I keep reading the messages stressing a type of Atkins kind of diet. High protein, low carbs. What makes this different than doing an Atkins type of diet on your own? I guess I just don't quite understand how the band is helping because I keep reading so much about people dieting with the band. Of course it's not a bad thing, because I know I'd rather have more control over my eating habits than deal with a surgery doing it for me. But this is a large amount of money for me to spend so I'm wondering if what that band does helps enough to warrant the purchase.

Hi Misty -

The difference between dieting and the band is that dieting is "temporary", and the band is "forever" (God willing).

When someone goes on the Atkins diet, it is almost always with the intention to lose weight to a certain goal so "I can eat like a normal person." At least, that was the goal of every diet I was on - to lose the weight, and then be able to eat like a "normal" person.

Unfortunately, my idea of how a "normal" person eats was that they can eat anything, anytime they wanted. So, as soon as I started doing that again, all the weight would come back on.

Plus, with dieting, it is all about deprivation, denying ourselves, building up cravings, finally giving in to the cravings, feeling horrible about ourselves, totally falling off the wagon and bingeing on all the things we weren't allowed to have on the diet, feeling even worse as the pounds start to creep back on, bingeing some more, resolving to start over, a few last suppers, more self-recrimination, and then the beginning of a new diet. The cycle continues...

With the band, #1 our hunger is put into check, so our drive to consume obscene quantities of food is turned waaay down. And #2, our ABILITY to consume obscene quantities of food is eliminated. It just is no longer possible. So, we no longer need to diet.

So, what to eat when we're not dieting? This is where everything we have learned about nutrition comes into play, and where we have to really stop concentrating on what we eat in regards to weightloss, but how are we best going to support our HEALTH. This has nothing to do with dieting.

So, if you were going to design a HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS way of eating for someone you loved, how would you have them eat to prolong their lives, have good energy, and avoid disease? Would you have them eat nothing but cake and candy? Not a lot of nutrition in that. How about nothing but rice, potatos, and Pasta? Again - not a lot of nutrition.

For the best nutrition, the best building blocks for our body, Protein, vegetables and fruit is what we need to be healthy and have a long life. It just so happens that eating that way is also good for weightloss, but that's NOT the best reason to do it! It's because we will be healthier. So, if we eat protein first, then vegies, then fruit, and occasionally have less nutritious stuff, we're meeting our nutrition goals, AND eating like a "normal" person, where we have things that are less nutritious without the bingeing or guilt.

We have all been focused so long on losing weight that we have lost sight of the real reason we are changing our lives - to be HEALTHIER - not just thinner. If we become HEALTHIER, the weightloss follows. Being banded helps us choose a healthier way of eating by controlling our hunger and satiety response to food.

I'm not necessarily the best role model, but I personally haven't been trying any sort of special diet with the band. If I could have stayed away from carbs, I wouldn't have needed the band!

Doing the Atkins diet might help with getting the maximum results possible, but I don't think that counting carbs is essential to success with the band. If you're restricting your portion size and taking in less calories (which will happen when you have the proper adjustment of your band), you can't help but lose weight.

I'm glad you asked this question. It is a question I asked myself many times pre-banding when I read the Bandster rules and other rules and regimens that some bandsters use. Bandsters are like everyone else: What works for one, does not work for all.

Like Quakergirl, I decided that if I could avoid carbs, etc., I wouldn't need the band. I got banded and let the band be my only guide as to what and how much to eat. I didn't worry about Protein, carbs, or anything else. I did take a daily Vitamin. Because I can no longer eat a lot of food and because I can't eat some foods like bread that used to be a weakness, I have lost 45 pounds in 6 months. Now that I'm thinner and healthier, I am starting to focus more on nutrition. I am focusing on increasing my protein consumption and trying to work more veggies into my diet. But I still don't follow any hard and fast rules.

The thing to know is that you don't have to follow Atkins or any other diet to be a successful bandster. All you have to do is have adequate restriction, avoid high calorie, high fat foods like ice cream that slide right through the band, and watch the pounds melt away.

Nancy

Actually, before banding I just ate ate ate.. whatever was in site. I loved Pasta, rice, potatoes, spaghetti etc.

So no way I would able to follow the Adkins diet pre surgery.

Now I don't follow any diet regime, but because I pb if I eat pasta, rice or bread. Basically I'm low carb. I'm also low in Proteins because I can't really eat meats either. Thats why I drink lots of Soymilk and eat lots of Tofu

But I know thats hard for non-asian to get used too .. because it's kinda bland in taste

I tend to snack a lot also, icecream, chips, chocolate hehehe But in moderation.

I want a constitutional amendment to make Donali in charge of everything.

lol - Sue.

Then the world really would be amuck!

I was told that we are expected to eat a balanced diet but that we should eat the meat or protien 1st so we get what we need to avoid hair loss and muscle loss due to the small amounts our stomachs can hold , if there is room go to the veggies then fruit. This was explained to me by the nutritionist and the DR at my pre-op visit Wed. My band goes on Monday morning................I am so excited but also concerned about getting that 60-90 grams of protien in a day without over eating.

I have seen a couple of people at my support group that look very unhealthy .....pale skin color, hair dull...almost ill looking and they are the ones who stay quiet when MOST EVERYONE talks about good food choices, vitimins and exercise............these are the ones who have lost well and have changed thier lives and look WONDERFUL..........I pray I can make those life changing choices beginning next week and for the rest of my life !!!

By all means if you have the self discipline to diet and keep it off go buy yourself a new car or exotic vacation somewhere. If I didn't have a problem being obese I wouldn't be here either.

The band is only a tool. It gives me more control and some limitations that I chose to put in place. The band does not do it for you and is no magic cure. I what I like and can plus exercise. I do not diet as I don't believe in it. Watch what I eat yes I do. Atkins? Not my body. Look up Ketosis and you will see how super carb restriction can hurt you.

I made a decision along with my band. It goes for good now. I'm on my journey and I would have paid double and would again.

I tried the adkins diet before sugery and found for my self to be full, I had to eat 8+ pieces of bacon plus eggs, a huge steak, a huge hamburger (not in one sitting, of course) I was losing weight to some degree but, making unhealthy choices as far as fat and calories, with the band, I can only eat a small piece of meat and it usually fills me up, and on a good day, I pick healthier choices of meat. Only bad thing, I usually have a problem with meats getting stuck ex. bacon and sausage. I still have a bad habit of wanting to save the meat for last (best for last) and going for the carbs first, hopefully one day I'll break this habit. So, technically, many people with the band are following a low carb diet, but, mostly because they are full before they get to the carbs