My worst fear....

[MediaGurl 0]

I've spent a tremendous amount of time researching LapBand surgery... I've read three books, talked to Bandsters, consulted with a surgeon, etc. I feel that I've prepared myself as best as I can as I wait for my insurance company to approve me.

Here's my worst fear... what do you replace your eating habits with? I'm sure I'm not alone on these boards in that food is my best friend at times. I'm sort of mourning in advance for when I am no longer able to eat for comfort. Don't get me wrong, I WANT to get to that point. Its the psychological part of it that I can't quite figure out. Did any of you go to therapy to get through that time after you're first banded? What methods did you use to alter your behavior?

I'm two months into the six-month long medicially supervised diet that I have to document for insurance purposes (completely ridiculous, as my entire LIFE has been one long diet) but my doctor indicated to me last week that she's going to go ahead and write a letter to say that I've been on a diet for longer than that. This means I may get approved more quickly than I had anticipated, which is great... but this worry has bubbled to the surface since I've been wrapping my head around the fact that it may happen sooner than later. I've been eating more than normal for me for the last few days, which I'm sure is part of the "last meal syndrome" that I've been reading about on here for weeks.

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!

[kerri76 0]

I am also in the process of getting insurance approval and have the same questions as you. I am always "head" hungry so what happens after the surgery. I am willing to go to therapy and have gone in the past. I know that the Lap-Band will work for me because when I was pregnant the baby was so far up that it was uncomfortable to over eat so I actaully lost weight while pregnant. For some reason the head hunger was squashed by the physical discomfort. Does that make any sense? I look forward to some Lap-Band veteran responses!

[KateTheGreat 0]

I've spent a tremendous amount of time researching LAP-BAND® surgery... I've read three books, talked to Bandsters, consulted with a surgeon, etc. I feel that I've prepared myself as best as I can as I wait for my insurance company to approve me.

Here's my worst fear... what do you replace your eating habits with? I'm sure I'm not alone on these boards in that food is my best friend at times. I'm sort of mourning in advance for when I am no longer able to eat for comfort. Don't get me wrong, I WANT to get to that point. Its the psychological part of it that I can't quite figure out. Did any of you go to therapy to get through that time after you're first banded? What methods did you use to alter your behavior?

I'm two months into the six-month long medicially supervised diet that I have to document for insurance purposes (completely ridiculous, as my entire LIFE has been one long diet) but my doctor indicated to me last week that she's going to go ahead and write a letter to say that I've been on a diet for longer than that. This means I may get approved more quickly than I had anticipated, which is great... but this worry has bubbled to the surface since I've been wrapping my head around the fact that it may happen sooner than later. I've been eating more than normal for me for the last few days, which I'm sure is part of the "last meal syndrome" that I've been reading about on here for weeks.

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!

You are definitely not alone in that fear. I'm definitely an emotional eater--have been all of my life. When I'm not eating emotionally, it was anorexia and sometimes bulimia. Constant struggles!!!:thumbup:

[BetsyB 9]

I'm going to make a suggestion that you will not like.

ALL of us have been on diets forever. All of us thought that moving ahead with surgery, and bypassing the medically supervised diet, was a great idea. And a lot of us were wrong. Getting to the OR sooner would have done us no favors.

I would strongly recommend that instead of forging ahead and trying to hit the OR sooner, you take the time to really get in the right place, mentally.

Use the time to answer some of these questions. They are very valid, and deserve your attention.

What I did was start working on banded habits right away. Practicing the new behaviors made it clearer to me that I could self-soothe in other ways. It also established patterns of behavior that have helped me tremendously now that I am banded.

Edited March 15, 2010 by BetsyB

[AnneGG 0]

Betsy, what would this board do without you? Thanks for your reply. I'm sharing the fears like crazy :thumbup:, but I also realize that I'm the most scared before I do something, and once I'm into whatever it is, I'm astonished at what I can actually do.

This is a biggie, though. Definitely deals with core issues. Just gotta keep my feet moving and keep practicing... especially with being gentle with myself the way one is with a baby learning to walk.

I'm making daily baby step goals for myself, and so far so good. I've got a food journal started, I'm walking daily, and sometimes I practice small bites and chew chew chew. Oh, and not drinking with meals. Plus I'm working at finding good foods I like. I've given up sweet stuff.

[Arthemise 1]

The six-month wait did nothing for me but make me gain weight. I was impatient and angry and ready to make the change. I tried to lose weight and failed. How is that any different from the many years I've been trying? My insurance company has since changed the requirement from six months to three months.

The education classes and discussions have been more beneficial to me. I could see requiring more support group meetings in place of the doctor-supervised weight loss. For me, at least, they made me see the changes that were necessary in my life. My PCP knew less than I did about WLS and didn't really help.

