My family & I have been planning our cruise since September. My surgery is Jan 4th, so hopefully by then I will have good restriction and good weight loss. My question to anyone who's been on a cruise with a band, how do you manage not to hurt yourself with over eating.... no chewing well ... taking big bites..getting stuck...all leading to PAIN etc....

I just don't want to be in pain when we are supposed to be enjoying our cruise with our family. Should I ask my doc for an "unfill" or is that a bit unethical to ask a doc to do for your own enjoyment and glutony.

Tell me what you think yall.

I think a unfill is a mistake; because it takes so long to reach good restriction. I am 4 months out and I'm still not at good restriction. Also, the cruise I went on in the restaurants vs the buffets while there is lot of options the portion sizes were pretty small. For example when you ordered ice cream for dessert if you did'nt specify they would bring a 1 inch in diameter scoop. You can also choose not to have an app. or dessert an only have the main course (again the portion size was small). The cruise line I went on at the buffet you could order egg white omlets. Knock on wood I have not hard a PB episode yet. I take smaller bites than I used to but certain am not doing "eraser" sized bites that some people mention.

Just eat as you normally would with your band. Don't over do it, it's a lifestyle change, can't take a break from it haha. You are getting the band to eat differently.. not to revert back to your old ways. Also if i'm not mistaken (i just had my surgery this week and I don't have a fill yet) I still can't eat much at all and I'm not hungry, no way I could shove a regular amount of food down there and not puke. Besides you'll be full with your little amount of food so what does it matter?

Just do other things! Do activities and don't spend time in the buffets. I've been on several cruises you DON'T have to ever set foot in a buffet. The dinners and such are regular meals, it's not giant portions or anything like that. It's all pretty average, and the food isn't that spectacular you aren't missing anything.

Fabulous advice HeatherinCa! "Do what you'd normally do." Just because they offer a ton of food doesn't mean you have to eat it. You'll still be able to enjoy the foods and you'll stay on track. Remember, the band isn't just about controlling your food intake it's also there to help teach you lifestyle changes and a healthy relationship with food.

I LOVE cruises too and have had some of the same questions you have had. I've even avoided book one because of the food issue, but when I saw HeatherinCa's post it all became clear. "Do what you normally do." Duh, why didn't I think of that?

I swear, sometimes I get so wrapped up in 'food issues' I fail to see the obvious. That's why I love this board!

Have a great time on your cruise, enjoy yourself and if you find that you aren't interested in the buffet when everyone else is headed that way consider booking yourself a spa treatment at that hour or hit the shipboard shops. Besides, during mealtimes are when the services and shops are generally less crowded.

Thanks for this question and post. Your question actually helped me a lot.

Look at it this way- You are going on a cruise, not to an all you can eat hotel. Sure, you have to eat, but that isn't why you paid to go on the cruise. If you fall into a good eating pattern, you aren't going to care about the buffet, or 5 course meals. You will eat what is healthy and band friendly and move on. Trust me, by the time you have lost some weight before the cruise and are looking good, the last thing you are going to want to do is stuff yourself.

Right now I am down 25 pounds since Sept 28th. I can't nor do I have the desire to even try to pig out. I physically can't do it because food gets stuck or I throw up and my size smaller pants are sliding off my butt. I have such a different attitude and taste for food now. Don't let the food dictate your vacation.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Everything, yall said makes total sense. I am glad I asked because I was starting to get worried about the cruise in June.

I plan to focus on having fun...fun I have not been able to have because I've been so overweight and out of breath. Rather than be overly concerned about eating every hour.

Once you're banded, you won't be able to eat what you normally would at a buffet. Eat your Protein first. Then, if you have room, eat some veggies. Like someone else said, the food isn't all that great anyways.

Also, do some research on the calories in some foods that you are use to eating. Your eyes will open wide to the amount of calories you have been putting into your body. I never even thought about it until I was banded. It is an eye opener that will make you back away from the buffet!!

I went on a cruise in October and had just got a fill. I had a ball and with the weight loss, I was so much more active. I also hit the gym while I cruised and took the steps a lot. I always ate my protein first then my veggies and maybe fruit. I rarely ate dessert, and the night I wanted my favorite dessert, I planned accordingly for those extra calories. You will be fine if you do not make your cruise about food (shopping tends to be my focus )

I wish I could do that!! I'm going on a big vacation next week and we always always eat tons of amazing fancy food when we go there, it's gonna be weird, but I'll just focus on doing other things! Sure save a lot of money too

I went on a cruise preband but I had already changed my eating habits and was exercising daily. When I got back one of my friends said I was the only person he knew that lost weight on a cruise. My mother and I got up early and went lap swimming in the pool whenever possible. Later in the day it is to crowded. Also, we got a lot of exercise when we left the ship everyday. Also cruise ships are REALLY big. You can get a lot of execise just walking from your room to the restaurant or the shows. Many ships also have gyms. One thing I will say is to avoid the alcohol. I know easy for me to say; because I really don't drink. 1) They are really expensive and you don't really notice until you get the bill at the very end; 2) mixed drinks have lots of calories.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Everything, yall said makes total sense. I am glad I asked because I was starting to get worried about the cruise in June.

I plan to focus on having fun...fun I have not been able to have because I've been so overweight and out of breath. Rather than be overly concerned about eating every hour.

Having the band is going to let you have more fun......instead of focusing on food you can focus on the fun!

I have been on 6 cruises, two post banding, one I postponed my first fill to enjoy. I actually lost one pound during that one.

Do not get an unfill for it, unless you fear complications and will be to far from home. That is why I postponed my fill. I did not know how I'd react to the first one, and he had to fly cross country and would be doing Panama and South America. Not easy to get home if I had problems, so I waited.

But getting an unfil to have fun? Slipery slope, as has been noted. For what do you unfill, then fill again? Vacation? Long weekend? Family event? dinner party.

If you do buffets, scope them out first and choose what you want, then go back and fill your plate. I also took advantage of things I don't usually get to enjoy, like sliced, fresh pineapple and other pre-cut fruits.

On our last cruise over a year after banding, I got stuck a couple of times. All due to operator error. DH and I rarely go to the main dining room during a cruise, which actually works better for me. I tend to be more likely to get stuck when eating in a group, like at a table for 8 in a dining situation and having a conversation. So, at the buffet, it would just be the two of us.

Just remember, you are there for the fun and sightseeing, not for the food. I've found the food did not live up to the hype anyway.

Go to the spa!!