Hi, All.

I was just banded on June 19th and already find myself asking questions like "how do I get my head around not eating another huge plate of food," which I know sounds silly. But, it feels like a sort of grief (and at the same time a really great relief, as odd as that sounds). So, I guess I'm wondering if those of you who have been banded for awhile can share your tricks of the trade, the things you've done and still do to help move you past old behaviors.

Thanks and Happy 4th!

Coco

I also love the garbage bin statement.

I have to tell this to everyone I know.

This is a very inspiring thread.

Tellymelly, you go girl! Excercise is such a good way to lose weight, you're strenghtening your whole body and spirit, very good!!

Thanks a bunch Hunnybun:)

You are right. I feel really energized, spiritually as well as physically. I hope you do well on your 12 week weight loss thing with the hospital. Eating right, exercising, food portions. You got this!

I have tried various things that have been mentioned, smaller plate, pre-measuring my food, lots of Water, avoiding bad carbs....also a baby spoon... it all helps!!!

Our battlefield is the mind!!! It's such a battle---more some days than others!! I went through a season where I continued the fight moment by moment. I've had to cry out to the Lord to do SOMETHING/ANYTHING to distract me....He is faithful!!!

I do not think about food like I used too....well til I have a fill and the band TRULY makes itself known!!!! Then I told my husband I have to re-learn some things I had gotten a bit sloppy on!!

God Bless,

Melody

Banded 3/20/06 -59lbs

tellymelly,

my surgery day was on july 5. So i'm not even a week post op yet. I feel pretty good. stomach feels sore and the port incision is just a little more tender than the rest. just a sharp sting every now and then but its all manageable.

I'll check out the exercise today thread. that would be cool to see what everyone is doing after getting banded.

Donna, compulsive behavior can be very challenging, and very very hard to change. I've done some work with obsessive compulsive behavior modification and it is usually an ongoing struggle for people. Obsessive behavior is like having a habit to an extreme degree. Every time you engage in an obsessive behavior it's like digging a groove in a rock, where Water flows through the groove, the more you do it, the deeper the groove, and the harder it is to get the water to go anywhere else except down that particular path. The more you do it, the harder change becomes. The hard part is forcing yourself to do something different. If you at all can, I would totally recommend trying to make a new habit of always leaving a bite behind, always throwing out a bite, always throwing out a chip in the bottom of the bag. I know it is a really hard thing to do, but the more you can force yourself to do it, the more likely you are to break the obsession. It can be helpful to try and recognize habits before they become obsessions and try to vary your behavior as much as possible to avoid digging any new grooves... not sure if I'm explaining things very good today (I'm a bit under the weather, so the brain is a bit slow). Sorry if the therapeutic advice is unwanted... I'm a meddler, I can't help it! Actually I miss the work immensely, it was shortly after I finished my degree in counselling psychology that I had my own crisis, and developed severe depression, I'm still unable to work. Sometimes my desire to try and help people gets the better of me, so please be tolerant with my need to butt in and give tips!

XO

Leila

The funny thing for me is that I am trying new dishes at resaurants. I used to stay away from the menu items I didn't think I would get enough food, now its just the opposite. For instance, some of the smaller cuts of steak are more tender and flavorful, but I wouldn't get them because it was not enough food to fill me up. Kind of a quirky obsevation I made this last weekend when we went to Outback Steakhouse.

Yes, I enjoy food now more than I EVER have before in my life. I'm not afraid to dig in, enjoy and stop when I'm no longer hungry. Because I dont feel deprived, I dont feel like eating when I"m not hungry.