[nurselroy 0]

I also have this fear. I often eat when I'm bored or really stressed. I also reach for food unconsciously sometimes just because...even when I'm not hungry. I'm on my 7 day pre-op liquid diet now and this has got to be the hardest thing I've ever done. However, I have now had to find things to distract me so that I don't sit around thinking of food and watching all the food commercials on TV. I'm just hoping I can make this a habit, but in the meantime, I have over two weeks of liquid diet total (1 week pre-op and 12 days post-op) to think about it.

[Apples2 19]

As Besty stated above, take this time prior to surgery and start making changes. I look back on the time I prepared for LB surgery and see it as a gift (8 extra months to prepare). I researched for 3 yrs prior to surgery and was fully prepared. No way did I want to wake up from surgery and feel like I had the rug yanked out from under me. I mourned the loss of food long b/4 the surgery was done.

I will give you some examples of how I prepared:

Starting 8 months b/4 surgery I forced myself to eat as close to a banded person as I could. I cut my calories to 800-900 daily. I made myself shift gears to another actvity when I was about to reach for something that I should not eat and just eating out of boredom. I also forced myself into a rule of NEVER eating after 6pm. Nothing. I think this helped prepare me more than anything. I was a night time snacker. I have a snack every evening now but never out of control snacking like b/4.

I would do ANYTHING to take my mind off of food. I would go rinse with mouthwash, brush my teeth, take a walk, sit in a warm bath, go ride my bike, get on the treadmill, grab my book...and, always take myself out of the situation that tempted me (example, walking out of the kitchen).

I was able to lose 54lbs prior to surgery. I had friends that doubted why I would then have surgery after being able to lose the weight prior....I could see the light at the end of the tunnel...I knew the band would help me through.

Being prepared (truly in your head ready) is the best weapon to carry with you along this journey. If you feel you are not ready...back up and take a look at things. Maybe you need to see your therapist for a few sessions...maybe a few visits with your nutritionist...maybe keep visits in place with both of them prior to and after surgery.

Wishing all of you luck

[gingerjane 5]

I also like to use the tactic that I refer to as "transferring addictions" because let's face it - none of us are here because we HATE food.

I'm in the pre-op diet stage and I've already started cutting everything into TINY bites, then chewing and putting my fork down, etc. But, what do I do when I'm upset and want food? I either walk, get online to this board (which has been SO helpful), or I look online at clothes that I would kill to wear. Whatever your ultimate ideal goal is, use it as part of your addiction. Sometimes I walk with a co-worker just around the block. Usually, that gets my mind off of things.

Whatever it is, don't worry. Just start making the adjustments now. It CAN be done. It's amazing. I even walked past a cupcakery the other day and normally I would have been in there with my credit card but I walked by and was like "eh. Not worth it".

And, find something that you love more than food. It's out there, you just have to look for it.

[Spartan 4]

There are two things you need to begin doing right away.

First, you need to begin eating as though you already have the Lap band. It's not easy, I know, but you need to start trying to live that way. People say that they are tired of dieting, but the reality is that the Lap band IS a diet....a diet with consequenses. If you eat too much or too fast, there will be some pain involved, to put it simplistically. The best thing you can do is to prepare your body for it NOW, before you have the band.

The other thing you need to do is to begin regular therapy with a Psychotherapist who SPECIALIZES in the needs of bariatric patients.....not just any Therapist, but someone who has a demonstrated specialty in this field. SO much of weight loss is a "head game". And a therapist who knows what they are doing can help you get to the root of whatever eating disorder you might have.

Many people who are "sold" on tha Lap Band go into it with the wrong idea. They think of it as some magic "switch" that is flipped, that will make the hunger go away, and the pounds will simply drop off. For MOST people, it does not work that way. It's not an easy road, and you will need all the help you can get. And dealing with the mental component of the weight-loss puzzle will be a huge benefit to you in this process.

[Kary 0]

I agree with Betsy and all the other posts, before you're banded you have no clue what it's gonna be like and are scared, like I was, on such a drastic lifestyle change, and a fearful of cutting out the foods you love and have comforted you. However, since I was banded, I now know, that the life long diet we've all experienced still continues even when you're banded. You still have to have willpower, control and intelligence to make the right eating choices because your band is a tool, that's all it is. Therefore, before you're banded, live like a bandster because that will get you close to how it's gonna be once you're banded. Yes you will be hungry, but us bandsters get hungry too! That feeling doesn't go away, but our band makes us eat less when we are hungry. All the best!

[coloradobanding 5]

Great responses already! I agree with living like you are already banded. Because let's face it, you can eat around the band if you want to.

I was surprised to find that I transferred my addiction to exercise and walking (still shocking)!

I think it's great that you are addressing this issue now and are ready to attack it first...GREAT JOB!!

I would caution against putting too much fear into something you have no control of. Just be conscious and proactive and you will be fine!