I have found that the band is the band is the band...no matter where I am, on vacation, a cruise, business travel...no matter if you're at a wedding, a fancy restaurant, or a holiday dinner (Thanksgiving), a sporting event....the foods I will not (cannot) eat at home are the same foods I cannot (will not) eat 3000 miles away!!

This is surgery...a permanent change to my digestive system...an alteration...why, and most importantly - HOW would the band change it's function?? It is there,adjusted to work at a certain level...set by me and my Dr. through a series of fills - adjustments.

When I hear about temptations with food, travel, dinner with friends, etc, etc,...it is reminiscent of diets in the past, and the prelude to eventual failure.....not the new life with the band...

On our last cruise, a 12 night, I ate what and where I wanted, enjoyed myself, not worrying about calories or portions ( I never do anymore anyway).....I just let the band be in charge (as if I have a choice) and do what it does every day of the week....and I lost 2 pounds!!!

If I cannot eat pizza here in NJ on a Friday night, I cannot eat Pizza in Seattle!! same goes for all the characteristics of lap bamd Surgery...portion control, inability to over eat, no hunger or cravings...

I do not use the band as I wish when I wish, like a tool as many others express......the band is in charge of me and my eating lifestyle....big difference in something I can control and something that controls me...

I quess I was fortunate to have a Dr. that from the get-go he never chastised me about my shortcomings pre and post op., one time I gained weight between fills and he just laughed at me saying I didn't get it yet.....he would indicate to the Yellow-Greeen-Red Poster on the wall and explain that that was his goal for me in that phase of the journey....and for me that has been all it is ever about....being in that "Perfect" place of balance...it is at the place that all the "Rules" come into play and make perfect sense to live the new life with the band....

Great I am happy for you, unfortunately, I was not so lucky. Band does take education, and I so agree with the ideas that you have to take charge! Eating, wherever you are, will always be the same! Best wishes to all newbies and others.

I'm banded about 6 months now, and I'm learning that the band is the band is the band It does take education and some trial and error to realize the things you can eat and the things that just don't work for you anymore no matter how small of a bite you take or amount you chew.

I have yet to find my spot in the green zone though I think I am very close to that at this point. However there are days when I am eating either too few or too many calories depending on my choices and the locations I am eating at.

The band might be the band in NY as much as it is in Delaware, or Dallas, but the chicken at Wendy's is not the same as the chicken at the diner or the chicken I might make at home. My attitude is a bit different as well when I am on vacation and when I am home, and my choices are not always the best I have found while I'm on vacation, and I'm working on that too .