"Cheater! Cheater! Pumpkin Eater!"

[TheBandedPeach 3]

Below is a response I wrote that was inspired by a fellow bandster on this forum who had concerns as she felt she was "cheating" during her Full liquid Diet phase.

My response to her....

As some people on this LapBandTalk forum know, I was getting very discouraged at different points in my journey...Here is something I have thought long and hard about since reading your post...

"Cheating" is a harsh and possibly damaging word. If we feel we are "cheating" with our food, then we are still in a "short term" frame of mind and not in the new life yet. We have one foot in those crystal clear waters, but not both. By feeling as if we are "cheating" we can beat ourselves up again! We can fall even further down the path of destruction as a way of subconsciously punishing ourselves. It's your bodies instinct to want to eat real, solid food, not just to drink it. Of course it's possible for some people to struggle to fight against their nature!

You don't need to be reprimanded, you need more support. Not to mention understanding of why it can be harmful to force your band to work so hard so early on while it's still trying to heal.

It's a fact that this is harder for some then it is for others. No one told me how I was supposed to feel and act before surgery and how to prepare the mind for this. It was a desperate attempt to save my life as I'm sure the same for many others out there. I didn't have time to sit and wait until my brain finally "got it". I needed a tough SHOVE into an extreme reality situation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE in order to "get it"!

If your having a hard time, there is a reason for it and a solution needs to be found. Not just with a physical device and a simple doctor's order. This can be very scarey, and very overwhelming at times. It's never something to be taken lightly. We may think we have our heads in the right spot, to then just lose it again later. When we feel we are losing our heads again, we cry out for help! Your already doing the right thing just by coming on here. That takes phenomenal courage! Great job for having true woman ballz to do that!

WE decided to do this in the first place. WE decided to take charge of our bodies, and WE can continue to be our own bosses.

Let me say this....When I told my nutritionist (who was assigned to me by my Surgeon's staff) about my recipes in detail, she was amused and positive. She felt I was on a real good track and also there was nothing wrong with choosing healthier option Soups instead of junk Soups like Campbells (as recommended). I whole heartedly disagreed with the kinds of liquids my doc was choosing for me which were PACKED with artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners. My choice of soups actually had LESS calories & fat with night and day difference in ingredients. She saw no problem in me taking charge of my life, as well as when I talked with my assigned psychologist about this. The nutritionist allowed me to get creative on the flavorings of my Protein shakes and use my own sugar alternative instead of the typical sugar free sweeter (Aspartame) that was found in most everything I was told to have. I was taking charge because it's finally time! I felt very strong about my opinions and research on these healthier options (I may be overweight, but I grew up ONLY eating healthy, organic and natural foods..just way too much of them, along with lack of exercise due to a physical disability...) and more then a few of the doc's staff agreed that my surgeons idea of a healthy "after band" diet was out--dated! The only thing I was told was to be careful on the weight and consistency of the foods, and to make sure that if I used something like Peanut Butter that it was to be extra, extra smooth and in scarce amounts. Many bandsters are allowed a mushy faze after a few weeks, and I felt that it was wrong to be on liquids for so long. My gall bladder later proved that correct.

I consistently lost at least 1- 2 lbs every week while on this specific full liquid diet... I lost nothing the first week when I was on the original one I was given. (Way too much artificial crap and my body sure as hell rejected it!)

I stopped losing the second I started on solids staying strict to the mini bagel sandwiches I was told to be eating, etc.... I have hardly been unable to lose any more since and needed to get creative & take charge again as well as find lower carb options that are bulky enough to not slide thru immediately. That's my body, so watch yours and see what happens for you.

What matters most in the very beginning is the time it needs to heal and that you get your Protein & nutrients in. Be gentle to your band (it's your new best friend) and save yourself the ouchies later.

I agree with Jim...Take a breath and remember why you chose this in the first place. We can do this!

BTW..I weighed in yesterday morning and lost 2 more pounds this week after reaching out for help on this forum ; ) It's the first time I lost any weight since starting on solids 6 weeks ago. Good Luck!

<a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/909/6236/9096236.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - Free <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Calorie Counter</a></small></p>

[kittyforet 50]

Thanks for posting. This was just what I needed to hear today!

Below is a response I wrote that was inspired by a fellow bandster on this forum who had concerns as she felt she was "cheating" during her Full liquid diet phase.

My response to her....

As some people on this LapBandTalk forum know, I was getting very discouraged at different points in my journey...Here is something I have thought long and hard about since reading your post...

"Cheating" is a harsh and possibly damaging word. If we feel we are "cheating" with our food, then we are still in a "short term" frame of mind and not in the new life yet. We have one foot in those crystal clear waters, but not both. By feeling as if we are "cheating" we can beat ourselves up again! We can fall even further down the path of destruction as a way of subconsciously punishing ourselves. It's your bodies instinct to want to eat real, solid food, not just to drink it. Of course it's possible for some people to struggle to fight against their nature!

