I read many posts, and not sure how to respond to many of them...so I decided just to make a statement concerning MY weight loss approach...

My problem was I could not control my eating....every diet in the world is not going to do anything for me if I can't stop eating.....I could eat an entire large pizza's all by myself...along with a couple of beers, and then dessert! Every Friday Night!

So I had WLS to stop me - prevent me from overeating....simple as that...I have a band wrapped around my stomach that stops me from eating too much.....physically impossible to over eat....

I eat a 1/10th of what I used to on any given day...and the best part is I'm not hungry, I'm always satisfied....period....will be that way for the rest of my life....

It is a new lifestyle...eat less, eat healthy....all things in moderation?

I am not on any diet, do not care about calories, carbs, etc....I simply cannot overeat! And since I am eating so little now, I make sure that what I do eat, I eat healthy...make the best food choices I can....sprinkle that with some exercise and there it is!

Sure, I still eat ice cream, etc....just not enough to feed an army....I have friends, colleagues, who go out and eat-drink all sorts of things that dieters would have nightmares about....and yet they are thin, and in good shape, and never speak of dieting....they simply do not over do it....

Vacations, parties, holiday dinners have no effect on my eating....so I have no fear of that anymore....

It's not me doing this....It is the band!!! I am unable to do it on my own, as my history has shown....

There is no dieting....there is no maintenance...just a surgical procedure that has me eating the way normal, thin, people do all the time....and eventually I did reach that place....

There are no clever tricks, catchy motivational sayings....you can do it slogans, words of encouragement....it was simply surgical intervention,,,,to do for me what I could not do...and what other people who are not overweight are able to do....

I now live a regular day to day life, a daily routine, without the fear of weight loss or gain....it is finished....I cannot possible imagine living the rest of my life on a constant diet.Torture...yet I believe that is what many people here are setting themselves up for....

I know people don't like to hear it, but there is no hard work involved at all on my part, other than learning about good foods and planning healthy meals....and those first few months learning to live differently with this....

I've been around here long enough to know there are many who will not agree with me....So What...it is what it is....I'm happy, successful, and ready to live the rest of my life this way, at a normal weight, not having to diet all the time...

I'm happy for what other people have found to be their success paths...that's all that matters....

So there it is...take it or leave it.....I would guess over 85% of the people here cannot relate to what I am saying...and that is why many veterans choose to move on.....all the banders who were here when I first came, are all long gone....and I can understand why....

So much for my rant....

Edited February 27, 201412 yr by B-52

I'd like to chime in here because I'm in what you veterans call bandster hell - I completely believe B52 but what I believe he is failing to do and remember and reflect on, is HIS bandster hell - because until the weight is OFF it's still a diet. Sure,is it somewhat easier because the band limits your intake - absolutely. But the weight loss is slow for those of us who are still in the losing phase of being banded. And given that we are in the losing phase it matters what we eat and the deprived feeling exists b/c it's not been that long since we were gorging on entire pizzas and beers.

So, we newbies need to walk the walk & for once veterans, commiserate with us - give us, an "Oh, I remember being so frustrated b/c I was eating 3000 less calories a day for weeks and weeks and I lost only 2 lbs" - b/c I believe that is how it was for you too... ???

Congrats that you are where you are - it's been 3+ years for you - go back and read some of the things you wrote/felt 2 1/2 years ago... I'm curious - b/c that is what I'd like to hear about once in a while. Your status right now gives tremendous hope and I truly believe that will be my case in 2016... but right now I'm barely in Onderland wondering when will the weight shed??? I KNOW that it will - it's just patience aren't my strength.

Peace

I know B-52 often references his bandster hell, and how he actually gained weight until he was at "green" spot fill wise. He totally gets the bandster hell- we all do- when the band is placed but not filled it's not going to restrict anything.

I too can eat around my band and battle my head hunger still, but I love my band and know without it I would not only have lost 90 lbs, who knows how many more I would have gained!

Nicki

I'd like to chime in here because I'm in what you veterans call bandster hell - I completely believe B52 but what I believe he is failing to do and remember and reflect on, is HIS bandster hell - because until the weight is OFF it's still a diet. Sure,is it somewhat easier because the band limits your intake - absolutely. But the weight loss is slow for those of us who are still in the losing phase of being banded. And given that we are in the losing phase it matters what we eat and the deprived feeling exists b/c it's not been that long since we were gorging on entire pizzas and beers. So, we newbies need to walk the walk & for once veterans, commiserate with us - give us, an "Oh, I remember being so frustrated b/c I was eating 3000 less calories a day for weeks and weeks and I lost only 2 lbs" - b/c I believe that is how it was for you too... ??? Congrats that you are where you are - it's been 3+ years for you - go back and read some of the things you wrote/felt 2 1/2 years ago... I'm curious - b/c that is what I'd like to hear about once in a while. Your status right now gives tremendous hope and I truly believe that will be my case in 2016... but right now I'm barely in Onderland wondering when will the weight shed??? I KNOW that it will - it's just patience aren't my strength. Peace

Yes yes and yes. Once you hit the green zone it is a little easier but I can truthfully tell you that it has taken me 9 months to get here. My doc is conservative with fills and I have not minded that in the least bit. It has given me time to learn and understand and make changes to my food choices or diet. Yes I said the word diet because that's what it is we are on a diet each and every single day with every bite of food we eat.

CC you are doing awesome and your on target with what you wrote. Everyone goes through a period of learning and growth until it clicks and they find what works for them.

There was many times I thought I was in the green zone along the way only to have it subside days or even a week and half later. It took me about 6 almost 7 months post op before I was finally in a spot that worked for me. Those 6+ months were some frustrating times back in forth. I have to admit now that I am in the green zone the head hunger is more controllable and at times I wonder if my band has more to do with it then my state of mind. As a friend on here told me I do tend to over analyze things.

Bandster hell was rough and the only way I got through it was by not having the tempting foods around me. I was a severe junk food addict and I simply could not keep it in the house. I still do not keep in the house even now but now that I am in the green zone I feel I have more control. Urge just isn't there but I cannot tell you for sure if it is just me embracing my new lifestyle, will power or the band or just a combination of all of it.

I have not had a fill since January 29, 2012. April 16 will be my two year anniversary. My most challenging part of this journey has been my patience. I went through periods of up and down frustrations with the scale. I slowly started recognizing that there are other factors to consider when losing weight. Look for NSV's AKA non scale victories. Watching and feeling myself go from a size 62 waist to a 36 was more rewarding than any number on a scale.