I've been planning to possibly have the lap band procedure, but I've been told that because I have a ravenous sweet tooth, it's not for me. Any sweet tooth bandsters with good results?

Yes, I crave sweets and have found healthy ways to satisfy the cravings - there are wonderful recipes on both Splenda and Equals website. I've made Cookies, wonderful blueberry muffins and lemon Meringue pies using splenda. I just make certain that I pay attention to my serving size and the carbs.

My family including my 15 yr old son can't tell the difference.

Yes, I crave sweets and have found healthy ways to satisfy the cravings - there are wonderful recipes on both Splenda and Equals website. I've made Cookies, wonderful blueberry muffins and lemon Meringue pies using splenda. I just make certain that I pay attention to my serving size and the carbs.

My family including my 15 yr old son can't tell the difference.

You are suggesting that Equal/Slpenda and cookies/muffins and pies are HEALTHY in any way shape or form???

C’mon. You’re not serious.

Equal/Splenda are NEUROTOXINS. They are dangerous.

And, the only way to get rid of a sweet tooth is to….hang on to your seat here…..STOP EATING SWEETS. Real or fake.

I really wish that people would come to understand one very simple truth: The object is not to become thin…..it is to become HEALTHY. And the natural byproduct of being healthy is to be at your Correct weight, or very close to it. And you are NOT going to accomplish this by consuming a lot of baked goods with processed white flour and other ingredients that will NOT lead you toward a state of health.

Getting rid of the processed white sugar is ALWAYS a good thing. EXCEPT when you replace it with chemicals like artificial sweeteners.

Artificial sweeteners help maintain your addiction to sugar. They keep you “connected” to the sweet taste that you have come to accept as “normal”, and that is BAD. And there are other metabolic consequences as well.

By using artificial sweeteners you are merely perpetuating part of the problem that brought you to the point of having to have a “valve/spigot” placed in your stomach to control your eating.

To be a real success at this, you need to break free of the sugar addiction, and you cannot do that by continuing to consume sugar or anything that tastes like it.

S.

see... i'm not sure i agree that you totally have to give up sweets (or sugar). the key is to eat in moderation. as a binge eater, it's no longer possible for me to eat a dozen Cookies. i feel satisfied after eating 1.

this is where the problem with the band comes in... whether you are going to listen to your brain or your band.

if i take a big portion of food, i can't stop eating whether i'm full or not. that's listening to my brain. if i only put the 1 cup of food on my plate and finish it, my band wins.

does that make sense?

Spartan, If doing without any sweetner (sugar or substitute) has created this angry person, I definately plan not to do without.

Moderation is key.

I have (or had, as the case may be) a terrible sweet tooth as well. I am thrilled to find that it has decreased TREMENDOUSLY and I'm not even banded yet.

In anticipation of my surgery, I stopped drinking diet soda in February and the difference in my sweet cravings was almost immediate.

I am also a big carb eater. I am not a vegetarian, but I don't eat beef or pork and tend to rely on carbs for quick, easy meals, especially Breakfast. When I stopped eating a muffin or a bagel for breakfast, I found that my sweet cravings were MUCH less throughout the rest of the day.

I found I like the Muscle Milk Lite chocolate Protein drink and I save it for a time in the day that I really want something sweet. It is close enough to chocolate milk that it hits the spot. The Balance bars accomplish the same task for me.

Believe me, I know your pain, but I think you might find that some diet changes now will really help tame that sweet tooth and will set you up for better success after you are banded.

As is noted here time and time and time again, the band can only help how much and how fast you eat- what you CHOOSE to eat is still up to you.

Good luck!!

kagead

Spartan, If doing without any sweetner (sugar or substitute) has created this angry person, I definately plan not to do without.

Moderation is key.

“moderation is key”

Huh? Key to what, exactly?

Amazing. When I point out a potentially destructive behavior people say I am “angry”.

I suppose I am angry.

I’m angry at the ignorance people demonstrate when they try to rationalize and make excuses for their stupid decisions.

Now, I really don’t care what you do to yourself. You go ahead and eat all the garbage you want. I’m fine with that. Go ahead do everything “in moderation”, and you will be “moderately healthy”.

What concerns me is that there ARE people out there who genuinely want to achieve EXCELLENT health, and they might just listen to you and think that it is ok to consume crap….”in moderation”.

Sugar can be an ADDICTION for many people, in very nearly the same way that alcohol and drugs can be.

So, I’m thinking that if you had a family member who was an alcoholic who had been sober for a while that you might hand him a bottle of scotch and say “here….you’ve been sober for a while….here’s a treat for ya….but please,… drink it in moderation. Hugs”.

I see the “everything in moderation” mantra ejaculated around here with great frequency, and while the idea might work for some people, it does NOT work for many. To suggest that you can engage in bad practices part of the time and still realize a high state of health is ridiculous on ANY scale.

For people who need to separate from sugar, you don’t give them something that TASTES like sugar. Especially if it is poison.

Jeez.

I hope you have a “moderately” nice day.

S.

I eat sweet food every day and am maintaining my weight right now! I have a terrible sweet tooth...I do have to use self control because I could eat a ton of ice cream...but I know if I do I will gain weight....

I have a sweet tooth but it has not stopped me from losing weight. Today my husband and I went out to lunch to Celebrate our 22nd Anniversary. Toward the end of the meal he asked if I would like dessert. I answered, "NO", which surprised me. I never turn down dessert, but my band was in control. I honestly did not want dessert. I was satisfied eating only 1/3 of my meal with no dessert.

You can do it!