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Emotional Eating



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For those who are emotional eaters, does the lap-band help? I eat healthy meals, and do exercise (although irregularly), but my biggest problem is I'm an emotional eater. I also have overweight parents who both struggle with weight, but want to know. Is the lap-band helpful to someone like me?

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I THINK SO. I EAT EMOTIONALY ALSO AND STILL DO. BUT WITH THE BAND IT IS NO WHERE NEAR AS BAD AND YOU CAN CONTROL IT ALOT MORE. I STILL DO IT BUT I SURE DON'T EAT NO WHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS I USED TO. I USED TO BINGE EAT...YOU KNOW, I ATE EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. I WAS ALWAYS SORRY FOR IT AFTERWARDS BUT IT RELIEVED STRESS WHILE I WAS DOING IT, OR AT LEAST I THOUGHT. NOW WITH THE BAND THERE IS NO MORE EATING THAT WAY. THERE IS NO WAY I COULD EAT MORE THAN A CUP OR SO OF ICE CREAM, NO WHOLE BAG OF chips, AND NO MORE FIVE OR SIX SLICES OF pizza. I BELIEVE THAT NO MATTER THE REASON FOR YOUR EATING THAT AFTER YOU ARE BANDED THE REASON IS STILL THERE YOU CAN JUST CONTROL IT. I ALSO KNOW THAT IF THAT IS WHY YOU ARE EATING SO MUCH THAN YOU PROBABLY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE. IT DID HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY I EAT FOR COMFORT. I WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND DR. PHIL'S BOOK, IT REALLY MAKES SENSE.

GOOD LUCK!

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Hi Misty -

Yes, the band helps tons, but for me doing the emotional work is what has made my journey peaceful.

I posted a tool I learned in therapy for dealing with emotional hunger - click on the "search" button (between f.a.q. and home) and type in: A Tool for Dealing with Emotional Hunger

Good luck!

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I agree totally with soon2bskinny. I have noticed times when I definately would have eaten before when I just don't feel I can physically. When I have something it is so much less than before. I am still pre fill. Go this afternoon for my first fill. You can only eat so much no matter the reason you eating. I do think that to decide if the band is right for you, you have to understand it can be beaten. You still have to work at it and make the right food choices. These are still challenges. I am very happy I have it and it is working for me so far. I have lost around 25 lbs in just over a month.

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Thank you all. I read your pointers donali. And I do think the band would help me. Now I just need to figure out how to get it. :D

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Misty,

I had my surgery in Mexico and the cost was $6500 but is now $7000 due to hospital costs increasing. Dr. Jose Rodriguez performed my surgery. My hubby and I took the Greyhound bus from Georgia to Del Rio which is five minutes from the border and the cost was only $288 for both of us. It was the most pleasant trip but it gets the job done. There are also quite a few financing options you can check in to. I am not sure of all the names but I believe one is Monarch Financing. Where there is a will there is a way. I borrowed money from my aunt and had my mother borrow the rest so I could have it done. Good Luck!

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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