gowalking

You are absolutely right Jackie. Having said that though...it doesn't change the fact that I ate like crazy for three months. Some of it was frustration. I was supposed to be banded in October but Sandy flooded the hospital and they didn't re-open until January. So..I rationalized and said to myself that I had another three months to eat to my heart's content.
But...and this is a big but....I was totally compliant on the pre-surgical diet (I did not want to wake up and find out my liver didn't shrink enough and not be banded) and I've been completely compliant post-surgery and the weight thank goodness is coming off at a spectacular rate. I still have alot to go and I'm still a fat woman...just not morbidly obese...which is a great thing.
I know you're playing devil's advocate but I'd bet that there are more who did what I did than those who became compliant weeks or months before surgery. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying I suspect that's what alot of bandsters did.

You are absolutely right Jackie. Having said that though...it doesn't change the fact that I ate like crazy for three months. Some of it was frustration. I was supposed to be banded in October but Sandy flooded the hospital and they didn't re-open until January. So..I rationalized and said to myself that I had another three months to eat to my heart's content.
But...and this is a big but....I was totally compliant on the pre-surgical diet (I did not want to wake up and find out my liver didn't shrink enough and not be banded) and I've been completely compliant post-surgery and the weight thank goodness is coming off at a spectacular rate. I still have alot to go and I'm still a fat woman...just not morbidly obese...which is a great thing.
I know you're playing devil's advocate but I'd bet that there are more who did what I did than those who became compliant weeks or months before surgery. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying I suspect that's what alot of bandsters did.

You betcha!! I ate like there was no tomorrow. Some people start to change their intake way before the surgery but I wasn't one one them. Here's the good news....once I was banded, I followed the rules and was lucky enough to not need any fills and five months out, I am down 63 1/2 lbs. So...don't sweat it regardless of what you do these last couple of months.
Yes...you should be more aware of what you are eating prior to the surgery, but if you don't....well...you don't.
Good luck!

You betcha!! I ate like there was no tomorrow. Some people start to change their intake way before the surgery but I wasn't one one them. Here's the good news....once I was banded, I followed the rules and was lucky enough to not need any fills and five months out, I am down 63 1/2 lbs. So...don't sweat it regardless of what you do these last couple of months.
Yes...you should be more aware of what you are eating prior to the surgery, but if you don't....well...you don't.
Good luck!

well whats done is done...i dont know what post op diet your dr advised but if they gave you one, its best to follow it as your insides are still healing and taking too big of bites could hurt the inside stitches...stay with your allotted amounts of food and def try to make better/healthier options..you deserve it.

some people bring measuring cups with them. i don't...who wants to bring that kind of attention to themselves? you will get better at knowing your portions over time but do yourself a favor and get something that won't sink you if you do overeat. go with grilled chicken/fish. be very aware of the carbs. I portion out my food when I get it even with me eyeballing it. this way you lessen the chance of overeating.

How much have you had to change your life because of the band (a big fear of mine)?
OK, here's my answer to your question. You have to change how you approach eating....but you do not have to give up foods you enjoy or things you enjoy having to do with food....like eating out. Know that while so many people are excited to start their lapband journeys, I did it under duress. My back was literally against the wall and I was looking at losing my mobility which is a very scary thing. I have severe arthritis and even though I am still in alot of pain, I know that knee replacement if I need it, will now be successful. My doctor told me that I would not do well at the weight I was and I knew I was simply out of options. I'm down 63 lbs. in the five months I've been banded and I will give myself till the end of the year to see if I have pain relief. If not, I will have my knee replaced...and should see a good outcome with the weight loss.
I know this whole process is scary...it's a different way of life and an unknown way of life. This forum has been a godsend in terms of information and support. Feeling good and looking good is so much better than the fleeting happy feeling when we eat till we're stuffed.
Also...it's up to you who you tell or don't tell about the band. I've told some people but not everyone. If I don't want to tell someone I was banded, I just say that I'm watching my calories. That's not a lie because I do just that. The band is not a cure-all...you still have to work hard at it and keep track of everything you eat. What it does do, if you are in the zone, is help you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.

some people bring measuring cups with them. i don't...who wants to bring that kind of attention to themselves? you will get better at knowing your portions over time but do yourself a favor and get something that won't sink you if you do overeat. go with grilled chicken/fish. be very aware of the carbs. I portion out my food when I get it even with me eyeballing it. this way you lessen the chance of overeating.

