Banded for 3 Yrs, just filmed reality TV show about eating disorders

[divaofsongs 42]

Hello everyone, it has been a really long time since I posted but I must say that I was doing quite well until I walked away from the support of this site.

I am writing this because I met many wonderful people through this site and wanted to let my friends here know that I will be on a reality T.V. documentary called, "What's Eating You" on E!, November 3rd. It is about extreme eating disorders and I was one of the people they picked for the show. I have been baned since December of 2007 and had lost 150 pounds (with 100 still to go) but then gained back almost 50. Since starting therapy on the show, I have lost about 25 pounds of the 50 that I gained back.

Unfortunately, I got the band but never worked on why I was overeating in the first place. I have a 14CC band with 12CC's of Fluid in and can't really eat a lot, yet I have learned to eat around the band with slider foods. I never really ate because I was hungry but because I get some sort of emotional release or "high" when I eat. The band has really helped me to control the portion size but unfortunately, I did not use it the right way.

I do believe that without the band, I would have probably been over 500 pounds by now. The band has helped me to be in control, even when I didn't want to be BUT there is a problem when a person GAINS 25 pounds and can only eat 1/4 cup of food at a time.

I was one of the "cash pay" patients that did not receive proper aftercare and I think that has contributed greatly to my demise. I controlled my own fills and did not receive any follow up care about nutrition, etc.

I hope that the episode will help others who are banded not to make the same negative choices that I have made. I am determined to battle my binge disorder and I will overcome it but I just need to deal with the reasons I am binging.

[Sue Magoo 71]

Thank you for sharing this. I look forward to watching the show and wish you the best.

Sue

[BetsyB 9]

I've been looking forward to this series--thanks for posting. I will watch for you :smile:

[kosy2 1]

Were you on the Today Show last week?

[Bryn 3]

i have been seeing the commercials for this show for about a week now. will be interesting to watch

[123crod 170]

I have seen commercials too! Look forward to your story. Wish you best of luck!!

Cheri

[isaviolinist 11]

Hello everyone, it has been a really long time since I posted but I must say that I was doing quite well until I walked away from the support of this site.

I am writing this because I met many wonderful people through this site and wanted to let my friends here know that I will be on a reality T.V. documentary called, "What's Eating You" on E!, November 3rd. It is about extreme eating disorders and I was one of the people they picked for the show. I have been baned since December of 2007 and had lost 150 pounds (with 100 still to go) but then gained back almost 50. Since starting therapy on the show, I have lost about 25 pounds of the 50 that I gained back.

Unfortunately, I got the band but never worked on why I was overeating in the first place. I have a 14CC band with 12CC's of Fluid in and can't really eat a lot, yet I have learned to eat around the band with slider foods. I never really ate because I was hungry but because I get some sort of emotional release or "high" when I eat. The band has really helped me to control the portion size but unfortunately, I did not use it the right way.

I do believe that without the band, I would have probably been over 500 pounds by now. The band has helped me to be in control, even when I didn't want to be BUT there is a problem when a person GAINS 25 pounds and can only eat 1/4 cup of food at a time.

I was one of the "cash pay" patients that did not receive proper aftercare and I think that has contributed greatly to my demise. I controlled my own fills and did not receive any follow up care about nutrition, etc.

I hope that the episode will help others who are banded not to make the same negative choices that I have made. I am determined to battle my binge disorder and I will overcome it but I just need to deal with the reasons I am binging.

Oooh I watched the first episode of that show and I really like it! I'll definitely watch for you! I also gained back about 50 pounds of what I had initially lost, but 6 and a half weeks ago I decided to get back on the horse and have lost about 30 of those pounds again. I'm so determined, and like you, I feel that I haven't addressed my psychological issues with eating. I have thought about counseling and even OA (my fiance isn't a fan of OA and when I bring up counseling he says its for when you're not doing good and I'm doing good....Love him more than life itself but hes missing the point ). Anyways, congrats on being on the show and I'll definitely be watching for you!

[YanaBanana 0]

I will be watching too! Congrats!

[divaofsongs 42]

Were you on the Today Show last week?

Yes I was, along with another participant and a nutritionist from New York.

[divaofsongs 42]

I am really starting to worry about this show airing. It is so personal and I reveal so many personal things during the taping to the psychologist. I talk about being molested and bullied in school. It is just starting to dawn on me that EVERYONE in the world will know my business now.

I did the show to try to help others and myself. Now that I have "seen" what I am doing, I am hoping to change it. I was throwing up 5-20 times a day, sometimes more, just so I could keep eating and I could have taken out some of the fill but instead I kept making it tighter and throwing up even more. It was very stupid because the doc on the show said that I could rupture my esophogus and die the next time I throw up. That was a wakeup call! I have not binged on slider foods for 6 weeks, have not thrown up on purpose and have lost 30 pounds since they started taping my therapy.

I want people to know that even though the band, or any other surgery for that matter may restrict your portionn size, it is still possible to defeat the surgery if you are eating for reasons other than hunger. I am NEVER hungry with the band yet I ALWAYS want to eat. I was only hungry about 10% of the time I ate before the band. I have given so much power to food that it is like a drug to me. I use food to feel better and I use it almost unconsciously to numb myself.

I have done a lot of publicity for the show on The Today Show, CNN Joy Behar, local news and others. To my knowledge, I am the only overweight person on the series and certainly the only one with a Lap-Band. I read posts all the time about people struggling with the things I struggle with so I hope it will inspire people to use the band as it is intended and not ABUSE it like I have.

[divaofsongs 42]

Oooh I watched the first episode of that show and I really like it! I'll definitely watch for you! I also gained back about 50 pounds of what I had initially lost, but 6 and a half weeks ago I decided to get back on the horse and have lost about 30 of those pounds again. I'm so determined, and like you, I feel that I haven't addressed my psychological issues with eating. I have thought about counseling and even OA (my fiance isn't a fan of OA and when I bring up counseling he says its for when you're not doing good and I'm doing good....Love him more than life itself but hes missing the point :w00t:). Anyways, congrats on being on the show and I'll definitely be watching for you!

Thanks and congrats on your loss as well. My episode airs on Nov. 3rd.

[samomom 19]

Thanks for the heads up. My husband works for E! I can watch the show before it airs. He can log in from home and I can watch anything on the channel. I look forward to seeing the episode. Good luck with your weight loss and therapy.

[MLBL 2]

I am also an emotional overeater and know I will struggle even with the band. It will be great for me to see how your journey goes. I will be one of the people you help :thumbup:

[sara31 2]

I dvr'd the show when it first started airing and I was really wondering if they were going to show the other side of the spectrum with people that are more like me.

I was just banded 9/15 but my eyes were opened after I had my psych test - showing that I had an eating disorder - something I never even thought about since I didn't fall into the category of anorexic or bulimic.

You are so brave to talk about your journey. I hope it helps you with healing and moving forward, it sounds like it already has.

I think you will find that you will have many supporters that wish you well after the episode airs.

[daqui26 4]

will be sure to watch