I got my band on 6/11/12, and my father died unexpectedly 6/14/12. I stuck to diet well even with the added stress, but on the day of his funeral, I just feel like I went crazy. I was supposed to stay with the pureed foods all this week, but the evening of the funeral. I ate twizzlers (chewed up very well) and chocolate. I am concerned that I have caused damage, but I feel ok besides some bloating and gas after my big cheat. I thought I would try back on protein shakes today to get me back on track and to stop the sugar craving. Any advice?

Don't beat your self up. I doubt you have caused damage by cheating a little.

Just go back to the basics and get back on track.

Good luck to you.

Very sorry abut your dad.

I'm sending my condolence your way. You should be okay because the chocolate and candy melted through your band like liquids would.

I'm so very sorry for the loss of your dad.

thank you for your condolences and for the encouragement. Had I not gotten my lap band when I did I probably would have downed a couple pounds of candy, cookies and chips over this grief process. Going to the doctor Monday and should be put on "regular" diet now. Thanks again. I am glad I found this site to share experiences. God Bless you all on your journey to be healthier!

Very sorry to read of your father's death...a very difficult event to cope with under the best of circumstances. Being just post op I'm certain made it more challenging.

You have gained some insight into the triggers which contribute to your eating choices, and that is valuable to know. Change is a process, when it comes to revising old habits and patterns of thinking. It takes time, patience, and practice. As others have written, there is no valid reason to beat yourself up with feelings of guilt...you had some difficult events to cope with.

Most important is that you recognized that you were not in compliance, and then made the conscious decision to get back on track quickly.

Condolences, and best wishes...

I am so sorry for your loss loosing a parent sucks. You should be ok. My son in law left for afghanistan. I had a bite or two of chicken and steak. I went back to liquids after.

So sorry for your loss. I too have cheated (banded 6/14/12); however, I have no good reason but that I am bored with shakes and soups. Don't get me wrong, I am not overeating or making terrible food choices - but I too worry if I am causing damage even though I always chew well and eat very little compared to what I have eaten in the past. To make it worse (depending how you look at it), I am still losing weight - so there is no real incentive to go back to just shakes and soups.

So sorry for your loss. I too have cheated (banded 6/14/12); however, I have no good reason but that I am bored with shakes and soups. Don't get me wrong, I am not overeating or making terrible food choices - but I too worry if I am causing damage even though I always chew well and eat very little compared to what I have eaten in the past. To make it worse (depending how you look at it), I am still losing weight - so there is no real incentive to go back to just shakes and soups.

The reason you should strongly consider returning to diet compliance is that your current weight loss rate will most likely not be sustainable over the long term.

The band is a tool, and redefining one's relationship with food and how much we remain compliant with the rules bandsters need to follow for a successful weight loss journey are at the core of the life long changes we should have begun to make when we opted for the surgery.

There won't be anyone to "police" you for compliance...so the motivation for change needs to come from within. When one gives yourself "permission" to cheat on the diet, and use the reasoning that there is "no real incentive" to follow the prescribed diet, it may place you on a "slippery slope" to continue to "cheat" on diet compliance, as you may rationalize your thoughts to give yourself additional permissions to cheat at other points along the way. Depending on your personality type, this may open the door for compromising your long term success.

Best wishes as you continue on your journey...

The reason you should strongly consider returning to diet compliance is that your current weight loss rate will most likely not be sustainable over the long term.

The band is a tool' date=' and redefining one's relationship with food and how much we remain compliant with the rules bandsters need to follow for a successful weight loss journey are at the core of the life long changes we should have begun to make when we opted for the surgery.

There won't be anyone to "police" you for compliance...so the motivation for change needs to come from within. When one gives yourself "permission" to cheat on the diet, and use the reasoning that there is "no real incentive" to follow the prescribed diet, it may place you on a "slippery slope" to continue to "cheat" on diet compliance, as you may rationalize your thoughts to give yourself additional permissions to cheat at other points along the way. Depending on your personality type, this may open the door for compromising your long term success.

Best wishes as you continue on your journey...[/quote']

Forgive me, but I thought we were all here because we know diets and deprivation don't work. I posted that I am not making poor choices with what I have eaten, which should be all of our goals...right? I hardly think me eating a half a cup of red Beans is a slippery slope, but I do understand where your concern is coming from.

This is a learning process, it takes time...I'm sure we've all slipped from time to time...the important thing is to not get discouraged, to get right back on track...sorry for your loss...