Hi y'all

Just a thought....my husband asked me the other day if I ever forgot I had the band. The answer was NO everyday I'm so aware of it. Not saying it's a bad thing but, it got me wondering if there ever comes a point when people forget they have it. I've been banded for almost 8 months now. There are so many things I can't eat bc of it I feel it would be impossible to ever forget it's there. I love my band but, sometimes I miss the old days when I could eat a sandwhich or a hamburger. Or eat anything w/o having to wonder if it's gonna go down or not. Then I look at the scale or old pics of myself and remind myslef that NOTHING tastes as good as skinny feels. I'd love to hear y'alls thoughts.

surgery 1/24/07 252 lbs size 20/22

weight as of today 9/11/07 187 lbs size 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh and i'm 42 lbs from my goal weight:whoo:

Interesting question.

I can forget for moments, or chunks of a day, but never for a whole day. Mostly, I'm aware of it more than I thought I would be at 18 months out. I guess that goes to show how important food was to me. I used to be that aware of needing the food. Now that background noise is my knowledge that the band is there, if that makes sense.

Once I get my port replaced with a low profile, I hope I'll forget about the band for longer chunks of time than I do now (though I still am certain I'll think about it every day). My port is uncomfortable at this juncture. I'm going to the doc on Monday to see about that -- woohoo!

This is an interesting thread because I wondered about this very fact and if it was something that you are ever able to forget and just be "normal". But then I thought of how often I think about being fat (constantly on my mind) and I think that I may think about the band less than I currently think about being fat.

All the time. I honestly don't think about it a lot any more.

I mostly only remember it when I do something stupid and get stuck. I don't *forget* it perse, I just don't think about it. Not eating certain things, or giving it a little thought is rather second nature, even though I'm thinking about it, it's not way in the front of my brain like it used to be.

I don't think about it unless I'm eating. When I'm going to eat it's always very much on my mind.

The other night was laying down reading, not thinking about it until my fourteen pound cat placed a paw and all her weight smack dab on my port. Ow.

I only think about it when I eat or drink.

I have only had my band about a month and a half so i think about it a lot.I spend a lot ot time cooking the right things and buying the right foods. I do not eat any junk food or fast food. I spent a lot to get my band and i plan to make sure it works for me. I would rather think about the band, than how fat i was. I am really.......glad i got this band. Donna

I feel the same way you do,I was at a friends house last week and some other good friends of mine saw a pic of me and they were like o my gosh Della is or was that you. I just smiled and say that was me. I know the feeling about a hamburger,but you know I had the chance before a fill to have a full big bite hot dog,onions,relish,pickles,cheese and chili running off a 7-11 hotdog,would you believe I got sick to the stomach trying to eat that grap. It is not worth it when I look in the mirror

Della

Stay strong

It is hard to forget about it. Sometimes I forgot for a moment when I am very hungry and I take a big bite and not chew alot and then OMG I am stuck and unhappy. I love my band though. I would have never lost and kept this weight off with out it. My port practically sticks out of my skin so I always know that it is there.

I can't wait to get where you guys are.

Congrats 2 all of you!

you will be there soon,I would not trade my life,health and above all the way I look for all the money in the world. Della

I had a brain fart yesterday, and yes forgot about my band. I was eating egg salad for lunch and at the time was pissed off about a rude comment someone made to me in regards to my weight ... so I was eating a bit fast and not chewing thoroughly. One swallow was a bit painful and thats when I snapped out of it and "remembered" my bandster rules

With regard to physical reminders, I am like others, I really only think about it when I eat, or plan my meals, or when my port is 'bugging' me.....

But mentally reminders, I think about it much of the time. But that is not a bad thing.

Ladies,

I love hearing about all of your experiences with the bands. I love my band and occasionally do forget I have it!! I try VERY hard to eat right so as not to be reminded. I give each of you kudoos for your effort and fight to be thin and most of all, healthy. For everyone that has not been banded yet, go forward! Just look at the trackers at the end of most of our replys. How great is all of that? The botton line is this for me. I have had more BETTER days than BAD days!! This band of mine is the friend that says "don't have that" and when I get on the scale, it says "WOW". I love reading about everyones journey. Stay the course!

Res883 :ranger:

now that i am filled properly, i cant forget about my band or i am in trouble... even when i drink, if i take too big of a drink, i cant swallow all of it (ew).

even if i dont take huge drinks, i can hear i can hear my throat/stoma/band "drinking" it .. sooooo bizarre.