Emptying Band For Travel?

[kamala 0]

My wife and I are taking a three-week European trip this winter and will likely run into situations where much food will be foisted on us and it will be considered very rude of me to eat only what the band will allow me to eat.

Has anyone had their band emptied so they can eat more when traveling and then refilled when they return? Are there any repercussions of a complete unfill followed by a refill several weeks later (besides the likely weight gain)?

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I think that is totally against what the band is all about. I was told to go into it thinking it is forever...not something you put on to lose and then take off when you're done. Unless there's a true medical need, the band should stay, functioning, in place. I don't know about your surgeon but mine has taken a LOOOONG time to gradually fill me, so if I did what you are suggesting it would set me back 6 months. And honestly, you should be at a spot where you can eat just about anything but eat less. Why on earth would you feel you "have" to eat 3 to 4 times what you can eat now? Think of how much less "fun" the trip would've been when you topped the scales at close to 400?

I don't mean to sound like a priss, lord knows. I have my days where I eat way too much, and I refuse to diet and count calories. I'm not perfect so I hope I don't sound that way. But I think you need to just suck it up and keep your band filled to a good spot, where if you chew well and take small bites you can eat anything but way less. Enjoy the scenery, soak up the history, enjoy the people, and put food in it's place; just part of the trip, not the big reason for going.

[kamala 0]

I think that is totally against what the band is all about. I was told to go into it thinking it is forever...not something you put on to lose and then take off when you're done. Unless there's a true medical need, the band should stay, functioning, in place. I don't know about your surgeon but mine has taken a LOOOONG time to gradually fill me, so if I did what you are suggesting it would set me back 6 months. And honestly, you should be at a spot where you can eat just about anything but eat less. Why on earth would you feel you "have" to eat 3 to 4 times what you can eat now? Think of how much less "fun" the trip would've been when you topped the scales at close to 400?

I don't mean to sound like a priss, lord knows. I have my days where I eat way too much, and I refuse to diet and count calories. I'm not perfect so I hope I don't sound that way. But I think you need to just suck it up and keep your band filled to a good spot, where if you chew well and take small bites you can eat anything but way less. Enjoy the scenery, soak up the history, enjoy the people, and put food in it's place; just part of the trip, not the big reason for going.

I completely disagree about eating not being a big reason for a trip to other countries, particularly food-centric places such as Europe. A huge part of the culture and draw is the food.

When we're on our own, eating with the band would be no issue. The problem is when we're being hosted by family friends and there is no really good way to explain why the big guy can't eat on vacation and not grossly insult the host. I honestly would rather re-do the work of putting that 10-15 pounds from vacation back off then be the ingrate visitor.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Then why ask? You've made up your mind and apparently feel they will be insulted if, since you are fat, you don't overeat. You know them, I don't. It's your life, your diet. Do what you think is right.

[kamala 0]

I haven't made up my mind, but I am looking for useful information or folks who have been in similar situations. I'm sorry you don't understand that refusing food and/or eating too little can be a terrible slight in some cultures.

Obviously the most important person I can have this conversation with is my Doctor, but I asked the question here because I suspect there are folks here who have had to ask the same question.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I haven't made up my mind, but I am looking for useful information or folks who have been in similar situations. I'm sorry you don't understand that refusing food and/or eating too little can be a terrible slight in some cultures.

Obviously the most important person I can have this conversation with is my Doctor, but I asked the question here because I suspect there are folks here who have had to ask the same question.

I do know there are different cultures, and I know there are many reasons to overeat. Shoot I am the queen of rationalizing even when there isn't a reason. I get that!

And as I said it is your life and your decision. I could get an unfill to go on a cruise because of the buffets, or to travel to Vegas because that's the only chance we get for 5 star dining, or whatever. Or because I'm going to Grandmas for thanksgiving and it will crush her if I don't eat like I used to. I DO understand all that better than you realize. I didn't get to be MY top weight by ignoring food and all the emotions etc that go along with it; not to mention cultural pressures etc.

I think, still, you can just say no. Eat less. Perhaps they will understand more than you think. If you are determined that it would crush your "european" family if you can't eat huge amounts, then you have your answer! That's all!

In a similar situation, I would opt not to have my band loosened. If I were that worried about hurting someone's feelings, i'd pass on the visit. That's how I would do it.

What are they going to say when you go back in a year or two and have lost a big chunk of weight, will they think you are sick and dying? rude? you know them best. You know if you can explain it or not. If i couldn't explain, I'd avoid them. That's just what I'd do.

Edited March 28, 2009 by RestlessMonkey

[inri09 0]

I've read that some people get a slight un-fill before air travel due to the flight. You may want to ask Doc about that since it is a long flight. Even with an un-fill, you can probably compromise with being able to watch what you eat, without as much worry that you may get stuck in front of family/ friends who are unaware of your surgery. You've done well in the amount of time with the band so far, I'm sure it will work out in long run...

have fun on your trip.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I haven't made up my mind, but I am looking for useful information or folks who have been in similar situations. I'm sorry you don't understand that refusing food and/or eating too little can be a terrible slight in some cultures.

