I consider this part of the good,bAD and ugly" of lapbanding.

Bad and Ugly

1st stage I mourned for huge mexican plates with bunches of salsa and chips

2nd stage I mourned for chinese buffets

3rd stage I mourned for 4 chocolate longjohns with cream filling , forget about a few doughnut holes (just not the same thing)

Next stage took a while but I am experiencing it now

4th stage I miss the buzz (endorphins) I would get from overeating.

Good

stage 1 After just 20 lb loss I felt healthier

stage 2 At around 60 lbs loss I got into an 18 !! out of plus size!!!!

stage 3 At around 80 lb loss I feel normal .To me "normal" means not being the biggest person at every friend or family get together. Also I don't sweat ALL the time now. The weather is getting warm and no sweating!!!

stage 4 At goal I love not having all different size clothes in my closet.

I love putting on anything and knowing it looks fine or even good now and I don't have to worry does this make me look fatter?

I am SO interested in any feelings bandsters have on this good,bad and ugly thing.

The band for me is half head and I have had lots of feelings this 8 months

I am wondering what my future stages will be.

I am hoping to Celebrate a year of sobriety from my food addiction in July of 08.

Even being at goal now I feel like a newbie . Its like it could change because it has been too easy for me. I wish everyone could have a journey like mine.

edie

My stages have been a little different. Mine have all been about mind games.

I do NOT need more calories because I am sick. I have plenty of fat, stored energy.

I do NOT need more food because I might suffer malnutrition. Malnutrition does not happen in a matter of weeks.

I do NOT need more calories because I'll have low blood sugar. Protein does the job just fine.

I do NOT need more calories because I'll be weak if I do not eat. Fat is stored energy.

Just because my stomach makes noises does not mean I am hungry, it means my stomach is making noises.

I have learned about head hunger, noise hunger, and REAL hunger.

I have learned that I do not need Diet Coke to get me going in the AMs.

I have learned that I do not need to consume more calories so I can sustain fat, fat cells a little longer.

I have learned an entirely new way of thinking and feeling.

It's been quite difficult to wrap my brain around these concepts but I finally have it down pretty well.

I have also learned that it is not a fault of mine or a personality fault that I am fat. It is likely a biological issue in addition to wanting to believe what I told myself for years.

I'm almost over it and I eat accordingly.

I'm in between stage 1 and 2 being down almost 50 lbs with another 40 or so to go. You have done remarkable. Good job!

wanted this in a evening post

edie

I wanted to add my new stage.

MAY 07.

I feel so happy.

I'm not having any trouble with gaining weight.

I feared that.

I don't really have a relationship with food anymore. I like looking at it.

It is pretty. lol.

My stomach finally growled the other day. At first after banding I had a tiger in my tank all the time.

I have to stop and eat now.

I am spending more time outside because I don't get so hot . My dog likes this.

edie

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has mourned the loss of a huge mexican food platter with lots of chips and salsa. :-( I'm a food addict as well and it is so obvious to me now how much I let food control my life. I haven't been banded very long and just got my first fill this week. I'm still trying to figure out my new relationship with food but feel at least little more control over it now than before the band.

great thread!

I'm still pre-fill........... but

Bad and Ugly

Feeling out of control and depressed hopeless

growing OUT of my fattest jeans (size 22/24)

Good

Sense of control and light at the end of the tunnel

Already seeing my face change

Getting into old clothes sizes 16/18 (stretchy)

Feeling like a success and KNOWING this will be the LAST TIME I lose this extra person I'm carrying around.