I'm a cake decorator, I work with pastries on a daily basis. I really don't eat what I make, but I know myself I'm so weak at work when I'm dieting. I just hope this all works out for me. Anyone else work at the food industry?

I don't but I am sure others will reply who do. My best advise would be to commit to the band and to the lifestyle. I don't bake for a living but I did have to cook and shop for a full household and live with all kinds of food I couldn't eat at my fingertips. It's mind over matter. And a whole lot of willpower. How badly do you want to be thin?

Best wishes for a successfull journey.

Yep, and have from the first week post banding...

I won't lie, it isn't always easy but you have to figure out a plan on how you are going to deal with your job.

I am a sales person in the food business and am surrounded each and every day by fried food. I sell breaded chicken and spend a lot of my day preparing and presenting samples for customers. I just explain that I can't taste with them because of my "food allergies".

Here's what works for me:

1. Pack a cooler EVERY DAY! My meal choices are not left to chance, they are made ahead of time. I know how many calories and grams of protein I need to get through the day and pack lots of choices. Once the cooler is empty, I am done!

2. Carry a water bottle and plan out how many times a day you need to fill it to meet your water requirements. My dr. wants me to drink 64 oz per day, minimum.

3. Chew gum or suck on a sugar free mint if it keeps you from "tasting". Just don't swallow the gum ( I'm sorry if you already know this, but I don't know how long you've been banded). It's not good for your band...

4. Don't think of your new eating style as a diet. After more than 2 1/2 years, I eat almost everything, I just write it all down. This has to be a lifestyle change and if you plan on continuing in your present career, you need to find what works best for you.

Hope this helps! From one "foodie" to another...

Yep' date=' and have from the first week post banding...

I won't lie, it isn't always easy but you have to figure out a plan on how you are going to deal with your job.

I am a sales person in the food business and am surrounded each and every day by fried food. I sell breaded chicken and spend a lot of my day preparing and presenting samples for customers. I just explain that I can't taste with them because of my "food allergies".

Here's what works for me:

1. Pack a cooler EVERY DAY! My meal choices are not left to chance, they are made ahead of time. I know how many calories and grams of Protein I need to get through the day and pack lots of choices. Once the cooler is empty, I am done!

2. Carry a Water bottle and plan out how many times a day you need to fill it to meet your water requirements. My dr. wants me to drink 64 oz per day, minimum.

3. Chew gum or suck on a sugar free mint if it keeps you from "tasting". Just don't swallow the gum ( I'm sorry if you already know this, but I don't know how long you've been banded). It's not good for your band...

4. Don't think of your new eating style as a diet. After more than 2 1/2 years, I eat almost everything, I just write it all down. This has to be a lifestyle change and if you plan on continuing in your present career, you need to find what works best for you.

Hope this helps! From one "foodie" to another...[/quote']

Thank you so much for the great advice, I haven't had my surgery yet, but for some reason I keep on thinking of all the sanarios, that I might fail at losing my weight.

I don't but I am sure others will reply who do. My best advise would be to commit to the band and to the lifestyle. I don't bake for a living but I did have to cook and shop for a full household and live with all kinds of food I couldn't eat at my fingertips. It's mind over matter. And a whole lot of willpower. How badly do you want to be thin?

Best wishes for a successfull journey.

I know what you mean, I have to bake all day, then come home take care of my husband. I really have to lose my weight, I really want to be thin, or at least healthy, thank you.

I was a cook at a nursing home before and had planned on returning later this year but have now decided that is not a good idea. I am still planning to go back to work just not in a kitchen.

I'm a FACS teacher (formerly know as home Ec) and my kids cook all the time plus we sell freshest baked cookies as a fundraiser for FCCLA. It's hard to smell cookies all day. I drink a lot of water and I am lucky because I have a kitchen in my classroom so I can cook things for myself. It's hard. I also chew mint gum to keep myself from sampling. You can do it!

It really doesn't matter what you do for a living, You will always have food around you and if you don't learn how to live with your band and the temptation of food, you won't be successful.

We all still need to feed ourselves and our family ( if we have one). It's not like an alcohol or drug issue where we can avoid or triggers. We still need to eat to live.

Just my opinion...I've made enough excuses about my job being the cause of my obesity, but the reality is that I ate more than I burned off.

Best of luck to you.