I know this is a dumb question but I think my love of food is getting the better of me. I feel like the more I read on, everyone seems to be on a diet with this band and eating so different than pre-band. I was kinda under the assumption that you could eat a lot of what you want, obviously not ice cream and fried foods, but eat sensibly but only you won't be able to eat the amounts you used to. I eat sensibly now, I just eat WAY too much of it and overdo my calories. With all the talk of protein shakes and whatnot, it scares my that I will permanetly be on this restrictive diet the REST OF MY LIFE! I know these are preband jitters, and I am panicking like some of you said you did preop. I just wanna give into my cravings once in a while but have the band hold me back a bit....this is what it'll do right? I could have asked this question weeks ago and don't remember, so forgive me, I"m really in panick mode, I'm afraid just afraid of the unknown. It's like any new job I've started, I'm real nervous beforehand and once I get the hang of it, I'm like, "what was I ever worried about?" Is this all true for you guys???

These are some great posts, guys. I'm in the "jitters" stage too...wondering how it will be. Kinda like having my first baby - the "great unknown" thing!! My problem is also portion control. I eat pretty sensibly, just too much. I had stomach issues during my pregnancies where I couldn't eat much without feeling full. I actually lost 15 - 20 lbs DURING pregnancy! I think this may be a simular feeling I'll get with the band. I'm also hoping that any pb's or sliming will be a deterrent from me eating improperly. But, I am still wondering how I'll deal with "head hunger" and the whole lifestyle change. Again the great unknown! From what I've been reading here, I know the band is a tool and I will still have to make a sincere effort at this.

PS I have NEVER eaten canned chicken!!

Blund, my third pregnancy was like that, Eliza was high and breech and I got full on hardly anything. Being banded for me is very like that!

Cool, Jacqui! I was hoping so. It felt full and kind of uncomfortable.

Its strange. For years I've been wondering how I could get that same feeling again without being pregnant! I would gain LOTS of weight after delivering and during breast-feeding. I was searching the web, and found out about the band, and then that TV commercial with the lady and the lion being her hunger came on. (A Lap Band advertisement.) It was like a sign to me.....thats what I've been looking for!

I eat canned chicken all the time, and canned tuna. It's not a whole chicken. lol It's the size of a can of tuna. I don't want to cook to get a small chicken salad and I don't go catch a tuna to have a tuna sandwich. I chose both meats packed in Water. Yep, I eat canned meats.

I worry a bit that people say they "can't" control portion size or food choices. Of course they can. They just don't. I just didn't. Now I do. I have a tool to help me. I still have to make the choices.

Don't give up your power, because you will be the ones in charge of your eating patterns post-banding. I think that regaining power is something to Celebrate, not to fear.

Keep on trucking.

I gained a lot of weight whilst breastfeeding too - in fact probably 2/3 of my excess weight was directly as a result of breastfeeding - which I did for six years in total - plenty of time to get fat!

I haven't had my first fill so right now I am the one controlling my portions. You use a measuring cup and measure or weigh everything. It's hard at first but I feel like I am creating good habits for when my band is tighter. So far I have lost 29 pounds since banding (6 1/2 weeks) so I'm not complaining one bit.

I lost weight while pregnant (morning sickness all day and all night) but packed it on while breast feeding.

GOSH! So many others GAINED while BFIng! I thought I was nuts! I'm like, isn't this supposed to help me get some weight off, by burning extra calories??? I was ravenous all the time! Like a crazed animal looking for food! I couldn't eat enough, and 5 months later, it continues....I'm NEVER full, so I am praying to God this helps me, I just wanna feel satisfied. Both my PGcies I ate what I wanted pretty much, but certain things turned me off, so I only gained 30-40 with each andlost it right away. I"m heavier now than I was 2 weeks after having DD #2, go figure....