question?

I had my lapband surgery on Feb.15, 2011. I have felt great from the beginning! I haven't pushed my limits-I havent had anything like chicken or steak yet but I am eating soft solids and tolerating them really well. I am beginning to incorporate different foods into my diet slowly. Everything goes down really easily and sometimes I feel like I can just keep on eating and eating (although I don't do it). I haven't had a fill yet but I almost wonder if I actually have a lap band on.

Have any of you had this experience?

After healing from the surgery, I did not have much restriction and felt the way that you described.  I've had a few fills since then and it gets easier when you have the fills to help you along.

After you start solid proteins you should feel fullness and this is when you will need to be careful and chew your food well.  What you are eating now is slider foods and usually go down easily.

I didn't experience much in the way of restriction till my 8th fill.

I dont have any problems with food. I can eat anything that I did before and dont get stuck or anything like that .

I can always eat more food then a cup . But just cause I can I dont .   I know in my  mind all I need is one cup of food and I'm satisfied with that and I can go about 3-5 hrs without being physically hungry.  head hunger is a whole different story and that one is a total witch dealing with .

I feel exactly like you that I dont even have a lap band on which to be honest I really like.  I can go out to eat and not be scared of getting stuck on something , I can eat anything I want .

But, I also mentally think to myself all the time if I eat more then a cup of food I could stretch my stomach back out , If I eat way to fast I could get sick, or if I eat more then a cup of food I could get sick there also.

So . I know all them things so why do them ? I just have my mindset like that and its working for me.

I believe that is why I have went without a fill since surgery because of them reasons.  The lap band is there to remind me to follow the rules and so far that is all I need . I have been very successful doing it this way , or at least I feel like I have been successful.  I have went from 348 pounds down to 306 in 3.5 months :o)

Wow, that's great!  I'm at 351 now, starting the liquid diet on Monday in prep for surgery on 3/29.  Considering how averse I am to experiencing the descriptions of getting stuck, sliming, etc., I was thinking that the motivation to avoid those things will probably be enough to keep me on the straight and narrow.  Hearing that that's essentially what you're doing is encouraging... I'd love to be down that much in just 3.5 months

Thanks for your input- it all definitely helps! I know that  the band is just a tool and that the rest will be up to me.  I'm just going to be careful and appreciate the fact that I am going slowly and so far I'm tolerating everything that I try. I'm down about 25 lbs since the pre surgery diet. I really need to pay careful attention to what my body needs, not what my head might want.

Well over half, in fact probably over 3/4 of bandsters still feel they haven't got a band until they start getting fills.

For now, you are on your own! But it should get better!

Kate