Obviously the most important person I can have this conversation with is my Doctor, but I asked the question here because I suspect there are folks here who have had to ask the same question.

Whoa... wait a minute. Do you hear yourself? The fat mentality is screaming and you can't hear it.

You are losing weight. Tell these people your health is an issue and you cannot gorge yourself. If they demand that you eat, gorge yourself, and they demand you do this in spite of your health it is YOU that should be insulted.

Com'on... let's get real here. It's time to change our relationship with food. I believe that YOU believe they would be insulted but we all know that if they want you to harm yourself then that isn't realistic.

[MissBS 3]

I say no unfill!!!! Go have fun, focus on other things - not food, and walk a lot. Who knows.. you might even come home with a little weight loss. I've flown several times since being banded and have had no problems. Just spent a week in Las Vegas - also known for the "all you can eat" buffets, etc. I didn't lose any... but I didn't gain any either. I don't think my doctor would unfill me for an eating vacation even if I asked. Good luck and have fun on your vacation!!! Becky

[luluc 6]

i had a small unfill in feb to go skiing. last yr while doing so, DH (also banded) had huge altitude problems and had to get an emergency unfill in CO....so i just kinda was preparing for that, as last yr i wasn't close to restriction like he was at the time.

i will say, i was at my current weight - so weightloss wasn't an objective.....just preventing a possible trip to the ER like we did last yr.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

i had a small unfill in feb to go skiing. last yr while doing so, DH (also banded) had huge altitude problems and had to get an emergency unfill in CO....so i just kinda was preparing for that, as last yr i wasn't close to restriction like he was at the time.

i will say, i was at my current weight - so weightloss wasn't an objective.....just preventing a possible trip to the ER like we did last yr.

But Luluc... you weren't getting an unfill so that you could eat large quantities of food as to not insult others by harming yourself. Big difference.

[luluc 6]

But Luluc... you weren't getting an unfill so that you could eat large quantities of food as to not insult others by harming yourself. Big difference.

very true,

i did think however that if i ate more, i was certainly getting enough exercise to counter.

[Andrew6 0]

My wife and I are taking a three-week European trip this winter and will likely run into situations where much food will be foisted on us and it will be considered very rude of me to eat only what the band will allow me to eat.

Has anyone had their band emptied so they can eat more when traveling and then refilled when they return? Are there any repercussions of a complete unfill followed by a refill several weeks later (besides the likely weight gain)?

I did it. I lost about 60 or 70 lbs in about 6 monthes and we were going on vacation. Well as you say you want to be able to eat what you want, DRINK what you want etc... *mine was I hadn't had a beer in monthes* I got it unfilled and it happened around the hurricane here so i didn't get refilled for about 2 monthes and still lost 2 lbs. You still will not be able to eat like you did before. Breads will still not agree with you. and it will still feel like you have a restriction. Just not near as much.

[kamala 0]

Part of the problem with this discussion is that people are using loaded words like "huge," "gorge," and "overeat" that I did not use in my questions. I think somewhere between the 1/2 to 1 cup allowed by the band and huge/gorge/overeat is a reasonable compromise for 3 weeks with the knowledge that I will get the band re-filled as soon as I get home. I don't expect to be served claimjumper or otherwise supersized portions (one of the many good reasons Europeans are generally in better shape than Americans), but I know that no one will be putting 4 ounces of food in front of me either. And I'm not looking to put away multiple plates of Pasta.

My intent is to eat with the non-band habits that I have painstakingly developed for the benefit of the band (and that you can see resulted in decent weight loss leading up to surgery earlier this month). This includes eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, avoiding drinking with meals, and limiting alcohol.

Also, I will be continuing to exercise as intensely as I do here with the added bonus of walking around all day rather than sitting at a desk.

Edited March 28, 2009 by kamala

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Part of the problem with this discussion is that people are using loaded words like "huge," "gorge," and "overeat" that I did not use in my questions. Somewhere between the 1/2 to 1 cup allowed by the band and huge/gorge/overeat is a reasonable compromise for 3 weeks with the knowledge that I will get the band re-filled as soon as I get home. I'm not looking to put away multiple plates of Pasta.

My intent is to eat with the non-band habits that I have painstakingly developed for the benefit of the band (and that you can see resulted in decent weight loss leading up to surgery earlier this month). This includes eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, and avoiding drinking with meals.

Fine, take out the adjectives. You are still suggesting that if you continue on the path you and your doctor agreed upon for you that this is insulting to your host.

It's a bit for us having unfills and such like an alcoholic wanting to drink on vacation. This is a lifestyle change, not something we use only when it's convenient. You can still eat all the same foods, just eat less.

What is more important here, your health or eating to satisfy your host? If you are trying to lose weight and your host sees this as insulting, tough. It's your health.

One of the problems that I see here is that if you look at the boards... when people get unfilled for various reasons they sometimes have a hard time finding a sweet spot again. It's the nature of the band. Read, you'll see what I am talking about. If you are at your sweet spot now why risk it?