I am pre-band and went to a support group earlier this month. Some of the "veterans" were talking about chewing stuff like steak to get the juice and then spitting it out. When I heard this, I was mortified! It was like being in an anorexic group meeting, not a support group for lap band members. I know about eating too much and throwing up and PBs and some of the other things that come along with the band, but this was a new one to me. It seems like some of these people traded in bad eating habits for other practices that may not be as physically harmful, but it certainly sounds mentally screwed up. Are there other people out there that do this?

I am pre-band also and I have not heard of this before. Is this what can be expected from meetings?

I have been banded 2 years, and I can honestly say I have never heard of this! I agree with you, it sounds like they need some help other than the band! :scared2:

I dont see this happening too often pre op, but definetley post op. You just need to get the taste of real food. I have 4 more weeks to go on my liquid phase and its getting rough. It is discussing but when your desperate..... :scared2:

That is just gross.

Seriously, there were at least 3 people in the group who talked about doing this. I couldn't help think, 'If they are doing this, then are they taking laxatives as well? What else are they doing?"

I'm glad my husband wasn't with me at that support group. He's not been exactly on board with me doing this and if he would have heard that, I think it would put him over the edge 'cause it almost put me over the edge!

My personal view is that anything like that - chewing and spitting, deliberate vomiting, having your band SUPER tight and living on liquids and taking weight loss drugs all fall into the category of you needing more help than the band can give.

I hesitate to call it "gross" as it really is an illness and people need help, not contempt. I know our natural response is "eeeeew", and its certainly what I thought too, but it is really very sad.

Its not the first time i've heard of it though.

This was mentioned on another thread.

If you do a web search (which I did), it appears this can become a true eating disorder. Not a path down which I'd like to start.

It is different than when I realize I have something in my mouth that isn't going to go down, so I spit it out. This is something that can happen to any banded person. It's better to spit it than to swallow it and have it stuck..in my humble opinion.

I will confess to having done this once post op when I was on liquids but no restriction blah blah blah...I was frying hamburger for tacos...and starving...and hadn't chewed anything in weeks. And yeah, it was gross but ohhhh...the taste.....and the chewing...it felt SOOOOO good to chew....but once was enough thanks :ohmy:

I will agree with those above, if people are doing this as a way to avoid eating then yes, I think it's turning into an illness just as anorexia is (not as dangerous as anorexia but still definitely not "normal").

I agree that it's disordered eating (it's often considered adjunctive to bulimia), and wonder why the facilitator of the meeting didn't terminate that line of discussion. (It should be pursued with the individuals and the doctor, but it should not have been permitted to continue as a support-group type topic; it should have clearly been identified as heading down a dangerous path.)

Wow, that's one I haven't heard before. Nothing surprises me. A neighbouring group in my area actually meets at an all you can eat Chinese restaurant once a month! Sort of like taking an alcoholic to a bar for a mtg. Oh well, I just don't go to those mtg's. Good luck!

I agree with Betsy. 100%

Wow I can't believe that occurred at a meeting! It has been discussed here before and there are some (myself included) who did it once or twice when on liquids but if its a regular thing its definitely a disorder!! I saw an episode of intervention about a women who did this all the time, it was so gross- she was sitting at a child birthday party with a chew can (like a tobacco chewer uses)- poor kids were horrified!

Monkeymama I saw that show and it was so gross. Looks like the girl could at least do that in private. Her poor family and children. She really had mental problems and needed treatment.

I'm required to go to 8 support meetings in the first year after my surgery so I'll be with the "chew crew" for a while. Hopefully, the next meeting will run closer to "normal".

I'm required to go to 8 support meetings in the first year after my surgery so I'll be with the "chew crew" for a while. Hopefully, the next meeting will run closer to "normal".

Did they say that they did it on a regular basis or just to have a taste of steak. I can understand wanting to taste the steak without swallowing it since it is such an unfriendly band food. I've done this to get a taste of something that I can't eat with my band. It's an easy way to solve my craving.

But I completely agree, if it's an everyday habit, then they need help figuring out why they aren't willing to eat.