The band as a "tool"

Ok guys, maybe its my nerves, I have my psych eval today and my first support group-doc very hopeful for a January surgery date.  Here is my question: they keep saying the lapband is a tool you still need to work very hard at it....I have been on and failed every diet in the past that I worked  very hard at, I eventually hit a plateau at about 225 lbs that will last 10 or more weeks, increase the exercize etc. nothing works I get frustrated and say "screw it".... will this be different? Danielle

When they say that the LapBand is a tool, they are absolutely correct.  This is not a quick fix.  You still have to eat right most of the time and exercise. The one thing that I found about the LapBand is that it does not allow you to over eat when you have a good fill.  With finals this past week, I have been stressed and found myself emotionally eating.  I wanted to eat and eat and eat, however the band would not allow me to do what I wanted.  I still struggle with my eating, but I am grateful to have the band to help me. If you continue to eat the wrong things, you will not lose weight and possibly gain with the band.  If you fall off the wagon, you can get back on the next day.  But please have a mindset that you will still have to eat right and exercise to see the weight come off and STAY OFF.

Good luck!

ABSOLUTLY!! You are going to see wonderful changes with the Band. You will hit plateaus with the Band as well. It is just your body getting used to the weight loss. With the Band you will be able to go longer without food, & eat smaller portions. You will see the weight loss. You are in for a wonderful ride my dear!!! I love my band and I would never go back, I wish I would have done it sooner. Dayna 

It definitely was different for me.  I've been on and failed lots of diets in the past too.  The difference is that the band is my willpower when I have none.  I can't eat and eat and eat anymore, and I can't eat a lot of things that are bad for me.  Granted, I could still eat ice cream all day long if I wanted to, because it will go right through the band.  BUT, once I started having success with the band, I didn't want to do that anymore.  So I guess the band has also given me motivation to exercise and stay away from the band stuff so that I can be even more successful with it.  The most important things to remember are to get your followup and fills, and follow the rules of chewing so you don't get stuck and PB all the time.  I still screw up sometimes....I eat too fast or eat too much and I pay the price, but that's the good news.  My band doesn't allow me to screw up, not pay any consequences, fall of the wagon, and gain all the weight back.  It stops my screw ups in its tracks.  LOL It won't do all the work for you, but you also don't have to do all the work yourself.  Its like a "partner" that you have to work with to be successful.  That's why we keep calling it a "tool."

Hi Danielle, the band is a tool. I used to be hungry 24/7 and every diet failed. What the band did was provide a way to shut down my hunger so it was easier to eat healthy. You have to make healthy choices when eating after the band is placed. If you are eating high calorie foods and liquids the band will not work. no matter how tight it is. You have to be committed to changing your eating and exercise habits. I felt the same way before I had the band. I am so happy now. I have lost my excess weight and have maintained it for almost 3 years. It isn't hard and you don't have to do it alone. I wish you the best of luck. Mona

Hi, Danielle.   I asked the same question as you last night and got some wonderful responses.  My questions is probably somewhere around page 3 now.   My question was "I thought I understood, but not so sure ... ".  I really have found everyone's answers so helpful. Mona, it's so nice to have someone banded in 2002 on this forum.  Obviously, you're a success story.  Can you still get a fill if it's necessary, or does your band get worn out and just hang out after a period of time?   Regards.. Debbie

you guys are so great!!! thanks so much.  I go to my first support meeting tonight, I know meeting successfuls like you all with help too!  I dont know if I am self-sabataging right now cuz I am scared or if I am falling victim to "last supper syndrome" like my nutirtionist says...I am eating so bad right now I keep thinking that if I go through the surgery its not going to work. thanks again and congrats to all of you on the loosing side danielle

Hello, The band is DEFINATELY A TOOL, if we try to use it as a crutch we pay dearly for it and may have to get it removed. That said, it is a great tool if we use it wisely, I have been on many failed diets, but the great thing about the band is that I don't starve, the band works by making you feel full quick on solid meals. The band do not work good with liquids at all, liquids or soft foods don't make you feel full quick and therefore, it is very easy to eat too much of soft foods...no matter how tight we get high calorie liquids will still go down smoothly, this is why it important to eat mostly solid foods. For example, I can sit and eat two or three cups of soft stuff chili or even salads or greasy foods like Taco Bell taco, even if the band is too tight you can eat a lot of these foods. But if we eat solid protein like chicken or fish or beef, the band will stop those foods and some people who are too tight cannot eat them, but we need solids proteins to lose quick and stay healthy...that is how the band works, you may see a lot of folks failed with the band and not lose weight because they keep their bands too tight and they can only eat soft high calorie foods which will slide down easily which will result in slow or no weight loss. Some people call the lap band the thinking man weight loss surgery we have to use our tools wisely to stay complication free and have a great outcome of weight loss. Take Care and good luck Naomi

please see this adjacent thread!  It's important to understand just how the band works, and how it is VERY different. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/a,messageboard/action,replies/board_id,5359/cat_id,4959/topic_id,3170167/ Sandy R

I have a similar story with weightloss in the past once I hit a plateau that's it I quit Well I have had many fustrating times with the band.  but instead gaining back 15-20 pounds,  I may put on 5 -10 pounds.  I make some personal adjustments aka putting down the cookies and I start losing again We have to remember we didn't put this weight on overnight we should not lose it overnight.   Sometimes our bodies take a weight loss break.  It's not a bad thing you just have to stay the course and you will lose again. Now it is work.  I have to excercise at the very least walk 1 mile 3 days a week. but i have to confess it's so worth it.  Also I have noticed when the scale is not moving I am still losing inches. This is the hardest thing I have ever done, next to pushing out two kids but it's worth it. I believe this will be different for you Danielle for one thing even when you have your moments were you throw up your hands in frustration,  you will not be able to eat like you use too.   In the past I would get frustrated and order a large pizza all for me.  well now I can't eat bread.  Or I would order 2 orders of sweet and sour chicken from the chinese food place and eat it all that night.  well now it takes me about 4 days to eat one order of SSChicken. I use to say I didn't know why I was so big I didn't eat that much.  now when I look at how much I am able to eat I realize I was eating a whole lot. Ok I am just rambling  I know you will do well,  you will have to make mental adjustments as well as physical but I know if I can lose weight with band anyone can.  I am a horrible dieter,  I never stuck with a diet longer than one maybe two months.  I still cheat with the band like crazy but I have lost 79 pounds to date and still losing! blessings on your journey later Heather