I had my surgery December 31, 2007. My starting weight was 231. I now weight 140. I am soooo thrilled but now that I have lost the weight I keep wanting to have my band unfilled so I can enjoy food again. I keep going back and forth thinking should I just continue not being able to eat (I know I am to tight) or should I get unfilled. I guess my question is has anyone lost the weight and then took a break? Did you then get back on track once you were re-filled? I know people are going to say just get a slight unfill, I did that already, but a huge part of me wants to eat like a normal person!

If you losen up your band, you will start eating more.

If you start eating more you will gain weight

Kinda defeats the whole thing, doesn't it

Sorry "eating like a normal person' is not what you did to get to 231#

The only reason to have unfills is if you are throwing up a lot (after making sure you are chewing well and pausing between bites) or if you continue to lose weight after reaching your goal.

Congratulations in reaching your goal!

Edited July 30, 200818 yr by mnn2501

Why not get a unfill and try it? If you find you can't control your weight then get filled again.

BTW, you've done an amazing job at losing! That is a fast weight loss.

You are eating like a normal person. That is why you weigh 140 now. "Normal" people don't overeat and they aren't obese. If you are too tight and you know it, then do get another unfill. Don't keep trying to NOT eat very much, so that you crave food.

If I ever got totally unfilled, which I did in May due to acid reflux issues, I am still the same person that I was when I was morbidly obese. I had to really control myself with food during that unfilled time. I am still a foodaholic and would gain every pound back if I did not have my band.

Why go through with all the hard work to lose the weight and then gain some back? Once you lose a pound, it is definitely NOT worth losing again!!! Good luck!!!

How did you lose so fast? I had surgery 12/12 and am down 70#, but I can't seem to get the last 25-30 pounds to move!!!

Any tips would be GREATLY appreciated!!

I know everything that was said in response to my post. I guess my question was has anyone unfilled thier band just to have a break from the restriction (small bites, no drinking etc) and then had a refill. Is it possible to get back on track or does it just make it harder.

My doc said that lots of people get unfilled to see how they do...if you fall off just go get re-filled. If your strong enough to do it, go for it.

I know everything that was said in response to my post. I guess my question was has anyone unfilled thier band just to have a break from the restriction (small bites, no drinking etc) and then had a refill. Is it possible to get back on track or does it just make it harder.

Imb

You are missing the point - you were banded to control your portions and to learn a new healthy lifestyle

This is a lifetime lifestyle change in your eating behaivor - this is not a quick fix to turn on and off - that's yo-yo dieting...

What's more important to you eating "normal" (like said above is what got you to 231) or your Health.

Good luck in figuring it out... I wish you the best

I know everything that was said in response to my post. I guess my question was has anyone unfilled thier band just to have a break from the restriction (small bites, no drinking etc) and then had a refill. Is it possible to get back on track or does it just make it harder.

i had 2 unfills the first of may - because i too wanted to eat. by no means a complete unfill, i went from 8.5cc to 6.9. since i work out pretty hard, i was struggling getting calories in & yesterday i had .5cc put back in because i felt i was "eating too much". my dr laughed, i lost 9lbs during that month & 1/2 with a slight unfil.

i would try going with a marginal unfil first - you'll be amazed at how little it takes to be able to eat a bit more, and if your active the extra calories should balance out.

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on reaching your goal.

Sorry I can't answer your question on experience. However, I have wonder the same thing. My plan is to get to my goal and after at least a year at my goal weight or below I will then think about getting an unfill. I figure I want to make sure I can keep it off and that my habits have completely changed before I try living with less restriction. I don't want to go through all of this and then gain it back. The lap band, I hope, will be the tool to help me keep it off forever. I don't want it to be an expensive yo-yo diet.

I agree with areallady .. Why fix it if it isn't broken.. Eat more what you like but keep the portions at a minimum.. Still don't take a chance of hurting that beautiful band ...

I am so thrilled for you and what an inspiration...

I would definitely keep the band where it is. You are 140lb Great Job! But you want to keep it that way..Eat to live don't live to eat! Good luck to you and I hope you maintain your achievements.

If you're too tight get a tiny unfill. Other than that... heck no thats your head hunger talking to you. Why would you want to go back to eating alot? You didn't eat like a normal person if you had this surgery. I am sorry if thats harsh. You were chosing a healthy lifestyle. Stick with it don't stumble.

Dont muck around with it too much but if you're not even enjoying what you eat, I doubt you need to be that tight.

I had a small fill back in Feb thinking I would shoot for 65kg. What happened is it just made me really tight, and I stopped enjoying my food, was barely eating, my running suffered and it started to become really inconvenient to try to eat out with a band.

At 68 to 70kg I have a BMI of around 22, I look fine (if not supermodel perfect), I'm fit and healthy, WHAT was I thinking? Why try to lose even more. I realised I was being silly and had a bit taken out.

I have .1 less in now than when I had the tiny fill in the first place. It took a week, but my appetite and capacity definitely increased. I had fallen prey to eating easy foods with my tighter band and for a week or two, I continued to eat those foods only more of them. Whoops, up 2lb. I pulled my socks up and banished those foods and now I'm sitting nicely on around 68 to 70 again.

If I manage this for six months, I *might* take a little more out.

But the point is not to start eating everything again. You have to be on this plan for the rest of your life, that's how you maintain. But basic enjoyment of what you're eating is not a silly goal, its what you need to stay sane.

And never ever ever give up the exercising! That's really important in weight maintenance.