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I have a few fears and concerns that you can help me with. I am almost positive about getting the band and have attended a consultation last week. If you can answer some of my questions and concerns it would be great. I just don't know of anyone whom was banded and would like to hear the answers first hand from someone who has the band.<o:p></o:p>

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What is your social life like and how did it change with your band?<o:p></o:p>

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Are you able to drink...I have an Irish wife. I know beer is out...but wine..some mixed drinks. I think you can have when banded. I know...empty calories. But you have to live also...right.<o:p></o:p>

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PB's and feeling sick.....what is the deal. I hate getting sick and do have a fear of getting sick. (phobia)<o:p></o:p>

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Would I ever be able to enjoy myself without the fear of having a band? I don't want to overeat, but would like to go to a BBQ and have some choices. (clams, corn, Burger, Tomato salad) I know the mentioned things might not be feasable, but are they?<o:p></o:p>

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Many people describe the band either as the best experience they have had, or the worst. I know that if you don't follow the rules you get sick.....cut and dry.<o:p></o:p>

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My main concern is the....will life be some what normal. Eat less...think smart about what I eat. Get rid of the hunger that makes me overeat.<o:p></o:p>

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Can you help me answer some of these concerns please?<o:p></o:p>

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Thanks,<o:p></o:p>

Mike (Fish)<o:p></o:p>

The band is a very good choice for someone who is a

'volume eater".....after you have a few fills and get good restrictions you just can't eat much at one time. But the really wonderful thing......the thing I didn't expect.....is that you just don't care!!! After only a short while you will lose your intest in food. You will have to learn to eat all over again........most volume eaters also eat fast and with...er, 'gusto.' That's gotta go....you must learn to eat very small bites, chew everything to almost pulverize it and eat slowly. You can't drink anything with your meals or for one hour afterward (liquids wash the food out of your pouch and you get hungry again too soon.) You must eat your protein first at each meal....then if you have room left in that little pouch, you can have some green vegetables/salad.

The PB's happen when you eat too fast, don't chew well enough, or try to pack that little pouch too full (then it backs up into your esophagus and you will be sorry you did that!). It takes a while to master the art of eating but it gets better sa the months go by.

You don't say how much you need to lose but men generally lose much faster than women. If you will eliminate most white (starchy) carbs from your diet you will lose faster than you will otherwise.....that also helps quell the cravings and keeps your blood sugar stable and on an even keel.

You can cheat with the band....it takes some personal responsibility and committment to your new lifestyle and your weight loss journey. Things like ice cream, potatoes, etc (soft foods) can slide right down and out...and it's tempting to eat them with other foods don't want to cooperate. That's when people fall into the 'soft food syndrome' and that's also when they quit losing or start gaining and start saying "the band didn't work for me....poor me." Again, it's committment to yourself.

Social life? Well, now that I have lost 160 pounds I have one. :clap2:I can fit in chairs, and wear pretty clothes, and sit comfotably and visit with people, I can walk thru the streets/malls with friends....I now have a life.

However, Mike, if your entire social life is centered on drinking and eating, you may have to broaden your circle of friends. But you can still go out to eat....I can eat a small rare steak, a salad with deli meat/cheese/etc. or a nice soup (no bread, no crackers) - not all at the same meal, of course! No potatoes for me, thanks (unless they have sweet potatoes/yam....they are good for you).I usually just order soup then eat a couple bits of DH's steak and salad....then I'm full. Hard to imagine, isn't it. "To go" boxes are your friend....however, leftover meat usually doesn't go down nearly as well as freshly cooked for some reason.

Not everyone's experience is the same, but this is a brief overview of my wls experience. I'm off all diabetes, blood pessure, gout, etc meds. Life is good again!!:whoo:

Gayle,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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Thanks for the response. I am currently 300lbs and 5' 10". The doc says he would like to see me drop 100lbs. I have a few health problems as a result of being overweight. Fatty Liver, high BP, Cholesterol is also high, and I am only 37. Not good at all. I know that my lifestyle now is not the right way to live. I am a volume eater...no doubt. I can eat a 16 oz. steak in a snap. That has to change if I want to see my daughter get married. My wife and I just had a baby girl whom is only three months old. Don't get me wrong....I like my food, and probably will always. It is the amount and how I eat. The band will be a tool to help me. I need a good swift kick in the rear. As for my social life, I like to go out with friends and enjoy a good bottle of wine. Eat some dinner and relax. I know I do not have to eat like a football team in order to do that. I can also handle not drinking during a meal. (so I think) I guess it is something I would have to get used to.<o:p></o:p>

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I want my health to turn around and to have a new lease on life. Life now is surrounded around food. What am I going to eat. Diet...eat...diet..eat.....up a pant size....eat....diet..eat You get the point. It is time for a change.<o:p></o:p>

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Thanks for your response. I wish you all the best with your loss and your new lease on life. It is great to hear all of the people who make the choice for LIFE. It also is a tremendous step not having the meds....that is GREAT! <o:p></o:p>

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Regards,<o:p></o:p>

Mike (fish)<o:p></o:p>

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I totally agree with everything Gail said. I am only 4 months out so she has much more experience than I do but one thing that she said I did not expect to happen.....you do lose interest in food, not completely but it is not the center of your world anymore.

When I would diet before, I felt deprived but now I can go out to eat, have half of my meal and be quite happy. I never feel sad about not eating everything in sight and then some. You will go to the BBQ and sample things, just not go overboard and like I said not feel deprived (or stuffed) when its over.

Good Luck......your daughter is worth it! That is why I got the band.

When you go to a BBQ instead of having 2 servings of every bloody thing available you'll eat a couple of bites of each item. There will be foods that you can't eat, for me it's anything with a flour/yeast combo such as bread, sweet rolls, etc. I can't eat peas, overcooked meat, and a few other things but mostly I can't eat the foods that got me fat to begin with.

I think you really have to sit down and look at what you honestly and sincerely want more, do you want quantity of food or thin and healthy.

It's true, you do lose your interest and obsession with food. There is an emotional roller coaster that leads up to that but it happens. I don't care how many people told me that pre-banded, I would have never believed it. But I totally agree with the others, it happens. You lose the desire and obsession for huge quantities of food.