What it's like to have a Lapband.......

Over the past few weeks, several new-to-Lap band people and a few others who are considering Lap band have emailed me asking lots of questions about what it's really like to live as a Lap banded person. The first time I contemplated how I would answer this question, I found myself being rather flippant...wanting to say "exactly the same as being a non Lap banded person." But, I realized that would not be helpful at all. And, of course...not true. So, I tried to remember back to when I was newly banded or to when I was considering being Lap banded and asked myself--what information would have been helpful to me? And, it occurred to me that the most helpful information I could have heard from a veteran banded person would have been that soon being a Lap banded person would feel very normal. Hindsight....as we know...is 20/20. When I was newly banded, I was so busy trying to figure out the rules, get recipes, learn little tricks, access tips, hear success stories and pull together a support network that I didn't give much thought to the long term day-to-day living. As a matter of fact, I was so concerned about all of those things that I didn't consider the idea that what I was really doing was establishing a new way of living that soon would not be so new. I didn't realize being Lap banded would become my new normal.

When we embark on new adventures, there's bound to be growing pains and annoyances and frustrations and even disappointments. Many times, the fear of those things happening stops us from doing anything new or from even making the slightest changes. So, we stay on the same path. We don't want to change anything at all. But, mostly, we don't want to take risks. Yet, no matter if we make changes or not--change happens. Time passes and as time passes, things happen. Things impact other things and before you know it--things are different. By happenstance. Not by intent or design. And, because we are so resilient, we adapt to what becomes a brand new normal. That's what being Lap banded is like--a year later. It's very normal.

As I was folding towels last night, I caught a few minutes of Rachael Ray's "30 Minute Meals". She was making some kind of meatball sub. She was using these beautiful looking buns. Beautiful bread is something that I have always loved. So, you would think it would frustrate me knowing that I could never...never ever...eat that beautiful bun. A year or so ago, that thought alone would have caused me to actually cry. But...today...nothing. It was as normal to me to not want to eat that bun as it was for me to not want to eat a cardboard box.

Yes, I will admit--having a Lap band is different from not having one. There are things that I cannot and will not ever be able to eat or drink. But, it's my new normal and it's perfectly okay. Even when it comes to pasta. And, pasta was always my all time favorite, favorite, favorite food. I mean, my absolute favorite. Hands down. Without a doubt, my ultimate favorite. It was the food that brought me joy in so many forms. But, I can't have it. And, it's okay. Time works miracles. And, to think...I would still be eating pasta if I didn't get my Lap band. That thought just doesn't seem possible today...