You don't need to be reprimanded, you need more support. Not to mention understanding of why it can be harmful to force your band to work so hard so early on while it's still trying to heal.

It's a fact that this is harder for some then it is for others. No one told me how I was supposed to feel and act before surgery and how to prepare the mind for this. It was a desperate attempt to save my life as I'm sure the same for many others out there. I didn't have time to sit and wait until my brain finally "got it". I needed a tough SHOVE into an extreme reality situation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE in order to "get it"!

If your having a hard time, there is a reason for it and a solution needs to be found. Not just with a physical device and a simple doctor's order. This can be very scarey, and very overwhelming at times. It's never something to be taken lightly. We may think we have our heads in the right spot, to then just lose it again later. When we feel we are losing our heads again, we cry out for help! Your already doing the right thing just by coming on here. That takes phenomenal courage! Great job for having true woman ballz to do that!

WE decided to do this in the first place. WE decided to take charge of our bodies, and WE can continue to be our own bosses.

Let me say this....When I told my nutritionist (who was assigned to me by my Surgeon's staff) about my recipes in detail, she was amused and positive. She felt I was on a real good track and also there was nothing wrong with choosing healthier option Soups instead of junk soups like Campbells (as recommended). I whole heartedly disagreed with the kinds of liquids my doc was choosing for me which were PACKED with artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners. My choice of soups actually had LESS calories & fat with night and day difference in ingredients. She saw no problem in me taking charge of my life, as well as when I talked with my assigned psychologist about this. The nutritionist allowed me to get creative on the flavorings of my Protein shakes and use my own sugar alternative instead of the typical sugar free sweeter (Aspartame) that was found in most everything I was told to have. I was taking charge because it's finally time! I felt very strong about my opinions and research on these healthier options (I may be overweight, but I grew up ONLY eating healthy, organic and natural foods..just way too much of them, along with lack of exercise due to a physical disability...) and more then a few of the doc's staff agreed that my surgeons idea of a healthy "after band" diet was out--dated! The only thing I was told was to be careful on the weight and consistency of the foods, and to make sure that if I used something like Peanut Butter that it was to be extra, extra smooth and in scarce amounts. Many bandsters are allowed a mushy faze after a few weeks, and I felt that it was wrong to be on liquids for so long. My gall bladder later proved that correct.

I consistently lost at least 1- 2 lbs every week while on this specific full liquid diet... I lost nothing the first week when I was on the original one I was given. (Way too much artificial crap and my body sure as hell rejected it!)

I stopped losing the second I started on solids staying strict to the mini bagel sandwiches I was told to be eating, etc.... I have hardly been unable to lose any more since and needed to get creative & take charge again as well as find lower carb options that are bulky enough to not slide thru immediately. That's my body, so watch yours and see what happens for you.

What matters most in the very beginning is the time it needs to heal and that you get your Protein & nutrients in. Be gentle to your band (it's your new best friend) and save yourself the ouchies later.

I agree with Jim...Take a breath and remember why you chose this in the first place. We can do this!

BTW..I weighed in yesterday morning and lost 2 more pounds this week after reaching out for help on this forum ; ) It's the first time I lost any weight since starting on solids 6 weeks ago. Good Luck!

<a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/909/6236/9096236.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - Free <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Calorie Counter</a></small></p>

[BayougirlMrsS 3,934]

Wow.... Peaches.... what a great piece. I have printed it and i'm going to add it to the wall of inspiration.....

[Pittbull29 1]

I feel very much like you do about all of the artificial, processed, high sodium foods they recommend. I'm from the South so I may not have eaten the most low fat foods but I didn't eat all of the processed stuff......fried chicken, green Beans, corn, homemade spaghetti sauce. I'm in my 2nd week of pre-op diet and am thinking about making some of my own healthier versions of Protein Drinks, etc. I have a terrible taste in my mouth from all of the processed stuff.

[Jenn1214 120]

What a great post! I don't use the word "cheat" in regard to my food intake because I'm not on a diet. I have made a lifestyle change and choose to eat healthy foods most of the time, but an occasional treat won't hurt my weight loss in the long run. This is a journey, not a destination!

[NJGirl32 43]

Wonderful post! I totally agree that we must change our mindset. Use a word that better drscribes the process instaed of saying : I cheated" say "I made some poor choices and if I am in a sililiar situation this is what I intend to do." It's a process of constantly adjusting and readjusting our attitudes and eating habits. We are tryingto retrain our bodies and our minds and again, it's a process that requires reflection and a shift in our thinking!

We will get to that promised bandland!!

[Coco's Mum 1]

Really appreciate the time you took to post this. I agree - very inspirational ....

[ButterflyM 2]

What did being on liquids for 2 weeks do to ur gallbladder??

[TheBandedPeach 3]

Thanks so much for the support guys! I was extremely nervous posting this due to how strong my opinions are. I just want to help those who get down on themselves all the time and self destruct, as I am a pro at it myself!

Hugs to all!

