crappy food that got you obese in the first place? Thank you.

Cindysmom, if it made any sense at all, few of us would have problems in the first place.

It's a shame they cannot band the brain along with the stomach.

And therein lies the answer to your essential question.

Congratulations on your great accomplishment, by the way. One pound to go! WOW.

WOW Cyindys mom You are perfect I wish I was you!!!!!

I only feel this way because at 64 years old, I don't have 40-50 years to live. I just recently lost my brother from Diabetes. If I did not do the lapband my kids would have no mother. I must be strong to survive heart trouble, diabetes, and plain old obesity. I know that I's kind of anal. But its the only way for me to be. Size medium sure beats size 2x. I want so much for myself and all you others. Did you see my before photo? I had to look that way in front of my exhusband and his wife. {Thin and Blonde} I got fired from my job of 9 years from a new supervisor cause I was so FAT..

I am trying to figgure out why anyone would go and have the lapband put in and want to "eat around the band", "& cheat" . Was it so easy to pay for the surgery? Was it so easy to go under with anesthesia?

Was it easy to walk and get those darn gas bubbles out? Was it easy to do a 2-3 week liquid only diet?

Was it easy having the pain pills cause constipation? Is life better living in obesity city? For me I am going to say NO to all these questions. And then I ask this: Why do you want to sabatauge your weight loss for some crappy food that got you obese in the first place? Thank you.

Seriously!!! EVERYONE eats foods that aren't the best nutritious choice. No one stays away from all junk food and if it were that easy then we wouldn't be in the position of having a lapband. Maybe your doctor is different then mine but mine actually says eat what we want but no more then 1/2 cup. We have no foods that are off limits but we all know eating a salad would be a better choice then some chips. I chose to live realistically and know that I am going to eat some foods that aren't the most nutritious but I am not going to gorge on them or let it get to me. I will admit that I eat chips/salsa when i go out to eat with friends, I have had an ice cream cone when I take my kids out, and I had a cookie the other night at my sons awards program (he is special needs and they made the cookies for their parents) but the difference is I have ONE and I don't dwell on it. I account for the calories and it doesn't become a habit.

I'm with you cindysmom. I guess it's all in perspective.

Popcorn is my weakness! Especially when I'm tight & can't eat much. I know ican always rely on popcorn. Lopl