I just found out that I have been aproved by my insurance for banding on April 26th! I am excited but so scared I will fail, I do know many people who are back to being obese years after being banded. I lost very little weight on my pre-op diet mostly because I was scared my insurance would deny me if I lost too much(I was right at a BMI of 40 with borderline hypertension). I know that is awful, but I am just being honest. I have battled a food addiction my whole life and have successfully lost weight only by completely eliminating food and exercising obsessively. I am scared that I will let food win again. Since I have found out that I am having the surgery, I have the biggest urge to go eat every single thing that I know I shouldn't. Does the band really help you limit your intake? My problem has always been never being able to eat just a little, I want to eat constantly!

I know many many of us can relate to this. I had the same fears as you, and still do. That will probably never go away.

Now, I can only speak for myself regarding restriction with my band. I have never had a fill and I guess you can say I am in what everyone calls the 'green zone', for now. I am going to be honest to say that I still have cravings, and sometimes want to shovel things in my mouth. I just don't.

Knowing I have this band around my stomache, for me puts things into perspective. I simply don't want to hurt myself, my band, and most importantly my health. These things 'steer' me in the right direction so that I can be successful. Like any wls you will always have to watch what you eat so that you don't gain back the weight, it will always be work and effort, you have to help the 'tool' in order to make this happen, and it will....

Whether or not you keep the weight off long term is entirely up to you. I know many people who've been great successes for years, but likewise I know many who gained all their weight back. The difference is, the ones who keep it off also maintain healthy eating habits. The ones who gain it back revert back to their old unhealthy ways.

The band isn't meant to limit your intake, by the way. It's job is not to physically stop you from eating nor to control how much you eat. That's a big misconception. The band is to help you feel satisfied on less food for much longer periods of time- which is does exceptionally well once you reach the point optimal Fluid in your band.

Have a look at this link, it will explain it in great detail. It's called The Lap Band is NOT about Restriction, by Dr. Simpson: http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

Best wishes!

Whether or not you keep the weight off long term is entirely up to you. I know many people who've been great successes for years' date=' but likewise I know many who gained all their weight back. The difference is, the ones who keep it off also maintain healthy eating habits. The ones who gain it back revert back to their old unhealthy ways.

The band isn't meant to limit your intake, by the way. It's job is not to physically stop you from eating nor to control how much you eat. That's a big misconception. The band is to help you feel satisfied on less food for much longer periods of time- which is does exceptionally well once you reach the point optimal Fluid in your band.

Have a look at this link, it will explain it in great detail. It's called The Lap Band is NOT about Restriction, by Dr. Simpson: http://drsimpson.net...estriction.html

Best wishes!

I just read this thank you for the information how much food should I eat (once I can) and how often?

I just read this thank you for the information how much food should I eat (once I can) and how often?

Always follow your doctor's specific instructions over all else, but most say 1 cup or less per meal. How often varies, some say only meals and others allow Snacks. I personally eat when hungry regardless of what the clock says. I focus on daily calories not the amount of meals or snacks. (though I actually miss meals sometimes because I'm not hungry and forget to eat)

Remember that weigh loss with the lapband is a journey. You have to learn to live a new lifestyle.