I've had surgery only 2 months ago, and have lost 28 lbs so far. So this isn't really a question that pretains to me, it's hypothetical at this point, but am curious what people think about this.

My doc told me that he would have no problem loosening me up as much as I want before going away on vacation or something, as long as I promise to come back. He then told me of some person that came in for a loosening before a religious Holiday where he knew he wanted to eat alot. Long story short, in two weeks, the guy gained 28 lbs!! He came back for his fill and lost in shortly thereafter. I guess my question here is, what do you think? Would you ever consider doing something like that?

To me, since I'm still trying to lose it all, that sounds absurd, but I'm wondering if down the road once I lose it all (crosses fingers) if I go away on vacation if I'd want to do something like that. I honestly don't know.

I had issues with reflux and was unfilled for 3 months. I gained.....1/2 a pound in 3 months. I am so close to goal that most of my excess weight is loose skin at this point. So dropping pounds is almost impossible for me at this point. My band doc, was impessed that I managed to maintain for 3 months without any real help from my band. I told him that I had really learned how to eat and what it feels like to be satisfied, not stuffed. He was impressed, but said that is what he considered a true band success. ~Mandy

This really has got to be the hardest of hardest. I mean going on vacation we all USED to dream of ALL the food we would eat and all the drinks we would drink.....now its like a squash on the dream. BUT..I like the post that said coming back from vacation and having LOST weight instead of GAINED....I mean THAT is what it is all about NOW!! I love all the people who chime in with their opinions about this. Everyone takes a little bit different angle on it and when you put it all together you get some AWESOME EXCELLENT advice!!!! Deanna

Unfilling would be disasterous. If you would consider this then you probably should not have been banded to begin with.

Unfilling would be disasterous. If you would consider this then you probably should not have been banded to begin with.

Please explain why.

Unfilling would be disasterous. If you would consider this then you probably should not have been banded to begin with.

That's a pretty big generalization and I don't agree. We are all different and our successes are going to come in different ways. There may be many banded people that will be able to unfill for vacation.

I can see being at my goal weight for a stable period of time and unfilling somewhat for a cruise. It doesn't mean that I'm going to binge the whole time. It would mean that I might enjoy a piece of bread with my meals, or other things that I generally have difficulty with. If I was already having problems with my eating urges, then no, I wouldn't do it.

There are many people that are making life changes with the band and they probably would be able to handle splurges every now and then. If the band is the only thing that ends up controlling what you're eating, then you probably shouldn't consider this.

My fill doctor will do the same thing. I think his reason for doing it is not so much to allow you to pig out, but to avoid the likihood of you overeating and ending up PB'ing a lot or throwing up and making your band slip. I think a lot of people get unfills right before Thanksgiving. I totally understand because that day is all about food, but I personally am not willing to pay $200 for and unfill and then another $200 for a fill. If unsurance pays for it that is one thing, but I am self pay. I think it's a little more understanding if you are in the maintenance phase, but I'm not sure I would do it in the weight loss phase.

Unfilling would be disasterous. If you would consider this then you probably should not have been banded to begin with.

I have a different outlook on this. I think if you are not using the band to learn a new way of eating and living then you should really reconsider how/what you are doing. People can and do have issues and have to have their bands removed. I for one am glad that if my band has to be removed I have learned how to control my eating. Use your band to learn a new lifestyle, don't count on it to always be there, one day it may not be. ~Mandy

"The day is all about food", and "The band, one day it may not be there".

I'm sorry, but first of all, "That day is all about food" Thats what got me there to begin with, and ""One day it may not be there", My band is a lifetime program. I If food so rules you life that you would even consider "unfilling" it, "My opinion" is why put yourself through a surgical proceedure just to undo it later to cheat?

"The day is all about food", and "The band, one day it may not be there".

I'm sorry, but first of all, "That day is all about food" Thats what got me there to begin with, and ""One day it may not be there", My band is a lifetime program. If I thought it would not be there some day, I would not have done it. If food so rules you life that you would even consider "unfilling" it, "My opinion" is why put yourself through a surgical proceedure just to undo it later to cheat? Yes its a tool to help you learn to eat better, but why buy that tool if your not going to use it properly?

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, but just think it promotes the whole yo-yo effect that I battled for years before the band. Thats just "My level of commitment".

2 years 3 mos. out

at goal

220 pounds lost, Works for me....

"The day is all about food", and "The band, one day it may not be there".

I'm sorry, but first of all, "That day is all about food" Thats what got me there to begin with, and ""One day it may not be there", My band is a lifetime program. If I thought it would not be there some day, I would not have done it. If food so rules you life that you would even consider "unfilling" it, "My opinion" is why put yourself through a surgical proceedure just to undo it later to cheat? Yes its a tool to help you learn to eat better, but why buy that tool if your not going to use it properly?

I'm not trying to ruffle feathers, but just think it promotes the whole yo-yo effect that I battled for years before the band. Thats just "My level of commitment".

2 years 3 mos. out

at goal

220 pounds lost, Works for me....

I never said to unfill to cheat, and I also never said anything about the day is all about food, you mixed two qotes together there. I have to be partially unfilled in order to fly and still be able to swallow my own saliva. I also said that when partially unfilled I maintain band rules other than a single grilled cheese sandwich. I would hardly say that I have a lower lever of commitment over a grilled cheese sandwich once a year. I'm lucky I can eat most things, like steak, with too many problems. My doctor has me at a very sweet spot, I have to work to get my Protein and 1200 calories in each day. My 4 small meals are just that very small, and I do 4 of them because I am now doing a toning routine and smaller more fequent meals was reccomended by a doctor, I'm not grazing or cheating my slipping a 4th meal in my diet. And I have news for you, not every band is there for a lifetime, get your head out of the clouds. Eroions happens, slippage happens, even to "perfect" bandsters. I have seen too many bands be lost by good friends that floowed the rules, to sit and say without any doubt that my band is for life, don't kid yourself, thins can go wrong. I went into this hoping and praying my band woul be for life too, but that isn't always to case. I learned how to eat properly, and how to stay fit, and managed to pass that test when I had to be unfilled for 3 months due to reflux from personal stress. Remember that the band was made by humans, and can fail, it is also not a natural thing in the body and can be rejected. Don't count on it to ALWAYS be there. ~Mandy

I think it would depend on where you were going and for how long. My husband is Egyptian... and if we were to visit there for any long period of time, I would probably go unfilled or with a small fill because I wouldn't know what to do if I got stuck or had troubles.

Having said that, personally, it was so nice to go to France with my Band... to eat "normally"... enjoying everything, but in small portions... and then come home having lost 5 pounds.

I will say, that as a 6-year Band veteran, sometimes being restricted does get tiring. You want to be normal. You want a break. So, I can see taking a few months off from being filled to just be normal again as well as to see what you've learned by being Banded. That's the beauty of the Band. You can do that!

How do you like dieting so far? This is plain stupid. Why would you put youre-self into all of this just to screw it up to eat again. If you are putting this out there you must be thinking about it......the Dr. that told you this is just in it for the money. It is like driving in reverse all the time.!!!!!!!