:grouphug:

To Butterfly: My gall bladder started breaking down due to the drastic diet changes that I was going through for the Band over the period of 7 weeks. I found out that over 60% of Weight Loss Surgery patients end up needing it removed. The docs don't want you to know that. They told me I needed to get it removed immediately after I was in the ER twice for extreme pain due to gall bladder attacks. LUCKILY I like to find alternative solutions, I did the research and was able to SAVE my gall bladder! I did a special diet for 2 weeks straight and the next gall bladder tests they did came out negative! My doctor's jaw dropped to floor! She could not believe that I was able to heal it, let alone in only 2 weeks! They told me there was no way to save it. WRONG!

Here is how I did it...

1. Got off of ANYTHING friend or greasy
2. Got off of ANYTHING acidic like Tomato & orange
3. Lowered my egg intake to almost none
4. Increased to a high volume of organic cucumbers and real organic beets
5. Lowered my coffee intake

Here is the article that helped me! -------> HOW TO SAVE YOUR GALL BLADDER

If someone doesn't mind telling me how to post blogs on here, I will blog details about it For now it will just have to be a new forum post.

[sweetpea61956 6]

Since February the only sugar, ie..cakes, Cookies, candy, I have had are 1/2 of brownie, 1 donut and 2 Big Red's and those were all in February. Since then we have had MANY cakes at work for birthdays, going away celebrations and donuts just because, and I have passed on them all. Today I went to a Cici's pizza buffet and they have the best cinnamon rolls, I have ever tasted. The women I went with, had a slice of Bavarian cream pizza and the cinnamon rolls...I had neither. I know I could have a bite...and it wouldn't hurt me...but I also know me well enough at this point that "a bite" will not be enough. Its a choice and my choice is to do without. I had two small slice's of pizza (one of which was spinach) and I don't feel guilty because I didn't "cheat". I made a choice to eat slow and small amounts. Would I have liked to have more, of course, but did I NEED more to satisfy my hunger...NOPE..

Everyone keep up the good work!

[HolliJ 24]

Since February the only sugar, ie..cakes, Cookies, candy, I have had are 1/2 of brownie, 1 donut and 2 Big Red's and those were all in February. Since then we have had MANY cakes at work for birthdays, going away celebrations and donuts just because, and I have passed on them all. Today I went to a Cici's pizza buffet and they have the best cinnamon rolls, I have ever tasted. The women I went with, had a slice of Bavarian cream pizza and the cinnamon rolls...I had neither. I know I could have a bite...and it wouldn't hurt me...but I also know me well enough at this point that "a bite" will not be enough. Its a choice and my choice is to do without. I had two small slice's of pizza (one of which was spinach) and I don't feel guilty because I didn't "cheat". I made a choice to eat slow and small amounts. Would I have liked to have more, of course, but did I NEED more to satisfy my hunger...NOPE..

Everyone keep up the good work!

I'm at kind of the same point right now. I frequently pass up sugary foods like cakes, Cookies, donuts, candy, etc... It has actually been almost a month since I've had any kind of foods like that. I've made a lifestyle change and I CHOOSE not to eat these foods. I'm not tortured because of it, either. Because I count calories to lose weight, I could eat whatever I wanted as long as it fell within my calorie budget. And at one point, that's exactly what I did.

But truly, those high-sugar foods make you hungrier. And because I don't eat them, I don't want them. Well.... I want them, but it's not an overwhelming desire. Kind of like how I would love to eat sushi everyday, but don't because it's so expensive. There are downfalls to many things that a person may "want" and that's not just limited to food.

Part of being responsible for your life is to say, "I want this, but the consequences for having it are more than I'm willing to pay". And I can live with that because I know I want to lose weight. I want to be healthy. I want to have energy throughout the day. I want to fit into smaller clothes. I want to feel my hip bones come back. I want to FEEL good about myself. And over the past couple months, as the weight loss has gotten me to a point where I'm really seeing changes, that is SO MUCH more rewarding to me than a piece of cake.

And really, I'd have no problem eating one. One piece of cake every once in a while won't hurt me and I won't beat myself up about it. But it feels good to know that I've gotten to a point where I don't need to eat those foods. I can resist them. Just like giving up soda 2 years ago - I haven't had any since. And I never thought that would be possible for me.

I've been banded for two years now. It took me a long time to get to the point where I am now with my "relationship" with food. I like food. But I'm not obsessed with food. I don't think about food all day. I have healthy doses of food in my life and that's enough for me. I get stressed as much as anyone else, but I stopped feeding my emotions with food. It felt good in the moment, but didn't feel so good at 263lbs. I let so many things in my life control me, including food, and it feels good to know that I can turn that around and control food for once.

[TheBandedPeach 3]

:welldoneclap:

I ate a baby slice of my best friend's gluten free birthday cake 2 days ago out of respect for her (as well as supporting her on her gluten free diet due to a severe gluten allergy she has). I left half on my plate which included the marshmallow-y fondant with one bite taken out of it.

This is the kind of thing we do after the band vs before the band, and that's why it works. :success1: