I'm wondering whether you would be willing to tell me your story of the last year since your lap-band procedure. Have you had any terrible side effects? Have you lost all of your weight? Do you feel like you can live with it for the rest of your days?

MP:ranger:

I am one year out this month.

I have had no serious side-effects. I do seem to have a lot more trouble with getting food stuck. I did talk to my dr. who did a flouro and he said everything looked good. I do think I have gotten "lazy" and probably don't chew well enough or eat as slowly as I once did. It is time to get back to basics.

Honestly, I lost 50 lbs so far BUT almost all of that was in the first 3 months. I got very comfortable with my weight and did not put in the effort that I should have. I could have easily lost all the weight I wanted to in the year (30 more to go).

I do feel like this is something I can live with for the rest of my life.

I do however, feel like I just want to eat like I used to once in a while. I want to order a bunch of Chinese take-out, rent a movie and have a go at it. Of course, that is the type of behavior that got me so overweight in the first place.

I feel like the band is the best decision I could have made as far as my weight goes. For the first time in my life, I am not focusing on food, eating or dieting. I am just "being".

I would do it again in a heartbeat. It really is just a tool though. It is still a lot of work on my part!

today its been a year for me! i am so happy.

i actually put on a bunch of pants i had gotten last year from Mandy at a band lunch. it was awesome!

i had been stuck for a few months but it was my own fault. slurpees and ice cream went down waaay to easy and with the change in my job stuff stress just made it to hard to pay attention or care.

today i did get us chinese food. i love that my husband and i can share a small sweet and sour chicken and it lasts a new meals! teehee! DH gets all the rice. i had the insides of an eggroll with the sweet and sour sauce. tomorrow i will take the left over chicken bits, peel off the fried breading and nuke them with the sweetandsour sauce. mmmm

i finally feel like i have a handle on what i need and what i want. its awesome! now if i can just get a real job all will be Super!

I haven't had the band a year but close to it. I have had it almost 10 months now. The only time it was terrible was when I was overfilled. That was truly horrible. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.

I got my fill on a Fri and by Mon. I was there to get some out. The rest of the time, I love my band. I am not hungry anymore

and that is a wonderful thing.

I've been 1 yr. 2 months out. I have had no complications. I'm 10 lbs from my goal. I've reach my Dr's goal. The only thing sometimes I take to big of bites and up it comes. Thats my fault. I love my band, it has been a true life saver.

Better late than never. I'm 1 year 2.5 months out since my procedure. Basically I've confirmed for myself that the band does about 50% of the work during the first year. During the second year I realize I will have to do 80% of the work. I need to keep a handle on the bad habits that I've had all of my life and re-visit the 10 important rules every bandster should follow. They're posted somewhere on here - I printed them out and posted them in my office.

I'm struggling with self-control - it started over the holidays and right now I'm really, really determined to start following the rules for success. I don't see my surgeon until March '08. I panick and think I need another fill, but then I realize I do have restriction if I eat my Protein first. . .(one of the rules).