I'm just one of those lucky few who are in the green zone without fills. Now..that doesn't mean I don't get hungry. I do. But I can usually go from meal to meal without getting ravenous and I track everything I eat. I stay at around 1,000 calories a day and so far, it's worked for me. I have alot to lose so even down 63 lbs. so far, I need to lose at least 100 lbs total. So...I went from morbidly obese to a regular fat person. But, at least this regular fat person can fit into seats that were tough to get into before, and I don't see the panic in people's eyes that I used to see when I got on the bus or subway. I knew they were hoping I wouldn't try to sit next to them...and I didn't blame them. I'm starting to feel normal again and that's a wonderful feeling.

some people bring measuring cups with them. i don't...who wants to bring that kind of attention to themselves? you will get better at knowing your portions over time but do yourself a favor and get something that won't sink you if you do overeat. go with grilled chicken/fish. be very aware of the carbs. I portion out my food when I get it even with me eyeballing it. this way you lessen the chance of overeating.

How much have you had to change your life because of the band (a big fear of mine)?
OK, here's my answer to your question. You have to change how you approach eating....but you do not have to give up foods you enjoy or things you enjoy having to do with food....like eating out. Know that while so many people are excited to start their lapband journeys, I did it under duress. My back was literally against the wall and I was looking at losing my mobility which is a very scary thing. I have severe arthritis and even though I am still in alot of pain, I know that knee replacement if I need it, will now be successful. My doctor told me that I would not do well at the weight I was and I knew I was simply out of options. I'm down 63 lbs. in the five months I've been banded and I will give myself till the end of the year to see if I have pain relief. If not, I will have my knee replaced...and should see a good outcome with the weight loss.
I know this whole process is scary...it's a different way of life and an unknown way of life. This forum has been a godsend in terms of information and support. Feeling good and looking good is so much better than the fleeting happy feeling when we eat till we're stuffed.
Also...it's up to you who you tell or don't tell about the band. I've told some people but not everyone. If I don't want to tell someone I was banded, I just say that I'm watching my calories. That's not a lie because I do just that. The band is not a cure-all...you still have to work hard at it and keep track of everything you eat. What it does do, if you are in the zone, is help you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.

How much have you had to change your life because of the band (a big fear of mine)?
OK, here's my answer to your question. You have to change how you approach eating....but you do not have to give up foods you enjoy or things you enjoy having to do with food....like eating out. Know that while so many people are excited to start their lapband journeys, I did it under duress. My back was literally against the wall and I was looking at losing my mobility which is a very scary thing. I have severe arthritis and even though I am still in alot of pain, I know that knee replacement if I need it, will now be successful. My doctor told me that I would not do well at the weight I was and I knew I was simply out of options. I'm down 63 lbs. in the five months I've been banded and I will give myself till the end of the year to see if I have pain relief. If not, I will have my knee replaced...and should see a good outcome with the weight loss.
I know this whole process is scary...it's a different way of life and an unknown way of life. This forum has been a godsend in terms of information and support. Feeling good and looking good is so much better than the fleeting happy feeling when we eat till we're stuffed.
Also...it's up to you who you tell or don't tell about the band. I've told some people but not everyone. If I don't want to tell someone I was banded, I just say that I'm watching my calories. That's not a lie because I do just that. The band is not a cure-all...you still have to work hard at it and keep track of everything you eat. What it does do, if you are in the zone, is help you to feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time.
Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Update!! Oh my gosh, after finally swallowing my pride I dragged my sorry butt to the surgeon for a fill. I avoided going for months because I wad ashamed at my lack of weight loss and I knew we'd have "the talk." Basically, I'd have to admit my failures and cheating. The nurse who does my fills never said a word about her being disappointed or even being surprised...This happens, and probably more than people want to admit. I had lost only 3 pounds in 5 months (Having had gone up and down in the same 20lbs for weeks!) I even admitted to attempting the Omni diet after watching a friend lose 40 pounds, and desperate to get some quick weight off to alleviate some of my anxiety about going to a fill without any weight loss. You could tell her hesitation when I told her, but calmly reassured me that my band was much more successful at doing the same thing. She filled my band with 1.5cc's and away I went...Relieved it wasn't some horror movie interrogation. When I weighed at the doctors office on 5/28/13 I was 430lbs. As of this evening I am down to 415.8! I told my husband yesterday, almost in tears, "My God! THIS it's what full is supposed to feel like! This is what they've been taking about all along!" The past 3 days I've been able to stick to my small portions and actually feel like "Hey, maybe I DON'T need any more food than this!" Unfortunately I've had a couple instances where I've gotten to hungry and ended up getting things a little stuck, but I'm finally realizing where all those rules come into play! Before, I could feel things slipping through with little or no restriction, feeling like it was doing it's job I just wasn't doing it right. Now, I'm forced to listen to my body and my surgeons advice. Meals take 20-30 minutes and I'm chewing, chewing, chewing. It is a eureka moment!!! I'm hesitant to get too excited and know that my effort had to remain steady, but I finally "get it." It's amazing what a couple of CCs of saline and a little pep talk can do! I am pumped! I have plans to break the 400lb mark no later than July!! Thank you everyone for your AMAZING support and advice!!

when i started i was 336 and was a head hunger princess and felt this was my destiny...but it was ME who had to finally say, i am getting WLS, and its up to me to do what i can to make it work..dont hate me for saying this please.....
but you make the decision in what you eat...you revert back to old habits because you chose to do so.....now you choose to do better....eat your allotted amounts of healthy good for you foods and drink alot.....i am sooooo proud of you for seeing someone to talk to and help you through this..i did that for many a year after i struggled with bulemia and binging so i know what you are going through..
we all are addicted to food. if we dont eat, we die
so eat.....but choose to eat healthy foods and let the band help you eat less....you have to truly WANT to lose weight and then DO what you have to do.
you wanna talk or b**tch or vent, pm me anytime...
i am sending big hugs from NC to you.

