I've been reading the boards and read something about cheating on diets. I thought that once you have the band you can't eat more then 1/2 to 1cup. How can someone overeat? And, if someone overeats are you stretching out your stomach again? If you overstretch your stomach is going on a liquid diet for a couple days and soft foods for couple days going to shrink the stomach back up? I'm getting this done so that I don't go back to my old habits of overeating again. I didn't realize you can go back to your old habits.

The short answer is yes, you can stretch the pouch above your band by over-eating. While the band (when filled to a good level for you) will 'kick back' and tell you that you've had enough, you can ignore it and continue to eat OR wait for a little while, let the food pass through the band and then continue eating OR eat until you're sick etc etc. There are lots of ways to work against the band instead of with it.

The desire to overeat doesn't disappear when you get the band. What is does is control your hunger but obviously not what you put in your mouth. If you're an over-eater, you know that even now you're eating even when you're not hungry. The band isn't going to change that for you. That's something that happens in your head, not your stomach.

What it will do is help you to NOT get hungry after eating a small amount of food. For some (like me) not being hungry means that I don't feel like eating. But if you eat even when you're not hungry, that's something you'd need to address within you because the band doesn't stop you from doing that.

Thanks for the explanation lellow.

No problems nursecheryl. Good luck with it all. It's totally doable, don't get me wrong. You just need to be prepared for the part you have to play in it.

The short answer is yes, you can stretch the pouch above your band by over-eating. While the band (when filled to a good level for you) will 'kick back' and tell you that you've had enough, you can ignore it and continue to eat OR wait for a little while, let the food pass through the band and then continue eating OR eat until you're sick etc etc. There are lots of ways to work against the band instead of with it.

The desire to overeat doesn't disappear when you get the band. What is does is control your hunger but obviously not what you put in your mouth. If you're an over-eater, you know that even now you're eating even when you're not hungry. The band isn't going to change that for you. That's something that happens in your head, not your stomach.

What it will do is help you to NOT get hungry after eating a small amount of food. For some (like me) not being hungry means that I don't feel like eating. But if you eat even when you're not hungry, that's something you'd need to address within you because the band doesn't stop you from doing that.

well said GF

It's definitely helpful to think about the area above your band as your pouch and the area below it as your 'stomach' even though they are all really your stomach. The pouch can be stretched as lellow discussed. As you lose weight your stomach also begins to get smaller as it becomes used to smaller portions. I have a feeling if I had all of my fluid removed I wouldn't be able to eat nearly the amount of food I could pre-band. However, the stomach is resilient and I'm sure I'd have it stretched out and ready to eat large meals all over again in no time. In other words, it's easier to stretch your pouch than it is your 'stomach' after banding.

I hope you weren't reading my blog and I scared you.

If you were, let me explain. I got stuck on a hamburger and that scared me into thinking I could of done damage. Totally my fault though for eating too big, too fast. I ate soft yesterday just in case I irritated something.

#2 I am not yet at my "sweet spot" and am able to eat more if want too. 90% of the time, I stop myself at an appropriate band sized portion. I also count calories right now. Once I am properly adjusted I will hopefully not have to count calories, but just make good choices. The band also wont help me make good choices, that's up to me.

#3, I have always struggled with emotional eating, this is a battle the band cannot help me with unfortunately, and yes I had a weak moment the other day where emotional eating took over. BUT, because I have the band and fear doing damage, I am more mindful and instead of spiraling downhill for days/weeks, I get back on track right away. I didn't go though surgery to fail, so I have even more fight in me now to win this battle.