Howdy :scared2:

I've been reading about all the things I have to do with the band, no soda, no soft bread, no drinking and eating at the same time etc. and I can live with them while I'm losing, the benefit will be well worth it.

What I'm wondering is, after I reach my goal will I be able to have the band emptied to a point where I can let go of some of these and just have it as an aid to help me control my portions? I'd like to go back to "normal" eating with the band telling me when to stop since I don't seem to have the little voice in my head that's supposed to tell me. Will I be able to? Or will I always have pain from soda or throw up from drinking right after I eat?

edit to add a question instead of double posting... I see people referring to a "pb", what does that mean?

Edited July 19, 200818 yr by ShrinkyDink

My surgeon says it is for life. If you go back to "normal" eating you run the risk of regaining weight.

This is very true. Normal is only relative after all. But I have a new normal now and my eating habits are very "normal" relative to other people, only I have had a few occasions lately to realise I eat very little. So much so that I was prompted to go and have a slight unfill.

I eat everythign. I eat bread, I drink alcohol, I might occasionally have a carbonated drink (but I dont like them much, never have), I eat carbs. I eat 3 meals a day, I enjoy myself when I go out to eat, I'll have a piece of someone's birthday cake. In fact I pretty much did all that whilst I was losing weight too, just very much in moderation, and now that I'm at goal, my habits have not changed one bit. If I've had a glass of wine and a piece of cake in one day, I probably will stay up to midnight if I have to to get my run in for the day.

I think exercise is key to be honest, its a very powerful tool for weight maintenance. If you exercise hard and regularly you will be able to eat "normally" again one day - although lots of carbonation is bad for your band! But bread/carbs, well I have no trouble with those foods, they dont make me crave and they dont particularly make me fat, so I eat them.

I dont plan on having carbonations, (soda, champaign, beer) ever again, why take a chance on slippage?? Your band can slip and then you would have to have surgery to replace it. No soda is worth that risk to me.

I dont think a sip or two would hurt, but not more than that.

I plan on not being filled as much as others, I dont want to get like some Im read where they get so tight they cant even drink Water, talking about sitting in bed and twisting to get it down, but oh what great weight loss. I dont think I need to be filled that much. The good thing is its up to you how aggresive you want your fills or feel you need them to stop you from overeating.