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Trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel!



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Today I've been banded 7 days and feeling better physically. But my emotions are all over the place. I'm beginning o see the pants get loose and the jackets zipping up easier than a week ago. But I'm mentally so hungry. I actually cried on my way to work today because I realized it's Friday and I won't be able to hang out with my family because I can't eat yet. I mean, technically I could hang out with them, but I don't want to be around food I can't have. I know it sounds selfish and childsh, but it's like this huge part of my lifestyle has been removed and I don't know what to do with myself. When lunch hour comes at work, I just sit there and continue working, just a week ago I used to go with coworkers for lunch and enjoy myself. Now i'm duckng my head whenever someone is eating. And if that wasn't bad enough, my mind is torturing me, I keep thinking about chewing my favoirte meal. This must be what drug addicts go through. :(

I know that this is ultimately good for me, but no amount of talking to your doctor prior to surgery can prepare you for these days.

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Sweetie I m sorry to hear you are feeling this way! One word of advice if you allow me. You cannot let your mind control you. You are in control. You made the decision to change your lifestyle and you need to stay away from situations that set you up for failure. Sometimes we need to stay away temporarily from our triggers until we gain full control. When I am hungry I have a Protein Shake, broth, and a big glass of crystal light! I also look at my "fat" pictures and then skinny goal pictures. We must train our brains and after while you can and will override cravings!

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This is a very hard time very hard..u r right not to go around food at this time...one day soon you will be able and you mind will tell you, you don't want it. Meanwhile you might want to talk to your regular doctor about anti-depression meds because this is going to be a long road and a new life. Keep up with the fills that really helps the mind and that is what the band targets so stay on it. I had to learn not to breath with my nose in places because thst would trigger me now 3 mos later I am much better. You can do this stay strong keep reading on here and keep writing we will help you as much as possible.. we are all with you

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Today I've been banded 7 days and feeling better physically. But my emotions are all over the place. I'm beginning o see the pants get loose and the jackets zipping up easier than a week ago. But I'm mentally so hungry. I actually cried on my way to work today because I realized it's Friday and I won't be able to hang out with my family because I can't eat yet. I mean, technically I could hang out with them, but I don't want to be around food I can't have. I know it sounds selfish and childsh, but it's like this huge part of my lifestyle has been removed and I don't know what to do with myself. When lunch hour comes at work, I just sit there and continue working, just a week ago I used to go with coworkers for lunch and enjoy myself. Now i'm duckng my head whenever someone is eating. And if that wasn't bad enough, my mind is torturing me, I keep thinking about chewing my favoirte meal. This must be what drug addicts go through. :(

I know that this is ultimately good for me, but no amount of talking to your doctor prior to surgery can prepare you for these days.

It will get better, I promise! In time you will be able to mentally handle going to lunch with your friends, you will make good band friendly choices and you will be fine. It takes time to adjust to this lifestyle. The hardest part of this journey is the mental part (if only we could band our heads!). Just keep your eye on the goal and you will see results. Those results will motivate you to stay the course and before you know it you will be looking at your goal face to face!

You will get there, one day at a time! Good luck!!

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Thank you everyone!

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It gets better, hang in there. The emotional roller coaster is very normal in the beginning, you are changing your life, your relationship with food and this is hard. Just be strong and true to yourself, believe in your self and you can succeed.

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You are only 7 days out, I think the depression is probably leftover drugs from surgery. this is unfortunately normal.

keep yourself busy, walk as much as possible and when you are with friends and family, ALWAYS have something to drink with you. don't be caught unprepared!

You will make it through this, we all did! Keep thinking about the melting pounds!!!!

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Girlfriend, I was you 6 weeks ago. I felt like I lost my best friend, I no longer had food to help me cope with life's stress. I cried too. But trust me it gets way better. You get your energy back, you start trying on clothes you haven't worn in years and when you see the results it's amazing. I don't crave nearly as much as I used to. And you will get to eat against. The first month is the hardest I think. Just stay positive and remember why you got banded. Good luck.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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