"Oh, you got a Lap-Band? You have it soooo easy."

Out of all misconceptions associated with weight loss surgery, this is the one I despise the most. Mainly because it's anything but easy. Here are the reasons why:

• The band is NOT implanted over your mouth to act like a filter for any food being shoved in. Guess what? You can put anything in your mouth that you did before. You have to monitor every single thing that goes into your mouth. Just like a regular diet.
• The band does not exercise for you. Believe it or not, it does not make you climb on the elliptical and move your legs for you. It also does not give you the will to do it yourself. You make those decisions yourself. 
• You can and WILL gain wait if you don't eat correctly or exercise. It's very easy to gain a pound a day with a lap band. 

So why did I choose the lap band? Because I needed help and I had made a decision to change my life. Don't think for one moment that if you are considering a lap band it's going to be easier than before. It just gives you another tool to work with.