Just wanted to comment that I actually did have what I'd call a lifestyle change and moved to eating well and exercising 4 times week last year. I lost 10kgs in that time. But I've put it back on. I always put it back on the minute I ease up on the brakes. In this case I broke my foot and couldn't walk for a month. It broke my momentum, and with DH buying takeaway coz I couldn't walk, I stopped losing. And starting gaining. Because hunger is my worst enemy, and I see the lapband as a tool to fight my enemy.

If I thought I'd blend a Mars bar and drink it, I wouldn't be having surgery. Anyone who thinks this is some magic bullet is deluding themselves. But it does work. For thousands. You may hear of the few 'vivid' cases of when it goes bad, but there are many people who live among you who don't have any problems at all. In fact most choose not to share their surgery with anyone but their closest family, because of the perception that lapbanders are people who are too lazy to exercise and eat well. When in fact, the lapband does help many break the cycle and help them make those lifestyle changes that last a lifetime.

I understand that trying to control the 'head hunger' or what some might call food addiction will be difficult, and I'm also realistic enough to understand that the lapband will make help 10% of the time (inasfar as the hunger), but I have to work hard the other 90%. I understand it means I'll be forced to change my life. I'm ready for that.

Because at 38, I have to stop pretending that I'm going to be able to do this all on my own. It doesn't stay off - I fight hunger every single day. I am realistic enough to know I can't keep that up forever. I have never been able to previously, so now I'm seeing the writing on the wall, and doing something to fight the physical hunger. And for someone who is over 30kgs overweight, I do in fact eat well and exercise, though not as much as I'd like to with fulltime work and university. I am otherwise a healthy person, who in fact had a great pregnancy at 36 years of age, and who, my family will testify, is fitter than my skinny sister. But I'm also not going to wait until obesity-related disease such as diabetes and hypertension hit me, because with my family history, it's very possible, if not likely.

So if diet and exercise work for you, great. I think you're doing wonderfully btw, TheBear. It does work for many people, which is why programs like weight watchers is so successful.

But I know my limitations, and I know that each time I 'fall off the wagon' I gain it all back and more. I have tried it all, and now I'm trying this. It's not for everyone, definitely not for those who think this is just going to fix the problem with no work on their part, and it's not something I would recommend to someone without them knowing just what they're getting into, but it feels right for me. It's why I've decided to stop hiding it (which every bander I've met has told me to do for my own sanity) and start talking about it.