I'd love to do that dani. I don't get to the Wed. support group...I usually have PT that conflicts with the meetings. We should check with the other ladies on our 'Hi' thread like NYCTeacher, and Bubie, Karen, etc. I also invited two new folks to that thread who I met surfing the forum. Mark is on the UWS and Zinhaa is on Long Island. Turns out she and I went to the same middle and high school in Brooklyn.

Fantastic! You look great.

So...I was on vacation last week and was so happy to not just fit into the seat on the plane, but I didn't need the belt extender and I had no problem buckling the belt (I even had to tighten it a little!). Then, I had no problem putting down the armrest. For the first time in years, It wasn't tight, it wasn't riding up on my hip, it just went down...and stayed there. Oh glory!!
I didn't eat or drink anything other than Water but I just had to bring the tray down...and again...it went down and stayed there. I didn't have to move my belly out of the way, I didn't have to worry it wouldn't go down... Oh the happiness of the ordinary!!
I'm even OK with the 1/2 lb. weight gain. I was very aware of portions and did well in that regard but we ate out alot and I know I ate items that were higher in sodium than I usually eat at home so I expect it's probably Water weight. I don't care right now...I was like a regular person on the flight and that is so satisfying.

I'm just one of those lucky few who are in the green zone without fills. Now..that doesn't mean I don't get hungry. I do. But I can usually go from meal to meal without getting ravenous and I track everything I eat. I stay at around 1,000 calories a day and so far, it's worked for me. I have alot to lose so even down 63 lbs. so far, I need to lose at least 100 lbs total. So...I went from morbidly obese to a regular fat person. But, at least this regular fat person can fit into seats that were tough to get into before, and I don't see the panic in people's eyes that I used to see when I got on the bus or subway. I knew they were hoping I wouldn't try to sit next to them...and I didn't blame them. I'm starting to feel normal again and that's a wonderful feeling.

this has never happened to me but I've read about it happening to others. they all say that it happens when eating too much so at least you know that there is a connection and you're not imagining this..

I'm just one of those lucky few who are in the green zone without fills. Now..that doesn't mean I don't get hungry. I do. But I can usually go from meal to meal without getting ravenous and I track everything I eat. I stay at around 1,000 calories a day and so far, it's worked for me. I have alot to lose so even down 63 lbs. so far, I need to lose at least 100 lbs total. So...I went from morbidly obese to a regular fat person. But, at least this regular fat person can fit into seats that were tough to get into before, and I don't see the panic in people's eyes that I used to see when I got on the bus or subway. I knew they were hoping I wouldn't try to sit next to them...and I didn't blame them. I'm starting to feel normal again and that's a wonderful feeling.

I'm just one of those lucky few who are in the green zone without fills. Now..that doesn't mean I don't get hungry. I do. But I can usually go from meal to meal without getting ravenous and I track everything I eat. I stay at around 1,000 calories a day and so far, it's worked for me. I have alot to lose so even down 63 lbs. so far, I need to lose at least 100 lbs total. So...I went from morbidly obese to a regular fat person. But, at least this regular fat person can fit into seats that were tough to get into before, and I don't see the panic in people's eyes that I used to see when I got on the bus or subway. I knew they were hoping I wouldn't try to sit next to them...and I didn't blame them. I'm starting to feel normal again and that's a wonderful feeling.

if you logged your calories and worked out, then don't worry about the 8 lbs. it's likely water weight and will come off pretty quickly. I just got back from my vacation on Sunday and also watched what I ate though I knew that my sodium intake was higher than normal. I gained about a pound in total but watched my weight fluctuate a couple of pounds up and down the whole week I was away. Got on the scale today and lost three pounds since I'm home. I'm telling you...it's water weight....

oh yeah....that's karma for sure! LOL!!

if you logged your calories and worked out, then don't worry about the 8 lbs. it's likely water weight and will come off pretty quickly. I just got back from my vacation on Sunday and also watched what I ate though I knew that my sodium intake was higher than normal. I gained about a pound in total but watched my weight fluctuate a couple of pounds up and down the whole week I was away. Got on the scale today and lost three pounds since I'm home. I'm telling you...it's water weight....

are you tracking your calories? I do and that is a huge help in knowing how much you are taking in.